Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Casts Valene Kane As Jyn Erso's Mother

Star Wars fans already know that Mads Mikkelsen will play Jyn Erso's father, Galen Erso, in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Now it's time to meet Jyn Erso's mother.

Valene Kane, star of The Fall, will play Lyra Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

"I grew up watching Stars Wars and I didn't believe it was happening until I was filming in Iceland," Kane told Belfast Live of being cast in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. "It has a really edgy independent vibe."

It is unclear how much of a role Lyra Erso will play in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. We do know that Galen Erso will be key to Rogue One's plot. Galen is involved in the creation of the Death Star for the Galactic Empire and is responsible for sending a transmission to the Rebel Alliance to alert them to the project's existence.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the first Star Wars standalone film. Rogue One takes place some time after the events of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and just prior to the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is directed by Gareth Edwards, and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Riz Ahmed, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Jiang Wen and Forest Whitaker.

Rogue One: A Start Wars opens in theaters on Dec. 16, 2016.