New Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Character Descriptions Released

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a big Disney tentpole for the 2016 holiday season - not to mention a big experiment for Lucasfilm. As the first of the Star Wars standalone movies, Rogue One will attempt break the mold of the traditional Star Wars Episodes, with a darker tone and a different blend of genres (sci-fi war movie).

The good thing is that within that slightly different framework we will still get a pretty traditional Star Wars movie, complete will character cameos (Darth Vader), the familiar world and aesthetic of the Original Trilogy era, and some alien creatures that fit the tradition of George Lucas and the Star Wars mythos.

Today we have new character descriptions from Rogue One that feature new alien characters, as well as some of the new bad guys we'll meet. Check out the descriptions below, courtesy of Making Star Wars:

• Name: Moroff / Species: Gigoran / Description: Moroff seeks out combat zones to sell his brawn and firepower to anyone who might need it. The mighty Gigoran mercenary figures there's money to be made for a towering heavy gunner.

• Name: Rebel Commando Pao / Species: Drabata / Description: An amphibious Drabata, the fierce commando Pao charges into battle with a full-throated battle cry of "Sa'Kalla!" He joins the Rogue One team on its historic mission to secure the Death Star plans.

• Name: Scarif Stormtrooper Commander / Trooper Class: Stormtrooper / Description: Specialist stormtroopers stationed at the top-secret Imperial Military headquarters on Skarif, Shoretroopers patrol the beaches and bunkers of the planetary facility.

• Name: Hovertank Driver / Troopers class: Stormtrooper / Description: Imperial combat drivers operate the Empire's arsenal of armored repulsor vehicles. Combat drivers are highly armored, relying instead on the thick skin of their vehicles to protect them in the battle.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens on December 16, 2016, followed by Star Wars: Episode VIII on December 15, 2017, the Han Solo Star Wars standalone film on May 25, 2018, and Star Wars: Episode IX in 2019.