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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a 2016 American science fiction action film set shortly before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a 2016 American science fiction action film directed by Gareth Edwards. It is set shortly before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope and follows a Rebel team led by Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor as they attempt to steal the Death Star plans from the Galactic Empire. The film is part of the Star Wars franchise and depicts the Rebels’ first effective victory against the Empire.

Plot

The story follows Jyn Erso and a group of Rebels as they work to obtain the Death Star plans from the Empire. Their mission connects directly to the events that open A New Hope.

Production

Rogue One was directed by Gareth Edwards and written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy. It was produced by Lucasfilm as part of Disney's Star Wars film slate.

Cast

The film stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, Jiang Wen, and Forest Whitaker.

Place in the Star Wars timeline

The film takes place shortly before A New Hope and explains how the Rebel Alliance acquired the Death Star plans referenced in that film's opening crawl.

Key facts

  • The film is set about a week before the events of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
  • Its central plot concerns a Rebel mission to steal the Death Star schematics.
  • Felicity Jones stars as Jyn Erso, with Diego Luna as Cassian Andor.
  • The film shows how the Rebels obtain the plans that lead into the opening of A New Hope.
  • It was released by Lucasfilm on December 16, 2016.
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Canadian context

The film was released theatrically in Canada on the same day as its North American release and is part of the globally distributed Star Wars franchise.

Frequently asked questions

What is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story about?
It is about a Rebel team trying to steal the Death Star plans from the Galactic Empire.
When is Rogue One set?
It is set shortly before Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, about a week earlier.
Who directed Rogue One?
Gareth Edwards directed the film.
Who plays Jyn Erso?
Felicity Jones plays Jyn Erso.
How does the film connect to the original Star Wars movie?
It shows the mission that results in the Rebel Alliance obtaining the Death Star plans mentioned in A New Hope.

References

  1. StarWars.com — https://www.starwars.com/films/rogue-one
    Supports: Official release date, runtime, genre, and premise.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_One
    Supports: Cast, setting relative to A New Hope, and narrative overview.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rogue_one_a_star_wars_story
    Supports: Synopsis, director, writers, production company, runtime, and release information.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528/
    Supports: Runtime, release year, and basic plot description.