There is a lot of "Star Wars" news Saturday!
Disney and Lucasfilm announced the director for "Star Wars: Episode IX," revealed the first poster for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and revealed plans for a massive "Star Wars" expansion into its theme parks at fan convention D23.
The studio also announced the first standalone "Star Wars" spin-off movie "Rogue One" has begun principal photography, and celebrated by showing off the first cast photo for the film.
You can check it out below:
The standalone film will take place before the events of "Star Wars: A New Hope" following a group of resistance fighters who are working together to steal plans to the Death Star. Gareth Edwards ("Godzilla") will direct the movie.
“It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential Star Wars feel that fans have come to know," said Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy in a press release. "Gareth is such an innovative director and I’m so excited to be working with him and the extraordinary ensemble cast he’s selected for ‘Rogue One.’”
Here's a quick breakdown of who will star:
Oscar nominee Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everyting")
Diego Luna ("Milk")
Ben Mendelsohn (Netflix's "Bloodline")
Hong Kong action star and martial artist Donnie Yen ("Blade II")
Jiang Wen ("Let the Bullets Fly")
Oscar winner Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland")
Mads Mikkelsen ("Hannibal,""Casino Royale")
Alan Tudk will play a performance-capture character
Riz Ahmed ("Nightcrawler")
"Rogue One" will be released December 16, 2016.
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Here's the moment Harrison Ford surprised fans during the 'Star Wars' Comic-Con panel