In terms of box office, the Star Wars franchise has always done well. But after the original trilogy created a generation of fans and geeks, the prequels left many disappointed when they arrived at the dawn of the new millennium. Nearly a decade after Revenge of the Sith, and fans the world over were apprehensive about the return of the franchise under J.J. Abrams. The Force Awakens assuaged those fears by entering us into a bold, new era of Star Wars storytelling. Since then, comics, books, and a TV series have continued to flesh out the story of a galaxy far, far away. None of the auxiliary material, however, has been more successful than the first in a series of planned spinoffs, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Raking in over $1 billion globally after a little over a month in theaters, Rogue One became a hit bigger than anyone could imagine. Besides telling a complete and captivating standalone story, the movie still managed to connect to the larger Star Wars universe and the Rebels animated series. Since then, a flurry of books have been announced following threads from the movie. Inferno Squad will pick up in the aftermath of the film, while a book focusing on Jyn Erso is on its way as well. We've also seen a number of peaks behind the curtain, like how Tarkin was revived, how two Star Destroyers crashed together, and how the Battles of Scarif and Jedha were designed.
Thanks to the official Star Wars databank, we now have even more background information courtesy of new images and descriptions for eight of the prominent planets and locations of Rogue One. You can check out the pictures and details below.
[vn_gallery name="Star Wars – Rogue One Planets & Locations" id="914209"]
Lah'Mu: Located in the Outer Rim’s Raioballo sector, Lah’mu is a sparsely inhabited backwater whose rich soil and groundwater are contaminated by minerals and other elements. The Erso family fled to Lah’mu from Coruscant, hoping to find refuge from the Empire.
Erso Homestead: When the Ersos decided to break with the Empire, Saw Gerrera facilitated the purchase of a 65-hectare farm on the eastern side of the distant planet Lah’mu. On this world far from the centers of power, Galen and his family have reinvented themselves as subsistence farmers, hoping to escape from Director Krennic and his hunters.
Rebel Massassi Outpost: Some time after abandoning Dantooine, Alliance High Command transferred operations to a new headquarters on the jungle moon of Yavin 4. There, stone temples built by a now-vanished species have been transformed into hangars, barracks and a command center. From Base One, as the Massassi site is known, rebel leaders direct the fight against the Empire.
Holy City of Jedha: Also known as NiJedha or simply Jedha City, the fabled Holy City of Jedha continues to attract pilgrims from numerous faiths despite a brutal Imperial occupation. Saw Gerrera’s partisans have fought back against the Empire, turning the city’s ancient streets into a war zone. But pilgrims keep coming despite the danger, hungering for answers to spiritual questions...
Catacombs of Cadera: Across the desert from the Holy City lie the ancient Catacombs of Cadera, once the final resting place for adherents of a vanished faith. Saw Gerrera’s partisan militia has set up operations among the bones of the forgotten, using the catacombs as a base for raids against Jedha’s Imperial occupiers.
Wobani: A forlorn world in the Mid Rim’s Bryx sector, Wobani is the site of Imperial Detention Center & Labor Camp LEG-817. Jyn Erso is serving a 20-year sentence on Wobani under the alias Liana Hallik when Alliance Pathfinders free her from captivity.
Eadu: A rugged planet in the Outer Rim’s Bheriz sector, Eadu is known – to the extent it’s known at all – for its rain and native nerf herders. Few suspect the planet is home to a top-secret laboratory where Imperial scientists working for the Tarkin Initiative seek to unlock the secrets of kyber crystals and perfect a terrifying weapon.
Mustafar: A tiny, fiery planet in the Outer Rim, Mustafar maintains an erratic orbit between two gas giants. Mustafar is rich in unique and valuable minerals which have long been mined by the Tech Union. Its lava pits and rivers make this planet a dangerous habitat; its natives have burly, tough bodies that can withstand extreme heat. The planet became the backdrop for the fateful duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. After the rise of the Empire, captured Jedi were brought to the volcanic world for interrogation and execution.
While nothing major is revealed, the images and details provide more context for the exciting new (and old, in the case of Mustafar) locations of the film. The Holy City of Jedha and the Catacombs of Cadera are especially interesting as they have such a strong connection to the Force and the Guardians of the Whils. They're both likely to be featured in the upcoming book detailing the history of Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus that will shine some light on the two Force-sensitive acolytes.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on The Last Jedi, as it looks to continue the story of Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren. Abrams thinks Mark Hamill's return as Luke Skywalker is Oscar-worthy, but so far virtually nothing is known about the film. Hopefully, we'll be getting our first trailer soon. Until then, we'll be looking to the Blu-ray release of Rogue One to hold us over.
Next: New Rogue One Concept Art Revealed
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be available on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on March 24, and on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD, and On-Demand on April 4.
Source: Star Wars
