'Rogue One' movie spoilers news: Director introduces Pao and Bistan; film won't have an opening crawl
After getting fans acquainted with the human characters in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," the film's director, Gareth Edwards, has now introduced two non-human characters from the upcoming "Star Wars" stand-alone.
Pao and Bistan, the two characters, were first glimpsed at last week's Star Wars Celebration in London.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Edwards said that the first character, Pao, who fans have nicknamed "Bigmouth," is a soldier who acts as something of a platoon leader.
"There was this great design of this creature that's mouth would open really wide, and he looked like he was really good at giving orders and shouting at people during a battle," the "Rogue One" director said. Thus, Pao, who leads the charge into battle, was born.
Meanwhile, Bistan, who has been nicknamed "Space Monkey" by avid "Star Wars" fans, was first seen laughing like a maniac in a behind-the-scenes reel shown at Star Wars Celebration.
According to Edwards, Bistan is the gunner of a U-Wing, a new kind of starship that is a cross between a troop transport and a gunship. Edwards said that the character, which has a "memorable, iconic" look, isn't really one that viewers will get to know well.
"[He's] one of my favorites," the director said. "I can't give away what happens to him."
Meanwhile, "Rogue One" may break "Star Wars" tradition by being the first film in the franchise to not have an opening crawl.
This bit of news was confirmed by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy last week at Star Wars Celebration.
"You know, we're in the midst of talking about it, but I don't think these films will have an opening crawl," she told ET Online.
Edwards explained the reasoning behind not adding an opening crawl, telling the outlet: "There's this feeling that if we did a crawl, then it'll create another movie. And so the honest answer is you'll have to wait and see."
"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" hits theaters on Dec. 16.