One of the big talking points coming out of the trailer for December’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story concerns the shot of a hooded figure kneeling before what looks to be a Bacta tank, with two of the Emperor’s Royal Guard standing at either side.
The shot in question has led to incessant speculation amongst fans – not only with regards the mysterious hooded figure, but also the inhabitant of the Bacta tank. Could it be the Emperor? Darth Vader? Or how about Supreme Leader Snoke, the new villain from last year’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens?
The Snoke theory certainly seemed plausible – the Supreme Leader has clearly suffered some major injuries prior to The Force Awakens, and introducing him in Rogue One would not only help to develop his character prior to Episode VIII, but it would also go some way to explaining his knowledge of the Galactic Empire, and his whereabouts during the Original Trilogy. However, according to Pablo Hidalgo of Lucasfilm, the speculation is wide of the mark as Snoke will not be making an appearance in the movie:
https://twitter.com/pablohidalgo/status/723621794071085056
Now, of course, Hidalgo could be trying to throw us off the scent, but he does have a solid reputation for being honest with fans, and if it was true, it would have been easy for him to just ignore the question.
So, if it’s not Snoke in the Bacta tank, who is it? Is it even a Bacta tank? Who is the hooded figure? So many questions!
SEE ALSO: Mads Mikkelsen lets slip his Rogue One: A Star Wars Story role
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, is the first film in the new standalone movies from Lucasfilm. It tells the story of how a group of unlikely heroes unite to undertake a daring and seemingly impossible mission to steal the plans for the Death Star.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set for release on December 16th 2016, with a cast that includes Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Diego Luna (Milk), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises), Donnie Yen (Ip Man), Jiang Wen (Let the Bullets Fly), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Alan Tudyk (Con Man) and Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler).
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Originally published May 1, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
