Cast of 'Star Wars: Rogue One' Revealed

The cast of "Star Wars: Rogue One" was unveiled by Lucasfilm (Lucasfilm Photo).

LOS ANGELES - After a lot speculation and much anticipation, Lucasfilm has announced the cast and crew who will make up the stand-alone anthology film, "Star Wars: Rogue One," while presenting with the film's first cast photo.

The film, to be directed by Gareth Edwards, tells the story of resistance fighters who plot to steal the plans to the Death Star. The cast includes Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk and Riz Ahmed.

"Rogue One takes place before the events of "Star Wars: A New Hope" and will be a departure from the saga films but have elements that are familiar to the Star Wars universe," producer Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement. "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."

The film will tell the story that were hinted at in 1977's original feature "Star Wars: A New Hope," which shows a hologram of Princess Leia speaking briefly about a group of resistance fighters who sought to steal the plans for the Death Star, which Luke Skywalker would later destroy. "Rogue One" will focus on the mission to steal the blueprints.