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The schematics of the Death Star are first seen in the prequel Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones, so Catalyst goes all the way back to the Clone Wars in its story. Grand Moff Tarkin, a villain well known from the original Star Wars movie, figures prominently

Adam Reynolds wrote:In the compilation trailer there also appears to be a shot of Tarkin from the back, with his distinctive haircut. I can't give a link at the moment because I am not on my computer, but I will post it later.

I also recall hearing that they used CGI to recreate Peter Cushing.

CinemaBlend wrote:Star Wars fans will forever remember Peter Cushing for his role as Grand Moff Tarkin in George Lucas' 1977 classic - and while the actor may have passed away back in 1994, apparently that may not stop him from reprising the part. That's because a new rumor is going saying that director Gareth Edwards is planning to create an entirely CGI version of the character for his upcoming Star Wars: Rogue One.

This story comes to us from the folks over at The Daily Mail (and should probably be taken with a grain of salt). According to an anonymous source, Grand Moff Tarkin will reportedly play a significant part in the plot of Star Wars: Rogue One, and that the process is one of the "most complex and costly CGI re-creations ever." No explicit details are given about how exactly the character will fit into the plot, but the source offers that it's a significant role "as he was the one to create Darth Vader." (It should be noted that this isn't actually part of the established canon, and could be proof that the news is spurious).

In case it isn't clear, we have some serious doubts about this story, but the source does offer up an interesting detail concerning what makes the process of creating a CGI Grand Moff Tarkin so complicated. During the filming of the original Star Wars, Peter Cushing found the boots worn by Imperial commanders to be incredibly uncomfortable, and got permission from George Lucas to just wear slippers on set. As a result, there's a limited amount of footage featuring Tarkin's feet, and this has reportedly necessitated the visual effects team on Star Wars: Rogue One to look back at Cushing's long film history in order to make sure the recreation is entirely realistic. If it were me, I would just make it so that his feet don't appear in any shots - partially as an ode to Cushing's performance - and, honestly, that could very well be more evidence against this accuracy of this report.

Described as a gritty war movie - in juxtaposition with the more standard space opera approach - Star Wars: Rogue One will be set in the time just before the events in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and follow the squadron sent in to steal the plans for the original Death Star. It is unknown at this time if there will be any familiar characters featured in the movie, but the impressive cast includes Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen and Alan Tudyk.

Production has actually already begun on Star Wars: Rogue One, with the film targeting a release date in December 2016. We'll just have to wait and see if it includes a CGI Peter Cushing.

Elheru Aran wrote:

Adam Reynolds wrote:Krennic might have delusions of grandeur, while Tarkin is much more conservative. Look at the way Tarkin handled himself in the briefing in A New Hope. While Vader and Motti bickered and put themselves as the center of attention, he sat off to the side and let them do so, intervening at the end. Krennic might be the one who puts himself out there and allows Tarkin and possibly Vader to destroy him.

Also, another bit I heard recently is the idea that Rouge One might explain away the exhaust port flaw. Because Jyn Erso's father was involved in the construction, perhaps he included the exhaust port as a deliberate flaw as a means to sabotage the design enough that it could eventually be destroyed. Then there is the other somewhat more crackpot theory that Jyn infiltrates the Death Star and is the wingman that crashes into Vader.

Then there is the other somewhat more crackpot theory that Jyn infiltrates the Death Star and is the wingman that crashes into Vader.

Kingmaker wrote:

Then there is the other somewhat more crackpot theory that Jyn infiltrates the Death Star and is the wingman that crashes into Vader.

I don't think any of them are going to make it that far.

Rogue 9 wrote:We hear that wingman's voice, and it's very much not female.

Adam Reynolds wrote:Krennic might have delusions of grandeur, while Tarkin is much more conservative. Look at the way Tarkin handled himself in the briefing in A New Hope. While Vader and Motti bickered and put themselves as the center of attention, he sat off to the side and let them do so, intervening at the end. Krennic might be the one who puts himself out there and allows Tarkin and possibly Vader to destroy him.

Also, another bit I heard recently is the idea that Rouge One might explain away the exhaust port flaw. Because Jyn Erso's father was involved in the construction, perhaps he included the exhaust port as a deliberate flaw as a means to sabotage the design enough that it could eventually be destroyed. Then there is the other somewhat more crackpot theory that Jyn infiltrates the Death Star and is the wingman that crashes into Vader.

Elheru Aran wrote:Re Krennic and Tarkin:

I suspect Krennic is only in the forefront in that image because he's doing the usual show-and-tell dog-and-pony show to demonstrate to the various Imperial functionaries that the Death Star is *not* a colossal waste of resources. He doesn't have to be superior to Tarkin, just in charge of the Death Star project. The image doesn't give enough context for us to assume that Krennic outranks Tarkin in some fashion.

Elheru Aran wrote:...so we get to see what it looks like from the planet when the Death Star shoots it?!

Borgholio wrote:That had to be a low power shot. Alderaan blew up so fast there wouldn't be a chance to escape. Still, a very cool visual.

Adam Reynolds wrote:I wonder if that crystal around her neck goes to a lightsaber. It would nicely fit the common theory that the Death Star and lightsabers are in some way related, that the greater energy density of the Death Star is due to something slightly exotic. For a nice touch, said crystal could eventually be the one Luke uses to make his own lightsaber.

Adam Reynolds wrote:I wonder if that crystal around her neck goes to a lightsaber. It would nicely fit the common theory that the Death Star and lightsabers are in some way related, that the greater energy density of the Death Star is due to something slightly exotic. For a nice touch, said crystal could eventually be the one Luke uses to make his own lightsaber.