We finally have got a glimpse of Doctor Strange in action.

The movie based on the Marvel character, played by Benedict Cumberbatch and set to open in theaters in November, was shooting scenes in New York City on Saturday and social media became flooded with shots from the set.

Here are a few.

SEE ALSO: The 30 most expensive movies ever made

Cumberbatch really looks the part as the brilliant surgeon turned sorcerer.

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Benedict Cumberbatch is filming #DoctorStrange in NYC today!!! FIRST PHOTOS: https://t.co/eWli5xdzwipic.twitter.com/vWh4OsOPu9

On a rainy afternoon in New York, it seems they were shooting an action sequence for the movie.

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Juuumpin' in the rain#BenedictCumberbatch#NYC#DoctorStrangepic.twitter.com/PquyD6tbeP

Yes, Baron Mordo (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) was there, too.

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Nouvelle photo de tournage pour le film #Marvel#DoctorStrange avec Benedict Cumberbatch et Chiwetel Ejiofor. pic.twitter.com/WR5Sec2No1

Chemistry can be important when it comes to making a movie, but in some cases when it comes to the end result it doesn't matter.

That seems to be the case with "Mad Max: Fury Road."

In a profile in WSJ Magazine, Charlize Theron revealed that she and costar Tom Hardy weren't the best of friends during the nine-month shoot making "Fury Road."

“From what I hear, he’s not like that on every movie—I hear he’s had good experiences,” said Theron. “Maybe the movie is what it is because we struggled so much with each other, and those characters had to struggle so much with each other. If we were chum-chum, maybe the movie would have been 10 times worse."

In the movie, Theron plays Imperator Furiosa, a strong-willed woman trying to escape from her ruler. Hardy plays Max, the outsider who first clashes with Furiosa and then teams with her against the tyrant chasing them.

“I’m not saying that they were seething right through, but the trajectory of the characters can’t help but seep into the work,” said "Fury Road" director George Miller in the WSJ story. “When they first meet each other, they’re trying to kill each other. As the two characters come together out of necessity and rather reluctantly, they have to find a degree of trust. And to some extent that was the trajectory of their relationship as well.”

The movie would go on to be one of the biggest hits of 2015, grossing over $370 million worldwide and winning six Oscars.

As Hardy is the face of the franchise it's likely he would return if rumors of a "Mad Max" sequel are true. But with this revelation, you have to wonder if Theron would as well.

SEE ALSO: Photos of Benedict Cumberbatch on the set of "Doctor Strange" show he's perfect for the role

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NOW WATCH: Here's why 'Mad Max' really won so many Oscars

Movies focusing on politics take many forms. They can have a serious stance on a major issue or moment in history, or make fun of the whole system with a satirical plot. Regardless, the genre has over the years produced some of the most gripping, entertaining movies.

One of the best political movies ever made, “All the President’s Men,” just celebrated its 40th anniversary. In honor of the occasion, and with the backdrop of the election, we thought it was a good time to rank the greatest the genre has produced.

Here are the top 22.

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22. “The Distinguished Gentleman” (1992)

Eddie Murphy plays a Florida con man who realizes he has been missing out on the biggest con of all: being a politician. Winning a seat in Congress because he has the same name as a longtime Congressman in his district who suddenly passed away before the election, he proceeds to turn DC upside down. Honestly, this is one of Eddie Murphy's last great comedies while at his height in Hollywood.  

21. “Nixon” (1995)

Anthony Hopkins playing Richard Nixon in Oliver Stone's epic look at the 37th president is hit-and-miss at moments, but as with any great actor, in the moments when he's right, the movie thrives. But Stone also examines the shrewdness of Nixon, as one moment he's in the bugged Oval Office tearing apart his legacy and another he's confronted by Vietnam protesters at the Lincoln Memorial and he actively tries to understand what they are against. 

20. “Milk” (2008)

Sean Penn earned an Oscar win for his performance as Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay politician to be elected to public office. The movie chronicles Milk's struggle as a gay activist in San Francisco in the late 1970s and ends with his shocking assassination. As with almost everything he's in, Penn gives a moving performance.

Critics agree that the striking imagery of the battle against Doomsday in "Batman v Superman" was one of the best parts of the film.

Now, you can get a closer look at what went into creating the scene. Artist and illustrator Vance Kovacs shared concept art for the final battle of "Dawn of Justice" on his personal Facebook page.  Kovacs, who has 20 years experience in art and design, drew inspiration from classic paintings like Rembrandt's "The Descent of the Cross" when creating the scene. 

Read on to see more of his artwork and check out the rest on his Facebook page. 

SEE ALSO: 10 ways 'Supergirl' is just like 'Superman'

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Batman, in his fortified Mech Suit, tackles Superman during their dramatic rooftop battle.

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Post by: The Art of Vance Kovacs

Batman's cowl is shattered and knocked off following a kick from Superman.

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The trio band together to take down Doomsday, forming a perfect triangle around the beast.

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Post by: The Art of Vance Kovacs

Erik Bauersfeld, who memorably voiced the Rebellion's Admiral Ackbar in "Return of the Jedi" and "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," has died. He was 93.

The voice actor and radio drama producer passed away on Sunday morning at his home in Berkeley, Calif., his manager, Derek Maki, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

In the 1983 space opera, Bauersfeld voiced Ackbar — delivering the iconic line, "It's a trap!"— when the fate of the alliance looks grim during the Death Star fleet attack.

He also voiced Jabba the Hutt's staffer Bib Fortuna in the same film. He returned to voice Ackbar in last year's J.J. Abrams-directed blockbuster "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Bauersfeld's other roles include voice work in last year's Guillermo Del Toro film "Crimson Peak" and Steven Spielberg's 2001 film "A.I. Artificial Intelligence."

"The voice work I did in movies was accidental,"wrote Bauersfeld on the website for his non-profit, Bay Area Radio Drama. "I was working with Randy Thom on radio dramas at his technical quarters at Lucasfilm. One day Ben Burtt, sound designer for 'Star Wars,' came by and asked if I would audition for a voice in the movie."

He is also credited with voiceover work for the Ackbar character in "Star Wars: X-Wing," a 1993 flight simulator video game. 

SEE ALSO: The 22 best political movies ever, ranked

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Joel McHale is in final negotiations to portray Chevy Chase, with whom he starred in NBC’s "Community," in Netflix’s tragic story of "National Lampoon" co-founder Douglas Kenney, "A Futile and Stupid Gesture." 

Will Forte is starring as Kenney with Domnhall Gleeson as fellow co-founder Henry Beard in the feature being directed by David Wain, the co-creator of "Wet Hot American Summer."

Kenney was the editor of the "Harvard Lampoon" when he met Henry Beard and Robert Hoffman, which, soon after graduation, resulted in the creation of "National Lampoon," the humor magazine that became a major force and brand in 1970s comedy. Kenney ended up going Hollywood and succumbed to drug and alcohol issues before falling off a cliff in Hawaii under mysterious circumstances.

Kenney co-wrote "Caddyshack," the 1980 comedy that was an early Chase hit and the two were close friends. Chase was with his troubled pal in Hawaii before his death but returned to Los Angeles for work. He was set to fly back when he received word that Kenney was missing.

"Stupid Gesture" is eyeing an April start with a budget in the $15 to $20 million range.

Peter Principato and Jonathan Stern are producing. Ed Helms is executive producing along with Colton and Aboud. Ben Ormand, Ted Hamm and Sean McKittrick are also exec producing.

McHale starred with Chase in five out of "Community's" six seasons. The actor-comedian, who continues to tour sold out comedy shows across the U.S., is starring in the CBS pilot "The Great Indoors," which shoots later this month. He also has his memoir titled Thanks for the Money: How to Use my Life Story to Become the Best Joel McHale You Can Be, hitting shelves in November.

McHale is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

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Would a Han Solo who's not Harrison Ford be the same sarcastic hero every "Star Wars" fan cherishes?

What would "Lord of the Rings" look like with Nicolas Cage in one of the main roles?

Characters become iconic thanks in large part to the actors who bring them to life, and it's often hard to imagine anyone else in the role after the fact.

But some actors are fired from a role, some leave due to other commitments, and some just don't accept the offer. 

When a offer is first presented, it can be hard to see how successful a film might become. Some actors regret turning down a project, but others, like Jack Nicholson, know that it can be the right choice, no matter how popular or critically adored the film might become. 

Here are 30 iconic characters that were almost played by different actors:  

SEE ALSO: The 22 best political movies ever, ranked

Leonardo DiCaprio — Dirk Diggler in "Boogie Nights"

Played by: Mark Wahlberg

After watching him in "The Basketball Diaries," Paul Thomas Anderson wanted DiCaprio to star in "Boogie Nights." DiCaprio turned it down to appear in "Titanic," but recommended his friend and "Basketball Diaries" costar Mark Wahlberg.

DiCaprio told GQ in 2008 that he regretted turning down the role. "'Boogie Nights' is a movie I loved and I wish I would've done." When asked if he would reverse his decision if he could, DiCaprio said, "I'm not saying I would have. But it would have been a different direction, career-wise. I think they're both great and wish I could have done them both."

DiCaprio was also offered $20 million by Lionsgate to portray crazed serial killer Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho," even though director Mary Harron wanted Christian Bale in the role. She was replaced by director Oliver Stone, but DiCaprio and Stone couldn't agree on a creative direction, so DiCaprio left to film "The Beach." Harron returned to the project and Bale was cast. 

Al Pacino — Han Solo in "Star Wars"

Played by: Harrison Ford

During the An Evening with Pacino event in 2013, Pacino revealed that he could have played the iconic role of Han Solo in the "Star Wars" franchise.

"It was mine for the taking but I didn’t understand the script," he said.

He also revealed that he turned down roles in "Apocalypse Now" and "Pretty Woman," eventually played by Marlon Brando and Richard Gere, respectively.  

Marilyn Monroe — Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

Played by: Audrey Hepburn 

Truman Capote, the author of "Breakfast at Tiffany's," wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly, but Monroe turned it down because she was warned that portraying Holly might be bad for her image. 

With "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," has Warner Bros. finally turned a corner?

After an abysmal run of expensive underperformers including "Jupiter Ascending,""Pan," and "In the Heart of the Sea," the studio launched its effort at a Marvel-style film universe with the DC Comics movie that had been touted as proof the regime installed in 2013 and headed by chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara was getting on track. But a dizzying 69 percent plunge that followed its March-record $166.1 million domestic opening ($422.5 million worldwide) means "Batman" is not a clear win.

Some competitors say the film may turn a profit but hardly will be the money gusher studios hope for when they pour massive resources into making a giant tentpole with a big star — with a budget in this case said to be in excess of $300 million, and Ben Affleck. "The biggest problem," says the head of a rival studio, "is that it is not turning [DC] into Marvel. The audience has communicated, as have the critics." One agent notes "BvS" likely won't get to $1 billion despite launching the universe with "two of the most iconic characters in history." Pointing out that "Jurassic World" pulled in $1.67 billion globally, he continues, "you can't tell me "Batman v. Superman" is so much less valuable."

Several sources say Warner Bros. executives were convinced they had the goods with "BvS" and were shocked when negative reviews began pouring in. Now, with DC movies dated through 2020, the outcome has led to a flurry of rumors that the studio will make adjustments — maybe add a new producer? — rather than allow "BvS" director Zack Snyder to proceed with the two-part "Justice League." But sources with firsthand knowledge of the situation say the studio has no such plans. One says the filmmakers naturally will evaluate what went wrong with "BvS," but when it comes to "Justice League,""we're not going to take a movie that's supposed to be one thing and turn it into a copycat of something else."

Many top industry executives believe the troubles with "BvS" are the latest sign of the instability created when Time Warner chairman and CEO Jeff Bewkes ousted Alan Horn as president in 2011. That set the stage for the infamous executive bake-off and the exit of Jeff Robinov, then head of the successful film group.

Ultimately, Bewkes promoted Tsujihara to the top Warners job and created a committee to run the film studio that includes president Greg Silverman and marketing and distribution chief Sue Kroll. It's fair to say things haven't gone so well since. (Warners' loss was Disney's gain, with Horn presiding over that studio as it has become dominant.)

In an era of turmoil and transformation, even competitors aren't eager to see a legacy studio like Warner Bros. struggle. Warners long has been known for its commitment to filmmaker- and star-driven projects, but sources see signs of a change in culture, though the studio denies there is one. Several executives and agents say Warners seems to be greenlighting fewer homegrown movies as it focuses on silos that echo those that generate so many hits for Disney (Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, and Disney Animation). In Warners' case, the silos are DC Comics, Lego, and a planned franchise spun off from the "Harry Potter" series. Tsujihara has touted that trio as the linchpin of his film strategy, and now, much like Disney, has eschewed all but a few original live-action films. Overall, sources say there is an understanding Warners is aiming to release fewer homegrown films than the industry-leading 21 it did in 2015. The studio still will make some movies from "family" directors including Affleck, Clint Eastwood, Christopher Nolan, and Todd Phillips. But the emphasis is elsewhere. One insider says the studio will remain a dominant distributor, but "when you get to almost a movie every other weekend or a period where there's a movie three weeks in a row, that's too much."

Warners maintains there has been no change in policy. "Warner Bros. has historically had the biggest, most diverse slate in the motion picture industry," says a rep in a statement. "We did last year, we will this year, and we will continue to do so into the foreseeable future." (The studio says it will release 18 movies this year and is projected to release 19 in 2017.)

But a person who does extensive business at Warners says it has entered a phase that's not only about the number of releases. "It's not dramatic, but it is uncharted territory for them," he says. "They were always filmmaker-driven — that might now not be the case as much. They had a bad 18 months. How could there not be some kind of reaction to that?" Says another executive with business at the studio: "It's a strange path to a greenlight now. It takes longer."

Warners could have some bright spots this year. "Suicide Squad" (Aug. 5) might be the fan hit the DC universe needs. The studio will have a potential draw for adults with Eastwood's hero pilot pic "Sully" (Sept. 9). And on Nov. 18, Warners will launch what seems its surest four-quadrant bet, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." But, notes analyst Steve Birenberg of Northlake Capital Management, "Time Warner has some work ahead, and it would be helpful if the next movie in the DC relaunch were more widely praised."

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"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has crushed box-office records since its December 18 release, taking only 12 days to gross $1 billion and only 20 to surpass "Avatar" as the highest-grossing domestic film ($934.96 million to "Avatar's" $760.51 million, unadjusted for inflation).

But even with its numerous and impressive records, after 16 weekends, "The Force Awakens" won't pass "Avatar" as the highest-grossing film worldwide.

In fact, it sits third behind James Cameron's "Avatar" and Cameron's "Titanic" in global grosses.  

"The Force Awakens" has earned $2.07 billion worldwide compared to "Avatar's" $2.79 billion and "Titanic's" $2.19 billion.

While "The Force Awakens" dominated the US box office, it didn't rake in nearly as much money in foreign markets. Where "The Force Awakens" made $1.13 billion outside of the US, "Avatar" earned a staggering $2.03 billion.

Different factors, including theater runs and cultural significance, contributed to how the box-office records played out for the films. In China, the largest movie market behind the US, "The Force Awakens" has pulled in $125.4 million, but that is significantly less than the $204.1 million "Avatar" earned during its run. 

Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at ComScore, told Vulture that "Star Wars" resonates more with American audiences.

"'Star Wars' is such a definitively American piece of culture, and so it resonated particularly well in North America, setting a record that should stand for a long period of time,” Dergarabedian said. “But China did not provide the boost or muscle to put it over the top worldwide.”

The impact of "The Force Awakens" can't be denied, but it's going to have to settle for not quite winning at everything.

SEE ALSO: 30 iconic roles that were almost played by different actors

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Warning: Major Spoilers ahead for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Kylo Ren, resident bad-guy of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," is a complex and compelling villain. Born to two of the heroic characters in the original trilogy — Princess Leia and Han Solo — Kylo rebelled against his parents, choosing the Dark Side and embarking upon a bleak and murderous journey. 

In light of the Blu-ray release on April 5, Director J.J. Abrams revealed yet another dark layer to Kylo's personality in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. In the final cut of the movie, Kylo Ren removes his helmet to interrogate Rey about the secret map she saw. He places the helmet onto a table containing ash of some sort. Turns out, that was no ordinary table of ash.

"The backstory is, that that table has the ashes of the enemies he’s killed," Abrams told EW. "That moment was actually shot for, and meant to be used in, the scene where he was talking to the Vader mask."

That is some next level serial-killer behavior, Kylo. Though Abrams clears up the mystery behind the dusty design, this explanation actually creates even more questions. How exactly does he get their ashes? Is there a mini incinerator in his room? Does Kylo burn the bodies of his dead enemies, and then use a broom and dustpan to collect his ash-trophies? Did he go recover the body of his father, Han Solo, and burn him too? We certainly hope not. 

Either way, this factoid brings a new level of malevolence to Kylo Ren's already sinister demeanor. Perhaps we'll see the ash table again in future films, and this time we will be able to appreciate the creepiness in the moment. 

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NOW WATCH: Scientists say blowing up the Death Star would have had a catastrophic result

If you've ever wondered how your favorite star can look forever resistant to age, well, turns out there's some technique behind it.

That actor may be getting digitally retouched.

Special effects aren't just for huge explosions or creating herds of dinosaurs trampling everything in their path. They also can and do take pimples off of teen stars, erase years off actors' faces, and elongate bodies to create slimmer physiques.

And some actors require the use of digital retouching in their contracts.

“For a top actress, it’s usually non-contractual with us, so that that document never gets out,” a top entertainment attorney said anonymously in Vulture's recent feature on digital retouching. “It’s in everyone’s best interest that she not look haggard and that her jowls don’t look too old or whatever.”

The article points to the "suspiciously plasticky" 2010 film "The Tourist," which stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. 

Here's what Vulture's story exposes about the secret use of digital retouching in movies and TV:

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Digital retouching isn't just for the ladies.

Michael Shannon, who played Zod in "Batman v Superman," said digital retouching can be a leading man's best friend, too.

“In postproduction, if they want your nose to be a little smaller or a little bigger, that’s up to them, man,” Shannon said. “Some attractive person gets out of a swimming pool dripping wet? Nobody wants to see how they really look: It’s fantasy.”

And at age 63, Paul Reubens was emphatic about casting a younger actor to play his iconic character Pee-wee Herman in Netflix's "Pee-wee's Big Holiday." But digital retouching made it possible for him to play the timeless character again.

‘‘Pee-wee doesn’t work, to me, with age mixed into it," Reubens told The New York Times. "So I knew I wanted digital retouching, and that was my biggest concern from the get-go, with [producer Judd Apatow], when it came to budgeting, because it costs a fortune. I could have had a face-lift and we would have saved two million dollars.’’

The technique is also used to make the young and beautiful even younger and more beautiful.

Hollywood veterans don't hold the monopoly on digital retouching. Producers are using the tech on young actors, as well. Pimples, for example, don't have to be an embarrassing situation. On "Glee," for example, a director revealed, "There was a pimple pass on most episodes."

And even the most perfect people on the planet, models, get a helping hand from the tech. 

Visual-effects supervisor Jim Rider, whose credits include "Vinyl" and "Foxcatcher," said, “I’ve done beauty retouching on women who are practically supermodels."

CGI may make you reconsider an actor's "body" of work.

Today, Christian Bale wouldn't need to drop a deadly 63 pounds for "The Machinist." Digital retouching can take the physical element out of preparing for a role. For example, Jack O'Connell was saved from having to lose all the weight necessary to play a Nazi concentration camp prisoner in the Angelina Jolie-directed film "Unbroken."

And "Homeland" simply hid star Claire Danes' pregnancy by digitally replacing her baby bump with a model's flat torso.

Beauty and physicality are really just the tip of the iceberg for computer-generated imagery, or CGI, in Hollywood. It's being used in all kinds of unexpected performance-enhancing ways, according to Vulture.

Universal Studios is finally ready to open its much-anticipated Harry Potter theme park. Here's what it looks like!

Produced by Matt Stuart. Video courtesy of Universal Studios.

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Warner Bros. has changed its upcoming film schedule and added dates for three untitled projects through 2020.

The Andy Serkis-directed "Jungle Book," which was slated for October 6, 2017, has been pushed back a year to October 19, 2018. 

Serkis posted a message to Facebook Wednesday and said that he is "absolutely thrilled" that the date has changed because "the ambition for this project is huge." 

Disney's live-action version of "Jungle Book" will be released April 15. 

The studio has also made changes to the DC cinematic universe. The release date for "Wonder Woman," starring "Batman v Superman's" Gal Gadot, has been moved up from June 23, 2017 to June 2, 2017. 

WB had nine DC films planned through 2020, which includes March's "Batman v Superman." It has now added two more untitled superhero films for October 5, 2018 and November 1, 2019. They join "Wonder Woman,""Suicide Squad" (August 5, 2016), "The Justice League Part One (Nov. 17, 2017), "The Flash" (March 16, 2018), "Aquaman" (July 27, 2018), "Shazam!" (April 5, 2019), "Justice League Part Two" (June 14, 2019), and "Cyborg" (April 3, 2020). An untitled event film is also slated for October 6, 2017.

The studio is reportedly shifting its strategy in the face of fan and critical backlash to "Batman v Superman." It's focusing more closely on franchise-based films in hopes that they will generate hits, insiders say.

SEE ALSO: 30 iconic roles that were almost played by different actors

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It's here!

Disney and Lucasfilm debuted the first official teaser trailer for its next "Star Wars" movie, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," on "Good Morning America" Thursday morning.

Starring Felicity Jones ("The Theory of Everything") Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, and Mads Mikkelsen, the film will take place before the events of 1977's "Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope." The film will follow a group of resistance fighters who head on a mission to steal plans for the Death Star.

"Rogue One" will be in theaters December 16.

Check it out below!

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NOW WATCH: How much it would cost to 3D print the Death Star and other real and fictional landmarks

Lucasfilm just released a 90-second trailer for its first 'Star Wars' spin-off movie titled "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." The film is scheduled for release on December 16, 2016.

"Rogue One" tells the story of the rebel crew tasked with stealing the plans for the Empire's super-weapon the Death Star. Essentially, it's a prequel to the original "Star Wars," which begins with Princess Leia hiding the plans inside the droid R2-D2 before sending him to the desert planet Tattoine where he eventually encounters Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi.

The prequel is directed by Gareth Edwards, who recently helmed the "Godzilla" reboot for Warner Brothers. Lucasfilm has confirmed another "Star Wars" spin-off — a Han Solo origin story scheduled for release in 2018. 

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The first trailer for "Star Wars: Rogue One" just hit the internet. While some of the settings may look familiar, most of the characters do not. Here's what's going on in the latest addition to a galaxy far, far away.

Produced by Matt Stuart. Video courtesy of Disney.

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We're now just eight months away from the premiere of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," and Disney has finally released the first official teaser trailer for the standalone film.

Taking place before the events of the 1977 original film, "Rogue One" follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and a group of Rebel fighters on a mission to steal plans for the Death Star.

While the title for the first film in the "Star Wars" anthology series was announced in March 2015, little information has been released since then, but the new trailer provides a glimpse into the rebellion.

We've compiled what we know — along with a few popular rumors — to hold us over until more clips are released.

Here is everything we know about "Rogue One":

SEE ALSO: The first trailer for the next 'Star Wars' movie 'Rogue One' is here

The film is the first in the "Star Wars Anthology," a series of standalone films, which will include movies dedicated to Han Solo and bounty hunter Boba Fett.

Gareth Edwards, known for the 2014 "Godzilla" reboot, will direct the film.

The script was written by Chris Weitz ("About a Boy"), based on an idea from visual-effects supervisor John Knoll. Gary Whitta ("After Earth") was originally hired to write the screenplay, but he left the project after writing the first draft.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Don't read this post if you want to avoid potential spoilers or speculation about "Rogue One", the new "Star Wars" movie that comes out this December.

There's a lot to unpack in the new "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" trailer, but one shot in particular has everyone scratching their heads.

Who is this person?

Since "Rogue One" tells the story of how the Rebels stole the original Death Star plans and takes place shortly before the events of "A New Hope", a lot of people think it could be Darth Vader. (Vader has been rumored to have a small role in the film, after all.)

It's a smart guess. Black cloak? Imperial guards? Kneeling before... some kind of glowing column thing? Sure. This scene seems to fit Vader's vibe.

My theory: It's a new villain who's powerful in the Dark Side and this shot is just a trick to make us think we're looking at Vader. 

In the "Force Unleashed" video game series — which are no longer part of the official "Star Wars" canon, by the way — Vader has a secret apprentice named Galen Marek. Perhaps the character we see in the trailer is Marek or a character based off him. And the shot we have from the trailer could be this apprentice approaching Vader for a meeting to discuss whatever it is Dark Side villains like to talk about.

The "Rogue One" teaser left out one big actor in the film, Mads Mikkelsen ("Hannibal"). Maybe he's the man under the cloak? 

We're about to get a new "Star Wars" movie with loads of new characters. As great as it'd be to see Vader in "Rogue One", it'd be a lazy move to make him the main bad guy again. Let's see something fresh. A new Dark Side villain (plus a brief cameo from Vader) is much more exciting.

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NOW WATCH: How much it would cost to 3D print the Death Star and other real and fictional landmarks

Disney just released the first teaser trailer for "Star Wars: Rogue One."

Coming December 16, the film takes place before the original Star Wars film, "Episode IV: A New Hope," and tells the story of a group of resistance fighters and their mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. 

The teaser is short on plot details, but we received our first glimpses of the rebel team in action. "Rogue One" is the first of three planned spin-off movies set in the "Star Wars" universe at varying points in the overall timeline. We've already dissected all the intriguing plot hints in the awesome new trailer. Now, it's time to get to know the cast. 

Meet the cast of "Rogue One" below.

Felicity Jones will star as a fiery young rebel named Jyn.

Jones will star as Jyn, a young woman who joins the rebellion and apparently leads the Rogue One team. 

While Jones has been acting since the late '90s — she's appeared on shows like "Doctor Who" and had a minor role in "Amazing Spider-Man 2" that would have ostensibly led to a bigger part in the now-scrapped series — she received much acclaim (and an Oscar nomination) for playing Jane Hawking opposite Eddie Redmayne in the Stephen Hawking bio pic "The Theory of Everything."

Ben Mendelsohn is an imposing, unknown villain.

A character actor with a penchant for playing villainous people in the States and a longtime leading man in his native Australia, Ben Mendelsohn is an actor you've almost certainly seen (most likely as Dagget in "The Dark Knight Rises") but whose face you'll likely recognize more than his name.

Mendelsohn is an intense, unsettling performer in his best roles (like Danny Rayburn in Netflix's "Bloodline"), and appears in the trailer as a terrifying figure in white. 

Mexican actor Diego Luna will also suit up to join the Rogue One team.

A Mexican actor who exploded on the scene with 2001's "Y Tu Mamá También," Diego Luna spent much of his career in Spanish-language cinema, occasionally surfacing in big films like  "The Terminal" and landing a pivotal role in the Academy Award-nominated "Milk." 

Disney and Lucasfilm released the first teaser trailer for its next "Star Wars" movie, "Rogue One" Thursday morning.

"Rogue One" will take place before the events of 1977's "Star Wars: A New Hope" as a group of rebel fighters and pilots go on a mission to steal the plans for the Death Star. It will kick off the first of three standalone "Star Wars" stories. 

If you haven't watched the trailer, check it out here.

Good? Keep reading to see what's in store when "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" comes to theaters December 16, 2016.

We're introduced to Jyn (Felicity Jones) at the trailer's start.

According to the French "Star Wars" YouTube channel, her full name is Jyn Erso.

We quickly learn that she may not be the most trustworthy woman. We hear a man list off a few criminal charges including forgery, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

In other words, you shouldn't mess with her.