Watch: New trailer for Star Wars spin-off Rogue One teases Darth Vader’s return

Trailer confirms the big-screen comeback of one of cinema’s most iconic villains

Screengrab of Darth Vader taken from the new Rogue One trailer. Photograph: Star Wars/PA Wire

The new trailer for Star Wars spin-off movie Rogue One has landed — and it ends with a tantalising glimpse of Darth Vader.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is set before the original Star Wars film A New Hope (1977), but is not part of the main series.

The two-minute clip which was released late Thursday shows the grip the evil Empire has on the galaxy, with the Death Star, TIE fighters and Imperial shuttles out in force.

Felicity Jones stars Jyn Erso, the head of a Rebel Alliance team tasked with stealing the plans of the Death Star. The film also features Diego Luna as Cassian Andor and Forest Whitaker, who plays Erso’s mentor Saw Gerrera, as well as Riz Ahmed, Donnie Yen and Ben Mendelsohn.

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Viewers get a momentary glimpse of Darth Vader in the official trailer for Star Wars Rogue One. Video: Star Wars

And Darth Vader returns in the closing seconds of the trailer.

The return of one of the most famous villains in film history has been rumoured since the standalone Star Wars films were first announced.

Director Gareth Edwards, whose previous credits include Godzilla, is making the movie. He recently admitted that James Earl Jones — who provides the voice of Darth Vader — had come in to record some dialogue for a character in Rogue One, but refused to confirm exactly who it was.

- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is due to open on December 16th.