Rogue One: 8 Reasons To Be Excited Even If You Aren't A Star Wars Fan
4. Darth Vader Returns!
In a sense, Darth Vader has transcended the franchise in which he was born. He's no longer 'just a Star Wars villain' - he's a cultural icon, and even people who've never seen the movies will know his name instantly. Even his voice, his helmet and his pitch-black cape are iconic, and they've become synonymous not just with Star Wars - but with cinema as a medium.
And that means his return to the big-screen is an exciting moment that the entire movie-going public can share in - not just die-hard fans of the series. One of The Force Awakens' biggest problems - from the point of view of an outsider - was that most of its standout moments were pure fan-service, but there's no such issue here. Vader's a great villain, period, and he doesn't need Star Wars to make him seem intimidating, menacing and cool.
We know that he's in Rogue One, but we don't know to what extent - though it's safe to assume he'll be a background presence, saved for a handful of standout moments, and this is exactly the right move. Too much Vader and it's just fan-service all over again, but small doses? Rogue One won't be just a Star Wars event - it'll be a cinematic event for all to enjoy.