'Rogue One' spoilers: 'Star Wars' spinoff ditches opening crawl; film introduces new changes to the franchise

Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) wearing what could be a Kyber crystal necklace in a screenshot from the "Rogue One" international trailer YouTube/LucasFilm

It looks like "Rogue One" really is letting go of one of the most notable components of the "Star Wars" film franchise: the iconic opening crawl.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly yesterday, Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, revealed that the upcoming "Star Wars" spinoff war film would be introducing a few major changes to the film franchise. One of these changes is the decision to cut off the opening crawl in "Rogue One," a choice made to highlight the fact that the spinoff war film has little to do with the traditional "Star Wars" saga.

"We feel that that is proprietary with the saga films. But how this evolves...? We haven't fully decided, and [traditional 'Star Wars' elements] may be pretty spare for this first one," the LucasFilm president explained.

Aside from the cancelled opening crawl, it seems like a lot of the music incorporated in "Rogue One" are going to be original scores by composer Michael Giacchino. Though there will be a few tones set as a homage to the original score done by John Williams, it looks like the upcoming "Star Wars" spinoff will try its best to stand out in the franchise.

Kiri Hart who was also part of the interview with the publication explained that "Rogue One" was selected exactly because of the film's differences with the traditional "Star Wars" movies. Though the film had similar elements as of "New Hope," it also expanded the stories of the "Star Wars" film franchise.

In a separate interview with Variety, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams praised the ability of the "Star Wars" universe to tell different kinds of stories, including spin-offs like "Rogue One."

"One of the many wonderful byproducts of the universe that George created is that nearly anything can happen within it. There are other stories that we can tell in that same transportive and transcendent spirit. Going forward, you're going to see movies that shift tonally, some that are grittier and tougher, and some more comedic in nature," Abrams explained.

News
Sudan authorities use bureaucracy to stop church rebuilding and worship
Sudan authorities use bureaucracy to stop church rebuilding and worship

Authorities in Sudan are obstructing efforts by a church to rebuild and even to use their place of worship

Ramadan ‘offers a unique opportunity’ to share the Gospel, says missiologist
Ramadan ‘offers a unique opportunity’ to share the Gospel, says missiologist

Dr Emil Saleem Shehadeh has some sage advice for how Christians can engage with their Muslim neighbours and colleagues during Ramadan.

David Tudor hit with another lifetime ministry ban
David Tudor hit with another lifetime ministry ban

Having already been banned, the latest sanction merely reinforces an earlier decision.

Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by
Armenia’s Christian civilization is under existential threat - the UK must not stand idly by

The constellation of powers that produced the eradication of the Armenian Christian presence in Nagorno Karabakh now have their sights on the Republic of Armenia itself.