With a brand-new STAR WARS film set to be released each and every year for the foreseeable future, we're going to be bombarded with merchandise based upon the various new characters, vehicles, and weapons in each of these movies. Cue the reveal of the Rebel Alliance's latest new ship from the upcoming ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY. Matt Martin of the Lucasfilm story group appeared on The Star Wars Show to debut the new ship, which is called a U-Wing.
Also included were several 360 degree turnaround videos which showed off the different configurations of the new ship. Martin says that the U-Wing is a "troop transport and gun ship, so it's there to bring in rebel troops through heavy fire zones and get out as quickly as possible. The wings move depending on the situation and it's there to both drop off troops and provide air support." If you're thinking that the U-Wing looks rather familiar, perhaps it's because we've actually already seen a part of it at Star Wars Celebration last year in a piece of ROGUE ONE concept art, although we didn't know it at the time.
At this year's Star Wars Celebration, a sizzle reel was screened which showed off more ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY footage as well as a look behind-the-scenes. Contained within that behind-the-scenes footage was our first look at a great looking new alien, who we later found out was named Bistan, serving as a door gunner aboard a U-Wing.
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is set for a December 17, 2016 release.
The U-Wing reveal begins at 1:21.