"It's a ride." That's how Alan Tudyk felt after watching "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story", the latest entry in the space fantasy franchise. Tudyk, who plays a robot in the film through motion-capture, spoke at the movie's Hollywood premiere on Saturday.
"It's a ride. And after we saw it, we sat stunned, because so much of it we hadn't seen. You can say on paper – there's a fight in space. But until you see this fight in space, you don't get the sense of the power that can be behind it – the power. But it was great," Alan Tudyk said.
The movie shows the backstory to the "crawl" at the very beginning of the very first "Star Wars" film -- depicting a team of rebel spies stealing the plans for the Empire's gigantic Death Star.
Riz Ahmed plays one of those fighters. He said the soundstages for the movie made for "pretty crummy" working conditions.
"They were impressive, but they were rainy and wet and dark and sandy and dusty. I think that's something that people will notice about 'Rogue One.' It has a certain grit to it and an edge to it that will set it apart from certain other 'Star Wars' movies," Riz Ahmed said.
"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story"
Hong Kong martial arts movie star Donnie Yen agrees.
"We went to many places. And one of the places was the Maldives. But we didn't go – we didn't have a vacation. We went to work, with heavy, thick outfits under the hot, boiling son. It wasn't much pleasure," he said.
Riz Ahmed says the film's theme is very relevant today.
"I think the message of these films again is timeless. It's about family and belief and hope and people of all different backgrounds coming together to take on the bigger challenges. And I think that's an inspirational message for the human race today. We need to work together to solve the big problems that are facing us," he said.
The film's director Gareth Edwards and Disney CEO Bob Iger also attended the premiere.
"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" opens in the U.K. on Thursday and in the U.S. on Friday. The China release comes on January 12th.
