It is crazy to think that in the next 24 hours or so we’ll collectively be seeing the next Star Wars movie. Even crazier, to me at least, is that we are now less than a year away from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the first of the anthology films. For the first time we will have a Star Wars stand-alone spin-off made made for the theater with top-notch production value.

Make no mistake: a lot is riding on The Force Awakens. But in another way, just as much is riding on Rogue One. In the big picture, there will probably be more stand-alone Star Wars films than episodes in the Skywalker saga. This first one will set the bar. It will say Star Wars can be more than just a serial-style marathon running two hours long. George Lucas and Dave Filoni proved as much with Star Wars: The Clone Wars, so the fans that have always been with Star Wars know this. But this will be that proof on the big screen done with gusto and quality in a way we have never seen before.

With just one year to go, we get to bask in the greatness that The Force Awakens will hopefully bring, look forward to Episode VIII and almost in the middle of that, enjoy Rogue One which will enhance A New Hope in ways we hadn’t thought possible.

How cool is that?

I look forward to discussing Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with everyone throughout the year!