Star Wars Rogue One props photos revealed

At Star Wars Celebration Europe, Lucasfilm has installed a display of costumes and vehicle models from this December's Rogue One. Here's what we've learned from the exhibit...

Here is the pristine, almost glowing white uniform of Ben Mendelsohn's Director Orson Krennic, the chief of the Empire's Advanced Weapons Research division. Since we saw the Death Star under construction in Revenge of the Sith, the question is why it took nearly two decades before it was operational in the original Star Wars. It turns out, the Emperor wants an answer for that, too. A placard beside the costume indicates the "cruel but brilliant" Krennic faces extra pressure because the project is "long-delayed."

The black-masked Death Troopers are described as “elite soldiers of Imperial Intelligence.” The gleaming, dark armor designates them as bodyguards and enforcers for Director Krennic, tasked with protecting him and carrying out his will as he oversees Advanced Weapons Research for the Empire, racing to complete the Death Star.

Director Krennic’s shuttle seems at first glance to be similar to Kylo Ren’s starship from decades later in The Force Awakens. Krennic’s vessel has a similar bat-wing design, but its cockpit has more of a pyramid shape, with a single shark fin on top. Described as the Delta-class T-3c shuttle, the placard says: “Once it lands and deploys its passengers… all sense of dread proves extremely warranted.”

A model of the nearly completed Death Star, which is missing only a few key elements before it becomes fully operational under the supervision of Director Krennic. This display marks it as “the brainchild of Grand Moff Tarkin,” the character played by Peter Cushing in the original film. Along with Darth Vader, fans are expecting to see Tarkin again onscreen, even though Cushing died in 1994.

Costumes for the Rebel soldiers Baze Malbus (Jiang Wen) at left, and Chirrut Imwe (Donnie Yen) at right. As EW previously reported, Chirrut is a blind warrior monk who “believes all living things are connected through the Force.” The display had more new information about his friend and protector: “The harsh reality of his Imperial-occupied home world has hardened Baze Malbus into a pragmatic soldier and a crack shot with his heavy repeater cannon. Baze has bravado that provides a marked contrast to the spiritual centeredness of his best friend and moral compass, Chirrut Imwe.” Their homeworld: Jedha, a place sacred to followers of the Force -- but also of special interest to the Empire.

Felicity Jones’ costume as Jyn Erso, a reluctant Rebel infiltrator whose father (Mads Mikkelsen) is a scientist whose knowledge will help complete the Death Star. “Use to operating alone, she finds higher purpose by taking on a desperate mission for the Rebel Alliance.” Beside her is the cold-weather gear of Capt. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), who is renowned for "his ability to keep a cool head under fire and complete his missions with minimal resources."

We get an explanation for the Imperial insignia on the shoulder of Rebel pilot Bodhi Rook (Riz Ahmed). He is a former pilot for the Empire, who must still be wearing pieces of his old uniform. He's a traitor of sorts, like Finn a generation later, but he is a turncoat for the right cause: "Ever practical, but highly anxious, Bodhi must gather his courage to bring the battle to the Empire."

Here's why we haven't seen the fang-shaped Imperial dog-fighters before -- they're primarily meant for planetary battle, and the original trilogy conflicts all played out in space. "A streamlined variant of the classic TIE Fighter design, the TIE Striker is designed for atmospheric patrols over important military ground-based installations. The versatile design can also soar in space, where it can accompany traditional TIE Fighters in chasing down enemy starships."

Here is the bigger, stronger version of the AT-AT -- this one known as the AT-ACT, or all-terrain armored cargo transport. "A larger version of the standard combat AT-AT, the AT-ACT walker features a dedicated cargo bed for the transportation of heavy building materials or combat munitions," according to the placard on display. "It was deployed at major Imperial construction projects, such as shipyards and sprawling research installations." One such place - Scarif, the tropical world used as a base of operations for the construction of the Death Star.

Pity the poor old-school stormtroopers. This was their description. "Stormtroopers are the faceless legions of soldiers serving the Galactic Empire. Encased in white armor, stormtroopers are loyal Imperialists who undergo rigorous training that strips them of any sense of individuality." They are tucked in the background behind a new type of soldier from Rogue One, the Shoretroopers. These warriors were described as patrol officers "stationed at the top secret Imperial military headquarters," where they "patrol the beaches and bunkers of the planetary facility." Now we know -- the name of this world is Scarif. It's a beautiful place, but something horrible is being developed there. It floats up in the sky, impossible to miss.