As Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story draws ever closer to its December 16th release date, we're starting to learn the last bits and pieces of the film's plot elements. Sure, the crux of the picture follows a team of rebels attempting to liberate the Death Star plans from the evil Empire in hopes of putting a stop to its cataclysmically destructive potential, but the heart of the film lies in its characters. Front and center in this new cast is Felicity Jones as the troubled antihero Jyn Erso.

We knew that Mads Mikkelsen would be playing Jyn's father Galen thanks to a famous slip from the actor himself, but now a new report in Belfast Live (via Screenrant) fills in the other half of Erso's parentage. Actor Valene Kane (The Fall) is confirmed to play Lyra Erso, Jyn's mother. We can presume that Lyra's scenes will play mainly in flashback sequences considering that Kane is actually four years younger than Jones, though Galen (Mikkelsen) remains in the film's main plot line as a person of interest on the run from the Empire. Let your own conclusions fall where they may.

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Image via Lucasfilm

Here's what Kane had to say about landing the role:

“I grew up watching Stars Wars and I didn’t believe it was happening until I was filming in Iceland. It has a really edgy independent vibe.”

That edgy, independent vibe will be on display when the film opens this December, but fans can also get their hands on the James Luceno prequel novel, "Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel" which is rumored to tell the backstory of the Erso family. Beware major spoilers if you click that last link.

Here’s the official Rogue One synopsis:

From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. In theaters December 2016.

In the meantime, you can watch these fan-made "Go Rogue" stop-motion animated shorts below:

The Empire has misplaced the building instructions to the Death Star. Jyn Erso has followed an Imperial search team to the markets of Jedha hoping to recover the instructions first.

With increasing pressure from Director Krennic, Jyn must join forces with the Rebels on Jedha to take on enemies of all shapes and sizes. Will they escape Jedha with the Empire’s building instructions? Or will Krennic’s Death Star be back on plan?

In Chapter 3, the Rebels seek the second instruction book on rain-soaked Eadu, but the Empire has beaten them to the prize. Will they be able to outsmart the scheming Director Krennic to escape with the instructions and their lives?

In the exciting conclusion, the Rebels must rely on their wits, courage and building skills to rescue one of their own from Director Krennic and escape with the LEGO building instructions. The fate of the Galaxy hangs in the balance.

For more of our coverage on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, be sure to check out some of the recent articles below:

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