Star Wars: Rogue One will spend some time watching Jyn grow up says Mads Mikkelsen

Speaking in an interview with GQ, Mads Mikkelsen, who plays Galen Erso in Star Wars: Rogue One, has let slip that the film will feature three distinct time periods.

Mikkelsen plays the father of Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso, the leader of the Rebels stealing the Death Star plans, and revealed he teamed up with three actresses playing the part: "I worked with Jyn at three stages, and three different ages, so there was a little kid that was four, one that was eight, and then there was Felicity."

We've already seen little Jyn in some of the footage (and check out the secrets hidden in the most recent Star Wars Rogue One trailer) but middle Jyn is new. It suggests we could be spending a little bit more time in the past, setting up the story and Galen's place in it, before big Jyn takes over to cause trouble for the Empire. 

Directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, and Mads Mikkelsen, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is scheduled to open in UK and US cinemas on December 16, 2016.

Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!

Images: Disney/LucasFilm

Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website. 

Latest in Star Wars Movies
Watto in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Star Wars confirms Watto isn’t dead after all in new comic, and fans are celebrating his miraculous survival
The Rise of Skywalker
Despite those retirement reports, Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy is "very involved" in the Rey Star Wars movie, according to Daisy Ridley
Liam Neeson as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
After 26 years, a secret Star Wars reference to George Lucas has been uncovered: "We got a new Phantom Menace Easter Egg before GTA 6"
Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace
"Wise mentor" or "awful Jedi"? Star Wars fans are debating if Qui-Gon Jinn is to blame for Anakin's turn to the dark side
Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Longlegs director pitches horrifying Star Wars movie with Darth Vader, and we want it to happen
Werner Herzog in The Mandalorian
Star Wars fans are sharing their favorite unbelievable canon cameos – and some of them are seriously deep-cut
Latest in News
Warfare movie
First reactions to Ex Machina director's "intense" new war movie are comparing it to Black Hawk Down
Jack Quaid in The Boys
The Boys star and self-proclaimed "huge video game nerd" Jack Quaid says his dream role would be in a BioShock movie because it's "one of my favorite games of all time"
harry holding a molotov as kim stands by, hands in pockets - he's so cool
After a landmark RPG, Disco Elysium mobile wants to "captivate the TikTok user," which is maybe the worst thing I've ever read in my entire life
Screenshot from PowerWash Simulator 2, showing two jet washers spraying one dirty wooden house.
After 3 years and 44,327 overwhelmingly positive Steam reviews, viral hit PowerWash Simulator is finally getting a sequel complete with split-screen co-op
Nintendo Store NYC
After 20 years, a second Nintendo Store is set to open in the US this May
Vincent D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again fans would love this Marvel character to appear, even if it's extremely unlikely