( CNN ) The `` Star Wars '' universe keeps on expanding . Details of the plot for 2016 's `` Star Wars : Rogue One '' were revealed during a panel at Star Wars Celebration fan festival Sunday in Anaheim , California . Director Gareth Edwards ( `` Godzilla '' ) showed an early teaser for the movie and revealed plot details for the `` Star Wars '' anthology film ( the term Disney prefers instead of `` spinoff '' ) , starring Felicity Jones . The movie will take place in between `` Episode III : Revenge of the Sith '' and `` Episode IV : A New Hope '' ( known to many as the first `` Star Wars '' movie from 1977 ) . A group of rebels go on a rogue mission to steal plans for the Death Star . Jones will play a rebel soldier . The movie wo n't begin shooting until this summer so the footage shown in the teaser -- including a glimpse of the Death Star -- wo n't necessarily appear in the finished product . Edwards told the crowd that Jones is a `` Star Wars '' fan and dropped everything to take on the lead role . Producer Kathleen Kennedy said `` Rogue One '' was one of the first pitches she received after becoming president of Lucasfilm in 2012 , and she could not turn it down . It was one of the final events at Celebration , where fans gather to talk about `` Star Wars , '' dress in costumes , look for rare `` Star Wars '' merchandise and learn about future projects for the franchise . The convention kicked off with the well-received trailer for this year 's `` The Force Awakens . '' Costumes and props from that movie also were on display . Anything bearing the movie logo was a hot item for collectors . Tens of thousands are expected to have attended the event when all is said and done . `` Rogue One '' is scheduled to hit theaters December 16 , 2016 .
The plot focuses on a rogue mission to steal plans for Felicity Jones . Death Star will star as a rebel soldier .