With Rogue One: A Star Wars Story set betwixt the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, and with a story that involves the band of Rebels who stole the plans for the original Death Star (the same plans that Princess Leia gave to R2-D2, sparking the plot of the original Star Wars), it would only make sense that the Empire’s villain supreme, Darth Vader, would be involved somehow. I mean, he has to be right? What is he, asleep at the wheel of the TIE fighter? C’mon.

Still, Lucasfilm has thus far been mum on the possibility of any asthmatic Sith Lords popping up in Rogue One. But the cover of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on sale this Friday, reveals the truth: Darth Vader is back with a vengeance in this year’s big Star Wars prequel.

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Ooh, an Outlander reveal! Sorry, sorry; got distracted for a second. Star Wars!

EW would only tease what they’ve got in their big new issue, promising the “full details” on the cast of characters played by Diego Luna, Jiang Wen, Donnie Yen, Riz Ahmed, Forest Whitaker, and Alan Tudyk (who plays a “performance-capture droid”). They’ve also got details about Felicity Jones’ Jyn Erso, “the outlaw who has clashed with both the Rebellion and the Empire, and now has a chance to clear her ledger of past wrongs by leading a mission for the good guys,” along with her dad, played by Mads Mikkelsen. As for Vader, they’ll reveal “what his return means for the larger Star Wars storytelling universe.” Nothing good for the Rebels, I imagine. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters on December 16.

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