STAR WARS ANTHOLOGY: ROGUE ONE Eyeing Riz Ahmed and Sam Claflin for Lead Roles

The first Star Wars standalone movie has a name, a director and a plot synopsis. Now Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One will look to fill its cast out and add actors to work with Felicity Jones and Ben Mendelsohn. According to reports on Thursday, Riz Ahmed and Sam Claflin are in talks to join the movie.

Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One will take place between Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith and the original Star Wars movie and will tell the story of the Rebels who stole the Death Star plans from the Empire. Jones will play one of the Rebel soldiers and Mendelsohn is allegedly playing a villain in the film.

Variety broke the news that Ahmed had met with Rogue One director Gareth Edwards in London last month and was the frontrunner for the part based on his chemistry with Jones. Variety describes the role Ahmed's in the running for as the movie's male lead. Ahmed had a breakout performance alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in last year's Nightcrawler.

TheWrap reported that Claflin is in the running for an ensemble role in Rogue One. Claflin has had supporting roles in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Strangers Tide and The Hunger Games movies.

Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One is set to hit theaters on Dec. 16, 2016.