With the countdown continuing towards the release of Disney and LucasFilm's first Star Wars stand alone movie, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Empire Magazine has unveiled the first four of six collectible covers featuring the main characters. These covers feature Felcity Jones' Jyn Erso, Diego Luna's Captain Cassian Andor, Riz Ahmed's Bodhi Rook and Donnie Yen's Chirrut Imwe, with two more being unveiled later today. If that wasn't enough, LucasFilm has also announced a new charitable initiative through Force for Change earlier today.
As fans count down to the premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Disney, Target and Star Wars: Force for Change are launching a new fashion-meets-fundraising initiative inspired by the themes of rebellion from the new movie. Ten influential names across film, music, fashion and sports have come together to support UNICEF Kid Power by creating a line of "Force 4 Fashion" T-shirts available exclusively in the U.S. at Target beginning November 27. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will introduce fans to a group of rebels who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. Each of the T-shirt designs celebrates this theme using a powerful slogan to represent the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
Five dollars from the sale of each shirt will be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF Kid Power. Through this unique initiative, kids can complete physical activities and interactive challenges to earn points-which ultimately are used to provide life-saving packets of food for severely malnourished children around the world. The more kids move, the more points they earn, the more kids they help. Here's what Paul Southern, senior vice president of licensing for Lucasfilm at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.
"This campaign is about raising funds and awareness for UNICEF Kid Power's mission to improve the lives of children everywhere. Everyone connected to this initiative has been a Force for Change in different ways, and we hope their stories will inspire others to get involved."
The Force 4 Fashion line was designed with support from Riz Ahmed, June Ambrose, Steve Aoki, Camilla Belle, Gareth Edwards, Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Olivia Munn, Kelly Slater, and Brittany Snow, who've all been active in supporting different causes through their careers. In addition to purchasing the special T-shirts, fans can join the rebellion by sharing their own inspiring stories and posting on social channels how they are a #ForceForChange on "Giving Tuesday," November 29. Here's what Steve Aoki had to say in his statement.
"I love Star Wars and I'm passionate about giving back. The opportunity to partner with Lucasfilm and Target to design a shirt that benefits UNICEF is something I've enjoyed being a part of and I hope my fans love it as much as I do."
Since the UNICEF Kid Power program launch in 2014, more than 190,000 UNICEF Kid Power Team Members have become active, earning more than 12.5 million Kid Power Points and unlocking more than 5.1 million packets of lifesaving therapeutic food for severely malnourished children. Star Wars: Force for Change announced its collaboration with UNICEF Kid Power in May 2015 and continues to be a presenting sponsor of the initiative program. Here's what Caryl M. Stern, President & CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, had to say in a statement.
"Investing in our children means a brighter future for all, and this holiday season, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF is thrilled Star Wars: Force for Change and this "Force 4 Fashion" initiative are supporting UNICEF Kid Power. UNICEF Kid Power helps us to stand and give every child hope. With every step, kids get active and save lives, moving the world closer towards ending global malnutrition."
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. To learn more about the "Force 4 Fashion" shirts, visit Target.com and to learn more about being a #ForceForChange, visit ForceForChange.com. Take a look at the new Empire Magazine covers below, along with the Force 4 Fashion logo, as we continue the countdown towards Rogue One's December 16 release date.
