The cast of LucasFilm's first Star Wars spinoff, Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One, continues to grow, as Variety reports that Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker is in negotiations to play an unspecified key role. If he signs on, the actor will join Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed, Sam Claflin, Diego Luna and Ben Mendelsohn. Disney and LucasFilm had no official comment on the casting, so we'll have to wait and see if this gets confirmed in the near future.

Director Gareth Edwards revealed at Star Wars Celebration in April that Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One centers on a group of rebel soldiers who go on a mission to steal the plans for the original Death Star. Felicity Jones, Riz Ahmed and Diego Luna are rumored to play three of these rebels, with Ben Mendelsohn rumored to be the main villain. The story is said to take place between Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, but closer in chronology to Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.

Gareth Edwards is directing from a script originally written by Gary Whitta, with Chris Weitz working on the revisions. Kathleen Kennedy and Tony To are producing, with John Knoll, Simon Emanuel and Jason D. McGatlin executive producing. Alexandre Desplat has also been confirmed to provide the score, with production slated to begin this summer at Pinewood Studios in London. Forest Whitaker is currently filming Story of Your Life alongside Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, and he will next be seen in Southpaw, arriving in theaters July 24.