Darth Vader will appear in Star Wars: Rogue One

Entertainment Weekly just confirmed what fans have suspected for 
months: Darth Vader is in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. While what role the Dark Lord of the Sith will play is currently unclear, his presence will add an extra layer of menace to what already looks like a fairly dark film.

Vader was rumored to be a part of Rogue One from as far back as last July. Birth.Movies.Deathreported that he would appear, though not as the central villain facing the fledgling Rebel Alliance. However, it makes sense that Vader should be involved. Given that the movie focuses on Jyn Erso and her faction's attempt to steal the plans for the Death Star, Vader fits in perfectly as a threat the rebels need to avoid. Remember: this is Vader in his prime, ready and willing to commit atrocities for the sake of the Empire, and at the height of his powers. (It's here that we say that you should definitely watch Star Wars Rebels if you haven't already.)

Of course, much has been made about there being no Jedi presence in this film, so we may not actually see Vader in battle. But, seeing as this is still an outright war movie, it's good to know that Vader is in the shadows, making the peril the Alliance is in that much more real. Rogue One hits theaters on December 16th.