Star Wars: Rogue One behind-the-scenes pics reveal Warwick Davis' alien, portraits, and gritty alien warfare

After decades of being teased about the rebels who nabbed the Death Star plans, we're over a month out from discovering how that all went down. Star Wars: Rogue One has, from its very beginning, been positioned as a different beast. 

Yes, it's a Star Wars movie. But it's going for the grit, the grime and the... graft? of galactic warfare. This latest batch of images showcase what it's like behind-the-scenes. To be in the trenches, if you will.  

We've had a decent glimpse at Rogue One's action in previous trailers - and one particular battle in yesterday's TV spot - and these snaps certainly promise more on that front.  

The pics feature director Gareth Edwards is in the thick of it alongside his actors. Wen Jiang, Donnie Yen, and Warwick Davis appear on set in the heat of battle, while the identity of the latter is also revealed. Yep, Warwick Davis is playing another alien!  

Elsewhere, one-time Rogue One screenwriter Gary Whitta unveiled a new portrait of Mon Mothma (played by Genevieve O'Reilly). Looks like it wouldn't go amiss lining the halls of the Rebel base, no? 

Directed by Gareth Edwards and starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whitaker, and Alan Tudyk, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is scheduled to open in UK on December 15, 2016 and in the US a day later. 

Images: Disney/LucasFilm