The latest Star Wars flick and the series' first spinoff can certainly beat the set of "Game of Thrones." From Iceland to the Maldives, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" went around the world to find the perfect filming locations for its otherworldly scenes.
Fans of the highly-awaited "Rogue One", which hit theaters last weekend, praised the movie for transporting them to a galaxy far, far away. What makes the series so engaging for viewers is the magnificent setting of every scene, some of which were filmed in places that are only a plane, train, or perhaps, a boat ride away to your place.
Travel and Leisure and CN Traveler have gathered some of the favorite locations from "Rogue One." From tropical beaches to mountaintop villages, here's where to go to have your own ultimate "Star Wars" journey.
Apparently, Iceland is indeed a well-chosen place in terms of selecting the right set for scenes in "Rogue One." The movie took scenes in three places in Iceland. First, Reynisfjara. This black sand beach, which is used as the setting for "Rogue One's" planet Eadu, is just a 20-minute drive from Vik in Southern Iceland. Second, Krafla. It's volcanic crater and nearby Lake Mývatn's rock formations are featured in the "Star Wars" spinoff. It might look familiar to fantasy fans because it's a similar set for HBO's "Game of Thrones." Third, Mýrdalssandur. This black sandy beach appeared throughout "Rogue One". The black sands are formed from lava. Although it's a barren landscape, arctic foxes and seabirds can be frequently found here.
"Rogue One" also chose two places in Maldives. First, Laamu Atoll. It makes up 82 of the 1,192 Maldivian islands. The atoll's Gan, which is one of Maldives' largest islands, represented the film's planet Scarif. Moreover, many of the battle scenes were shot on location exempt for the explosions that were likely shot 5,550 miles away at Studios in Hertfordshire, England. When the filming team was not shooting on Gan, they were on the nearby uninhabited Berasdhoo Island.
Canary Wharf Station, London, England, also served as the setting for an Imperial base in "Rogue One." The Norman Foster-designed station's escalators and glass safety doors are visibly seen in the film. The last one is Wadi Rum, Jordan. The Jordinian desert became home for the planet Jedha, somehow a pilgrimage planet for believers in the Force.
