Darth Vader confirmed for Star Wars Rogue One

Darth Vader will appear 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', it has been confirmed.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has revealed the Sith lord will make an appearance in the upcoming sci-fi movie, but will be used "sparingly", and James Earl Jones, 85, is to reprise his role as the voice of the character.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, she said: "I think we can talk about Vader...

"He will be in the movie sparingly. But at a key, strategic moment, he's going to loom large."

The movie takes place around 19 years after 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith' when Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) was badly burned in a battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) leading to him needing the life-saving armour forever.

Jones voiced Vader in the 1977 'Star Wars' movie and its sequels 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi'.

He is also rumoured to have voiced the character in 'Revenge of the Sith', but was uncredited.

However, he did lend his vocal talents to Vader more recently in animated TV series 'Star Wars Rebels' in 2014.

'Rogue One', which is schedule for a December 16 release, will feature Felicity Jones in the lead role as Rebellion fighter Jyn Erso.

Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen and Alan Tudyk will also star in the movie.