Star Wars Rebels: The Empire Returns

In this special video that debuted at New York Comic Con 2013, Dave Filoni, executive producer of Star Wars Rebels, takes fans behind-the-scenes of the upcoming animated series and discusses the prominent role the Empire will play in the show. Filoni introduces some of the creative team involved in Star Wars Rebels, including executive producers Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman, Kiri Hart (head of development), Pablo Hidalgo (from Lucasfilm's Story Group), and more, including many Star Wars: The Clone Wars veterans like Kilian Plunkett, Joel Aron, and Steward Lee.

Filoni says the crew is very excited to finally get to tell stories with the Empire as the main villain, noting the show will feature TIE fighters, Stormtroopers, and classic Star Wars bad guys. And the series will feature a new marquee villain, revealed here first: the Inquisitor, a mysterious figure who is "tasked by Darth Vader to hunt down the remaining Jedi Knights."

Star Wars Rebels is set to debut on Disney XD in 2014. Stay tuned to StarWars.com for more on this highly anticipated animated series.