this is "nightline." >> tonight, breaking news. senior transition officials telling abc news president-elect donald trump is expected to name exxonmobil ceo rex tillerson as his nominee for secretary of state. the choice already drawing criticism from those concerned over tillerson's ties to russian president vladimir putin. trevor's world. "the daily show" host trevor noah. >> thank you, everybody, welcome to the daily show! >> taking on race in america. >> i feel we need to invent a racism richter scale. >> growing up biracial in apartheid south africa, now an american comedy star, interviewing the president tonight. >> we share a lot in common. south side of chicago, south side of africa. >> similar.

the cast of "rogue one" revealing secrets of the new "star wars" universe. a peek inside the newest intergalactic adventure. >> the captain says you are a friend. i will not kill you. >> thanks. >> new recruits and an old nemesis. but first the "nightline 5." >> hurry into jcpenney starting thursday for our power penny day sale. get $5 slippers, $7 kids pajamas, $9 throws or sleep pants, $11 fleece. plus save an extra 15% with coupons. that's getting your penny's worth. want longer-lasting heartburn relief? try duo fusion. duo fusion goes to work in seconds and lasts up to 12 hours. tums lasts up to three. for longer-lasting relief try duo fusion, from the makers of zantac. >> number one in just 60 seconds.

good evening. thanks for joining us. we begin with breaking news. senior transition officials telling abc news tonight that president-elect donald trump is expected to name exxonmobil ceo rex tillerson as his nominee as secretary of state. the 64-year-old texan known for his extensive international business dealings and close ties to russian president vladimir putin. a potential flashpoint for senate confirmation. senators from both parties now looking into allegations of russian hacking which may have interfered in the presidential election. we'll keep you posted and up to date of course on all the developments at abcnews.com. now we turn to racial tensions in america. and one man who seems uniquely poised to take the issues head-on. growing up biracial in segregated south africa only seemed to sharpen trevor noah's sense of humor. here's abc's deborah roberts. >> thank you for being on the show. >> it is great to see you. >> reporter: barack obama made

his final appearance on "the daily show" as president, discussing the election of donald trump. >> president-elect has very clearly said he refuses intelligence briefings. and so he's come out and said, i don't need them because i'm a smart man. >> i think the president-elect may say one thing and do another once he's here, because the truth of the matter is that it's a big, complicated world. it doesn't matter how smart you are, you have to have the best information possible to make the best decisions possible. >> reporter: it's the biggest get yet for trevor noah. the 32-year-old host of "the daily show." just over a year after taking the reins from jon stewart. >> this is "the daily show" with trevor noah! >> reporter: noah making his mark tackling the topic of race, taking aim at president-elect trump. >> in donald trump's america everyone is speculating as to who should be the most afraid. black people, latinos, the english language. >> do you think donald trump is

racist? >> i do. i do. >> you do? >> i'll tell you why. it's tough to say that somebody is not racist when they're doing all the racist things. you know, sometimes i feel like we need to invent like a racism richter scale. because racism in america is such a loaded word. it feels like people are more afraid of being called racist than actually being racist. >> nobody wants to be called racist. >> no, people go "don't call me racist." i might do these things but don't call me racist. if donald trump chooses an adviser that has a platform that specifically caters to a movement that is neo-nazi and white supremacist, what do you call that? people go, i don't say the "n" word, i don't hang anybody, so i can't be racist. and i go, there's levels. >> reporter: noah's uniquely suited to talk about racism. growing up biracial in apartheid south africa. he was forced to navigate the dangerous worlds between black and white. but he says he learned that communicating with those of the opposite view is crucial to success. >> i don't exist in a world

where i only listen to the people i agree with, because then how will i ever know how to dismantle or think about your arguments in a different way? >> tomi lahren! >> reporter: precisely why he invited conservative internet sensation tomi lahren on the show for an interview that went viral. >> do you believe you're well advising and not malintentioned when you say black lives matters is the new kkk? black lives matter can't be the new kkk, the kkk is still around. >> people are asking, why do you invite her on the show? >> we invite everyone in the political sphere on the show. it's like, i don't agree with you on things and i would like to challenge you, and i would like for you to challenge me. >> reporter: noah knows all about challenges which he explores in his painfully honest new book "born a crime." >> different races being together was a crime, official crime, it was an immorality act in the country. >> let alone sleeping together. >> exactly, forbade that, you could spend years in jail. and luckily my parents were

never caught. my mom was caught for minor infractions regarding relating to race and she would spent time in jail, whether it be a week, a few weeks. oftentimes she'd have to pay a month's salary to get out. >> trevor noah! >> reporter: his journey has led him here to one of the most coveted jobs in comedy. >> knowing where you've come from, such difficult times, do you sit here sometimes and go, wow. >> every day. sometimes you get caught up in hash tag first world problems. you're in a world where people convince you of problems that aren't real. every single night i sit at the desk, i talk to the audience, i appreciate every single inch of this place. >> reporter: each day begins just after 9:00 a.m. in "the daily show" morning writers meeting. >> yeah, that's the one, that's the one. nice toss. >> reporter: the staff presents pitches for that night's show. >> i found one on facebook, it's a live show called "the wheel of fugitives." and the cops spin the wheel and

it lands on somebody's mugshot. >> wait, the police are doing this? >> the police are doing this. >> wow. >> reporter: this idea culminates into a hilarious segment, later delivered by correspondence hasan menage. >> yes, this is so much fun! >> no, i don't know how i feel about this, we've got to take law enforcement seriously. >> dude, loosen up. tell me you weren't happy when the wheel didn't land on the black guy. >> when you go out there still, it's been over a year now, does it still feel exciting, scary, what? >> you never know. it's a different audience every day. different jokes every day. there's always a possibility that anything could happen. >> reporter: this newfound fame a stark contrast from noah's tough childhood. >> when you're writing a book, is it painful to go back over all of that? or is it cathartic? >> i think it's a combination of both. through the pain comes catharsis. writing stories about growing up in a home where we sometimes didn't have food is painful.

remembering stories of growing up in a home of domestic abuse, painful stories. >> reporter: one of the more painful ones involving his abusive stepfather and the terrifying day he shot noah's mother, patricia, in the head. >> did you think you were going to lose her? >> i did. my mother was shot not just in the torso but in the head. a head shot is a head shot. you don't think a person's recovering. miraculously, she came out on the other side with no permanent damage. it's something that my family has lived through and now we laugh about. and that's who we are as a family. >> is that where your comic chops came from, laughing at the pain? >> i think so, yeah. laughter is an escape. i feel like laughter reminds you of your best self, your favorite self, your freest self. >> reporter: he turned that laughter into a career, becoming one of the most successful comics in south africa. >> so oprah flew down on her jet

and she bought the school, $50 million she spent, she's like, you're not going to spank these kids, are you? the headmaster is like, no, never. we beat them! but because it's up at school, everybody's getting one! you're getting a beating, you're getting a beating! >> reporter: standup eventually catching the eye of jon stewart. >> jon is the crazy person who plucked me from obscurity. he's the guy who saw me and said, he should come to the show. >> you flew in i guess yesterday from south africa? >> yeah, just flew in. boy are my arms tired. >> okay. all right, there. oldie but a goodie, very nice. >> no, no, seriously. i've been holding my arms like this since i got here. i never thought i'd be more afraid of police in america than in south africa. it kind of makes me a little nostalgic for the old days back home. >> one of the biggest things that struck me when i came to the u.s. was how there was a lack of acknowledgement. many americans still live in a world where they don't even acknowledge the fact that

african-americans are operating from a place of deep oppression. and if there is no system where we're working to reform people or trying to have a discussion, then that racism's not going to go anywhere. >> reporter: earlier tonight at the white house, president obama echoing the need for americans to come together. >> i think it's important to give the incoming administration the space and to give the public clarity about what it is that they're trying to do. >> reporter: an improbable moment for that biracial boy born a crime all those years ago, seated across from the u.s. president. a biracial man himself. for "nightline," i'm deborah roberts in new york. up next, inside "rogue one: a star wars story" with the director and the cast. how the new movie is honoring and breaking with franchise traditions. ♪ ♪

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i bet you get an inkling the new "star wars" movie is coming to our galaxy this week and the force is strong with this one. we went to the red carpet premiere for inside information from the cast and crew. here's abc's clayton sandell. >> this is a rebellion, isn't it? i rebel. >> reporter: "rogue one" isn't your typical "star wars" film. to start, it's the first story from that galaxy far, far away where the heroes are not skywalkers -- >> what's your call sign, pilot? >> rogue one. >> reporter: jedi knights or royalty.

>> if you're really doing this, i want to help. it's the most grounded "star wars" film, the film about the people taking control, making a difference, you know. >> regular folk. >> fighting together, people fighting for freedom. >> they're not privileged, they're not wealthy, they're very ordinary people. >> may the force be with us. >> reporter: in the "star wars" universe "rogue one" takes place just before the original 1977 film "a new hope." the classic opening crawl told the story. rebel spies steal secret plans to the december star. >> i want to know what happened to the plans they sent you. >> i don't know what you're talking about. >> reporter: remember they're the same plans princess leia gave to r2d2. >> you're all clear, kid! let's blow this thing and go home! >> reporter: helping luke skywalker and pals blow that death star to smithereens. turns out luke and friends owe it all to a scrappy team of

rebel recruits led by jyn erso. played by oscar nominated felicity jones. >> she's not a princess. she's a very resourceful young woman who's independent spirited. >> what chance do we have? the question is what choice. run, hide, plead for mercy, scatter your forces. the time to fight is now. >> ultimately the film is about teamwork. it's about each individual actually letting go of their egos. it's in the collaboration that they're strong. >> reporter: the rebels will have to be strong, coming face-to-face with the return of arguably cinema's greatest villain, darth vader. >> you just go, oh my god, that's darth vader. you find it really hard to tell them to do anything because you're like, you can't tell darth vader what to do, he'll force-choke you. >> i find your lack of faith disturbing. >> i understand you do a pretty good darth vader impersonation. can you show me? >> word gets out, it could generate sympathy in the senate.

>> i should only link to find a secret base. >> leave that to me. >> yeah, you've seen it. >> all right. it's the cup? >> it's just the glass. it is. >> reporter: from the simple to the complex, memorable special effects have always been one of "star wars" biggest stars. but for the wizards at lucas films industrial light and magic -- >> this is a piece right here that is actually up on top of the star destroyer. >> reporter: the challenge was making digital versions of real models built 40 years ago. >> this is the y wing. the y wing is a saturn v rocket kit. you can see that this is the main fuselage of the rocket kit. it actually was used directly to make the engines of the y wing. >> wow. >> reporter: and this epic space battle, shot with a cool virtual camera system that ilm's mike jatan and john levine let me test drive. >> keeping up with x wings, if i want to pan to the star destroyer. i can see that.

>> reporter: ilm also built k-2so, a scene-stealing droid played by alan tudyk. >> congratulations. you are being rescued. >> reporter: a character brought to life using cutting-edge motion-capture technology. >> we knew we wanted a great actor to be the foundation for his performance. alan's an awesome actor and a great comedic actor, great comic timing. >> could you improv? with k-2so? or stick to the script? >> i improv'd a lot, i didn't expect much of it to end up in move they but they put a lot of it in. >> it's a short script, i needed stuff. >> reporter: the cast was out in force saturday for the world premiere in hollywood. including diego luna as rebel intelligence fighter cassian andor. >> i know how to use it. >> that's what i'm afraid of, give it to me. >> reporter: imperial pilot turned good guy bodhi rook, a

"star wars" fan who wasn't shy about letting director gareth edwards know he really, really wanted the part. >> so he asked me to send an audition but made the mistake of giving me his e-mail address. over the next three days i think i e-mailed him 12 different versions of the character. >> of the same scene? >> the same scene, yeah. on the fourth day he e-mailed me back and said, please stop e-mailing me. >> so you understand. >> i understand. >> reporter: of course, "rogue one" wouldn't an "star wars" film without a complicated parent/child relationship. >> i am your father. >> reporter: and this time it's jyn's dad, galen, we're not quite sure about. >> one of the scientists who has been working all my adult life with this character, working on something that has the potential of making the world a better place. >> death star! death star! >> could be. could be the case. >> reporter: galen and his frenemy, the villain orson crenick, don't fall on the dark side or the light side. "rogue one" has a lot of gray. >> we're on the verge of

greatness, we were this close to providing peace and security for the galaxy. >> you're confusing peace with terror. >> well -- you have to start somewhere. >> the empire likes some gray. >> you wear white. >> that's right, that's because i am essentially a very, very good guy in the empire's terms, about as good a guy as you get. >> sounds like spin. >> it does. it does, it's propaganda, that's imperial propaganda, don't believe a word of it. >> reporter: the rest of "rogue one's" secrets and there are plenty will have to wait until the movie opens this friday. >> this film reminds us that there's another side of the story. there's all these people that find the strength and the richness is based on our diversity. >> i think we all know fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate. >> hate leads to suffering. >> i've heard that somewhere, yeah. >> exactly. yeah. >> too true. >> i vote yoda.

>> reporter: for "nightline," i'm clayton sandell in san francisco. up next, a look at the controversial new president of the philippines whose brutal anti-drug campaign has drawn international condemnation. (my hero zero by lemonheads) zero really can be a hero. get zero down, zero deposit, zero due at signing, and zero first month's payment on select volkswagen models. right now at the volkswagen sign then drive event. sometino big deal.shing my gums bleed. but my hygienist said, it is a big deal. go pro with crest pro health gum protection.

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smithereen smithereens test. ther who has been described as the donald trump of the east. but critics say some of his most provocative policies are leading to bloodshed. our bob woodruff is there and tonight we bring you a preview of his report. >> reporter: newly elected president of the philippines rodrigo duterte has oft been called the trump of the east. rising on a wave of populist discontent and a promise of law and order. >> i will not hesitate to use the military and the police to go after the drug lords. >> reporter: but behind the veil of a rock star president lies a

brutal war on drugs inciting vigilante murder. >> hitler massacred 3 million jews. there's 3 million drug addicts. i'd be happy to slaughter them. >> reporter: five months into his presidency, this is duterte's philippines. >> disturbing footage is just the tip of the iceberg. tune into "nightline" tomorrow night for bob woodruff's full report. thanks for watching abc news. as always we're online at abcnews.com and our "nightline" facebook page. good night, america.