ROGUE ONE Director Gareth Edwards Reflects On Those Reshoots And Feeling No Ownership Over The Movie

ROGUE ONE Director Gareth Edwards Reflects On Those Reshoots And Feeling No Ownership Over The Movie

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards has talked more about those widely discussed reshoots, while also admitting that he feels no ownership over his foray into a Galaxy Far, Far Away...

By JoshWilding - Sep 30, 2023 02:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: SFFGazette.com

While Godzilla director Gareth Edwards helmed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it's been widely reported that Tony Gilroy (who has since spearheaded Andor) was enlisted to take charge of extensive reshoots. Edwards was present for those but the prevailing opinion is that the movie was taken out of his hands. 

Whatever the case may be, we know the 2016 movie underwent some major changes, hence why several scenes from the trailers - like Orson Krennic piloting a TIE Fighter in an effort to take down Jyn Erso - were absent. 

Edwards stepped away from directing for a time but has since returned to Hollywood with The Creator. The sci-fi movie has received rave reviews but the subject of Rogue One has repeatedly come up while the filmmaker has been doing the rounds to promote that title. 

Asked how he feels about the speculation which surrounds the Star Wars movie's additional photography, he responded (via SFFGazette.com), "Look, making films is very hard, right? And I got to make a film in probably the best world and story that I could ever hope to be offered. And the idea of nitpicking or complaining about some aspects of it feels very ungrateful."

"So even if I went back in time I wouldn’t do anything differently. At the end of the day people aren’t shouting at me across the street saying I ruined their childhood."

Rogue One remains one of Lucasfilm's best-received movies from the Disney era, though there's one sequence in particular - Darth Vader's pursuit of the Rebels - which remains perhaps the biggest talking point. Edwards is aware of that and it's part of the reason he feels no ownership over the movie. 

"Honestly, what I feel all the time is that it’s George’s film. Basically, everything that is in that movie that’s any good that people love is probably somehow from George Lucas in some way."

"We didn’t realize this when we were shooting it, but everyone, obviously - the thing that gets talked about the most is the Darth Vader scene at the end. And I feel zero ownership of that because it’s George’s character. George invented that corridor. He invented that character. And the lightsabers and the Rebels, do you know what I mean? And the Death Star plans."

Something tells us we'll never learn the truth behind what happened on Rogue One's set but Edwards has clearly made his peace with it. We just wouldn't necessarily bank on him ever returning to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, unfortunately, but The Creator suggests the filmmaker has plenty of original ideas he hopes to pursue. 

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ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 9/30/2023, 2:05 PM
Regardless the Vader hallway scene was just beautifully shot. Vader just came off as force of nature in that scene.
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 9/30/2023, 2:31 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - That should have been the movie.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/30/2023, 2:45 PM
@HashTagSwagg - Just two hours of Vader smoking fools in red lightsaber fury.

ticket sold.
Usernametaken
Usernametaken - 9/30/2023, 2:55 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - No matter what people can say about Gareth Edwards, "Beautifully shot" is a constant throughout all his movies.

He needs to play with better scripts but he is one of the best director out there.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 9/30/2023, 4:00 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - I’d kill for a Friday the 13th style slasher movie but it’s Vader hunting down a group of Jedi fleeing right after Order 66
Slotherin
Slotherin - 9/30/2023, 6:08 PM
@HashTagSwagg - it was a cool scene but it shouldn't have been the movie. Part of what works for that scene is that we don't get a lot of it. Saturate the whole movie with that and it doesn't pop as much. But also the conflict and film wasn't all about Vader anyway.
Montezuma
Montezuma - 9/30/2023, 6:39 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - a kinetic hot knife through butter.
Antitrollpatrol
Antitrollpatrol - 9/30/2023, 10:37 PM
@ObserverIO - a horror darth vader movie would be so much fun!
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 10/1/2023, 12:27 AM
@HashTagSwagg - I mean, people have been saying they've wanted a movie about Vader hunting down Jedi survivors of Order 66 for a very long time. I think it could be really cool if done right.

He can have one Jedi in particular that he's on the heels of, but run into others on his way.

Could be cool.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 9/30/2023, 2:10 PM
I don't get the love for this flick. I remember it having a mediocre response when it came out, but now you see a ton "it's the best Disney SW movie" responses online since, which isn't saying anything.

It's a dull, unoriginal, souless, totally unnecessary in-betweenequel that sums up everything that is wrong with Disney's handling of the property.
What they did to both Peter Cushing and Carrie Fisher was a disgrace.
Fogs
Fogs - 9/30/2023, 2:26 PM
@Feralwookiee - I agree 100%. Wasn't impressed at all with it due to everything you listed.

I'll just say deepite being such a forgetful piece of SW it has 2 positives imo:
- Really great visuals.
- Vader's scene, which despite very out of character was awesome to watch.
Slotherin
Slotherin - 9/30/2023, 6:12 PM
@Feralwookiee - the Cushing stand in was an abomination but beside that people liked this for revisiting around the time of the originals but without being the same narrative. It was a one-shot film set within the universe that focused on the rebellion and not the same Jedi/Sith conflict usually in the films.
Also it gets props for not holding back its punches with killing off the protagonists and with portraying war as a somewhere where a lot of morality gets mucked up and rules go out the window.
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 9/30/2023, 9:40 PM
@Feralwookiee - What's to get? Just about everything Star Wars begins hated and gradually gains the "It was loved all along!" status. Been going on since ROTJ.

Except Ewoks.
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 10/1/2023, 12:39 AM
@Feralwookiee - I've been saying I loved Rogue One since it came out. It's easily the 2nd best live action star Wars project for me.

Because it's not treated as a kids movie. And I heavily disagree that it's everything wring with Disney Star Wars. The sequel trilogy is everything wrong with Disney Star Wars. And it's not even close.

I'm not sure how you can say Rogue One was soulless. It had good characters that interacted well with each other. Even K2-SO. It actually hurts to watch him die.

And sure, it wasn't necessary, but neither are any prequel movies, really. Even the prequel trilogy wasn't necessary lol. It just added to the overall story and mythos, just like Rogue One did. They both showed us events that we had only heard about, but hadn't seen take place.

Jyn trying to find her father. Her father reluctantly working to build the Death Star and actually giving a good reason for why a giant super weapon would have such a silly design flaw that allows for one small fighter to destroy the entire thing with one missile. Jyn having to watch her father die when she finally does catch up to him.

Explaining Kyber Crystal's and why they are so hard to find now.

The ending felt like an actual war movie in the Star Wars universe. The beginning reminded me of Inglorious Basterds but with a Star Wars feel.

I loved it and don't have much to complain about. I do agree that the CGI Cushing and Fisher was probably a bit much and not needed at all. I mean, we all knee they ended up on the same ship she was on at the beginning of A New Hope. There was no reason to put her in there. But it didn't really impact the story or anything, so whatever.
TheLobster
TheLobster - 9/30/2023, 2:11 PM
Shout out Kathleen Kennedy! You meddling [frick].
DocSpock
DocSpock - 9/30/2023, 2:16 PM


Rogue One was a great movie. The 2 stars were great in it. It was wayyyyyy better than the whole horrible dogsh!t last trilogy.

S8R8M
S8R8M - 9/30/2023, 2:26 PM
Love Rogue One!

Respect to Lucas for the words but let's not forget those that brought that Galaxy to life.

Concept Artist Ralph McQuarrie
Costume Designer John Mollo
Production Designer Norman Reynolds and Brian Muir and countless others.
santoanderson
santoanderson - 9/30/2023, 2:29 PM
I tend to put Gareth Edwards and Zack Snyder in the same group: “Filmmakers whose movies have fantastic cinematography, and mediocre everything else.”
Forthas
Forthas - 9/30/2023, 2:29 PM
Gareth Edwards has proven himself with The Creator. While I think comments about it being the best film of the year or one of the greatest Sci Fi Films of all time is way off, it is however certainly better than most science fiction films especially recent ones. I gave The Creator...8/10 stars.
Oberlin4Prez
Oberlin4Prez - 9/30/2023, 2:35 PM
@Forthas - He proved himself with Godzilla IMO. I honestly would love to see his full version of Rogue one. But we’ll never get it. I’m excited to check out The Creator
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 9/30/2023, 2:42 PM
@Forthas - It's getting mediocre reviews (in the 60's on RT for what that's worth) and likely is a flop, coming in 3rd place in it's debut weekend behind Paw Patrol and the 50th Saw movie. 🤪

https://deadline.com/2023/09/box-office-the-creator-saw-x-paw-patrol-the-might-movie-1235559753/
Forthas
Forthas - 9/30/2023, 3:35 PM
@Feralwookiee -
@Oberlin4Prez

I think the reviews are a response to the marketing of the film as one of the best films of the year. To me it unfairly elevated expectations. I left the theater satisfied with the film, but I was expecting more which is not a fault of the film. It is a very solid film, with a few minor flaws. I am hoping the international market will elevate it so that it is profitable.
AllsGood
AllsGood - 9/30/2023, 2:39 PM
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was great 5 Stars / 5 Stars :)

CoHost
CoHost - 9/30/2023, 2:52 PM
"At the end of the day people aren’t shouting at me across the street saying I ruined their childhood."

No, because all you did was cave in to their childhood and give them empty nostalgia bait and fanservice.
MadThanos
MadThanos - 9/30/2023, 3:32 PM
Rogue One is my favorite Star Wars movie.

FireandBlood
FireandBlood - 9/30/2023, 3:35 PM
Rogue One is a gem. Can’t wait to watch it after Andor S2
AvalonX
AvalonX - 9/30/2023, 3:48 PM
Rogue One was a great movie. Easily my favorite post Lucas era SW movie. Also, probably the only good post Lucas era SW movie.
Ha1frican
Ha1frican - 9/30/2023, 4:02 PM
The Vader hallways scene is the best single scene in any Star Wars movie. It’s the perfect summation of that character as the force we are always told he was but never really saw in action until then
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 10/1/2023, 12:44 AM
@Ha1frican - It really does show how strong a master force user is to the average Joe. Not even the average, because he was actually fighting trained soldiers. And effortlessly killed lkke 10 armed dudes in that hallway with no problem.

The only thing that even comes close is Luke fighting all those Dark Troopers in Season 2 of Mandalorian.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/30/2023, 4:09 PM
I think I’m in the minority on this site but I find Rogue One to be just an enjoyable & decent film honestly…

The characters , with the exception of Chirrut & K2SO
are fine but I don’t feel a strong connection to them by the end of it though I haven’t seen the film since Andor so that might change in relation to Cassian at the least.

It’s visually thought one of if not the best looking Star Wars film with some cool moments such as the Vader Hallway scene which is one of the best scenes in SW ever imo.

Overall , I would give it a B- personally

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