It seems likely that we will see a third-act appearance of Vader. He sells tickets; chronologically he has every right to be there; it links up thematically with both ROTS and ANH; it'll happen. So. Aside from Vader, repeat ASIDE FROM VADER, have we heard anything definitive/official about Jedi or other Force users being present in Rogue One, or there being any content relating to the Force or its wielders? When this era was populated basically by Obi-Wan and Yoda, and with either of them having a Rogue One encounter with Vader presenting serious story challenges, it seemed this was a forlorn hope. But now we have Ezra, Kanan, Ahsoka, Maul, and Inquisitors. You could do a "Last Stand of the Jedi" where the final survivors of the old order, minus Ben and Yoda, give their lives for the Death Star plans. Or you could have Ben/Yoda fight Maul or other dark-side forces (Starkiller?). Or even Vader vs. Maul, which would be awesome. I have always thought Star Wars was much better when Force and non-Force plot threads could "talk," when the Force wasn't firewalled off by itself while we have "Tom Clancy's Star Wars" on display as a pure military/political thriller with no space magic. But at the same time, I don't want all plot logic sacrificed to create irrelevant Jedi battles if there is a compelling reason to make this as just a "muggles beat a wizard" side story. Are there Jedi in Rogue One? Should there ever be a Star Wars installment without lightsaber battling? Does the franchise owe something to its non-Force-sensitives, a movie of their own to prove that "Jedi ain't all that?" If we get that movie, does it make it feel like we're watching the JV team?
The idea that mere mortals have to deal with this without the help of Wizards or Superheroes is a good theme.
I think it would be an immensely missed opportunity to not give Vader a few scenes. This was what Vader wanted; the rule of the Empire. We should be able to see what Vader is doing as Palpatine's apprentice.
Also people have to accept that while the storylines of Rebels are indeed Canon the action is (for obvious reasons!) very cartoonish. So just as it isn't canon that people in Star Wars run like cartoon characters we can probably safely assume they don't duel like them either
I think that Vader will be the extent of the FS in this film, and that's fine. And he will mostly be in a command role. Like we see whoever the actual main villain of this film is talking to him as a hologram once or twice. Then he shows up near the end, Force Chokes some people for their failure, and then we set up for the opening of ANH.
But Donnie Yen is in it, so we'll get some good martial arts action. Or he'll take out some of the main cast while the rest escape.
Outside of the duel with Kenobi, Vader did not have any action scenes in ANH( Guess you could say dogfight but really just sitting there). I don't need to see Vader go ninja style in Rogue One but really just play the part he had in ANH minus the saber battle. His presence is there....the spies being chased by the Empire with the thought of Vader appearing anytime as the backdrop. Perhaps a final battle of him taking on Rogue One group with one survivor getting away transmitting the plans to Leia. Show methodic powerful saber strokes and use of the force to defeat the group.
As far as I'm concerned Maul should be thought of as officially dead. I enjoyed the retcon of him surviving in Clone Wars (probably the best arc of the series), but there's no doubt he was meant to be dead in TPM. No interest in seeing a live action version of Ezra or the 'rebels' crew, except for Ahsoka. That would be pretty badass. She could intervene and save the RO people from Vader and die in a fight with him (but successfully enable the rebels to get away with the plans). It'd be a heroic death for a good character, and give Vader the opportunity to have a meaningful fight against the only known Jedi that exists during that time other than Kenobi and Yoda. ...also, having been Anakin's own apprentice and then had another 10-15 years of experience, she would be very formidable herself.
I'd be amazed if Ahsoka showed up on a big screen. Most of the general public wouldn't know who she was, and I don't see the necessary backstory of Ahsoka fitting into any reasonable expository scene.
Just have Vader call her "my old padawan." Or fit in a super-cool "you served the Republic in the Clone Wars" ANH callback from Leia. Boom. Right there, that's more information that we get about tons of important background stuff in The Force Awakens.
If Donnie Yen really is one of the Jedi, that will be an epic moment... And seeing him fight Vader one-on-one will make my radar dish drop off in excitement! Sent from MillenniumFalcon AI using Tapatalk
Actually, I think having films without Jedi could go a long way in preserving their mystique and, for lack of a better word, profundity. If Jedi other than Obi-Wan, Yoda, Kanan, or Ezra were to show up in Rogue 1, a film expressly not primarily about Jedi-in-hiding (at least as far as we know, it's about stealing the DS plans) then it could become more of a situation where Jedi really aren't that uncommon in the Empire. Also, the more we are presented with Jedi on film screens, with writers/directors striving to "show audiences something new" as to Force powers, the more we are in danger of the Force moving into Unleashed territories, though I would hope creators would exercise more restraint. I would hope for many of the non-episodic SW films to not feature Jedi prominently, although I realize lightsabers and the Force are a huge Star Wars draw. Don't get me wrong, I love Jedi, but I'd love to see some of the other areas explored, as we were perhaps to have gotten in the abandoned TV show. If done well there are many ways to bring in spirituality and strive for the numinous quality that makes Star Wars films so spectacular. There's a chance the non-episodic films are going the non-Jedi-focused way, with the Han, Boba, and Rogue 1 films.
jc1138 There are definite dangers if you give the impression the Empire is lousy with Jedi. What I was hoping for is a Rogue 1 that serves as an "Alamo" where several of our loose Force users give their lives for the plans, thereby giving us lightsaber battles while allowing the "Ben and Yoda are it" of the OT to stand firm.
No Jedi, no Force Users besides Vader (and maybe Sheev in a cameo). "No Jedi" is one of the things that intrigues me the most about this film.
It'd be cool to see Vader pilot a TIE again, in place of using the lightsaber. Maybe he engages the heroes in a dogfight. I also wouldn't mind an Ian McDiarmid cameo.
If it was like Rebels or Vader Down, he alone would be dropping capital ships and squadron's of x-wings.
