Rogue One Discuss* the final shot/scene of Rogue One (*was "guess" until Page 12)

Would love to hear some fun ideas and speculation as to the final shot / scene of Rogue one, just before the camera cuts away to the credits.

We can safely assume that Rogue One will have bittersweet elements to its ending: Although the Rebels will have successfully smuggled out / obtained the Death Star plans, the station itself is still operational for the time being (and eventually go on to wipe out Alderaan etc killing billions before its ultimate destruction).

So we can also talk about tone of the scene or shot: Will it be one of hope? Or foreboding?

My favourite idea for the final scene is as follows:

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After Jyn and her team successfully obtained the Death Star plans she plans to rendezvous with Mon Mothma for delivery and debriefing. In the meeting room: Jyn awaits and is physically holding the plans, when the door opens and someone (off camera) enters the room. As the (still unseen) character walks towards the ragtag smuggler group and Jyn specifically, heads turn and bow in respect, but we only see this character obscured and from behind: dressed in white robes, as Mon Mothma does, whom she was meeting for debriefing.

Jyn genuflects with respect, offers up her hand outstretched with the plans... and the camera (stationed behind the unseen character) slowly pans up to show its someone wearing distinct white robes....., and as the music builds the camera pans higher, until.... we see the back of her head and immediately recognise the distinct hairstyle from behind: Its Princess Leia!

Fade to black!

Visually it would look just like this image from LOTR: replacing Galadriel with Leia (Episode 4 hairstyle), Frodo with Jyn and The One Ring with the Death Star plans:




A few reasons I like this idea:

- It should be a fitting and welcoming end-movie surprise to the general audience, and also give a nod to what's about to happen in Episode 4, chronologically occurring soon thereafter
- We see Leia, but in a distinctive and different way. We just see the back of her head, but know its her from her distinct and legendary hair style buns from Episode 4, which should give a hit of nostalgia to boot. Similar to how the most recent Rogue One trailer features Darth Vader in a single shot from behind.
- We never actually see her face, or hear her speak. We don't need to. So we avoid / won't run into the 'did they use cgi, did they recast, that actress doesnt really look like her etc etc etc' distractions

- It gives a nice ending to the (presumed) Jyn character arc: Someone who grew up and started as an outcast, never fit in, always rebellious and reckless - now found her home, something to fight for... and falling into line / paying her respects to the Alliance as she hands over a literal symbol of hope to Princess Leia.



Anyway thats my idea, i'd love to hear other peoples fun and wild speculation as to what the final shot / scene could be!

 

Last scene of the movie will be the Tantive IV escaping into hyperspace, with the Devastator in close pursuit.

 

Whomever it may be that transfer the plans, this person can't meet with Leia physically...

 

Why? Not saying that I think its likely that they are, but I don't think there is any hard and fast reason they can't. They tend to use hyperspace as an explanation as much as the force. Why'd it take so long to get to _____? They were in hyperspace. How'd they get to _____ so fast? They were in hyperspace.

 

Vader says the plans were "beamed" to the ship. So they were uploaded.

 

Officer: Princess. The transmission came through. The plans. We have them."
Leia (view of just the back of her head): *nods*

Iris out.

ETA: And to Tyrian, the shot composition could either be a full view of Leia from an officer's perspective, or an officer facing Leia in the way you described the scene with Jyn:



ANH makes it clear that the plans were beamed in earnest to the Tantive IV, so it would unfortunately make too little sense for Jyn to deliver them to Mon Mothma at Yavin IV. Indeed, if that happened, the entire ANH storyline (which involves Leia and our heroes getting the plans to the Rebels) wouldn't have happened!

 

Vader in his meditation chamber, bathing in the blood of Jyn Erso and her friends...

And by that I mean him standing on the Star Destroyer bridge and looking out the window as Tantive IV futilely tries to get away.

 

Yep, forgot about that.

 

"The Imperials are in hot pursuit."
"We'll lose them in the outer rim. Make a jump to Tatooine."
"Affirmative, your highness."

*The Tantive enters hyperspace*

Roll Credits

 

The bridge of the Devastator, as they revert to realspace over Tatooine.
Vader: I have you know.
Credits

 

Nah, it will be a hopeful end. So I think it will end with the delivery of the plans to Leia on the Tantive IV. Too excellent an ending to avoid, really.

 

A Stormtrooper escorts a cuffed Jyn to a prison cell, she walks inside and the door slams shut. That would be delicious if the movie starts with a cell door opening and a Rebel soldier escorts a cuffed Jyn out of it.

 

Jyn lies slumped against a control panel, dying, with her last effort she presses the transmit button and in the background the infamous sound of mechanical breathing can be heard as the screen turns black.

 

The surviving crew that are captured get led into their cells in the detention block of the Death Star (so they are present when it blows) or the surviving crew are laying by the water on Alderaan getting some well earned r and r (also present when it blows - Or it could be left up in the air)



But seriously, it will most likely be a behind the head shot of Leia or Vader making some comment about the Tantive IV

 

The crew can't be captured; or at least Jyn, Cassian, and any others who have been actually to the base can't. According to Vader, "now she (Leia) is my only link to find their secret base." Unless they die all shortly after custody they could provide information on the base's location even if they don't know the name of the specific planet.

 

Cassian Andor sits alone in a corner of the Yavin base listening to the radio transmissions from the Battle of Yavin. He smiles as confirmation comes through that Red Five has fired the shot that destroyed the station.

He rushes into the hanger with the rest of the base as the triumphant pilots are returning. He watches as in the distance the three heroes walk off together.

The End...

 

I'm thinking of Rebels "Call to Action" scenario blended with the cutscene from ROTJ with Moff Jerjerrod and the Endor order. Tarkin destroys the communications tower as he did on Lothal, as
Scarif would've already served its purpose. A semi-functional Death Star would blow up that planet or scorch the surface, as Jyn barely gets the plans transmitted to Tantive IV.

Vader/Tarkin (Besties 4 Lyfe style lol) are watching in the overbridge, and is alerted that the transmission went to an Alderaanian Corvette marked for Senator transport, Tantive IV. Vader commands to ready his personal ISD for pursuit.

 

We know Vader's personal opinion about the Death Star. I believe we will see the Emperor command Vader to retrieve the stolen plans and to follow Tarkin's orders.

 

True, but Vader warms up to it before the Battle of Yavin. Funny how most non-canon books about this period always have Tarkin being the arrogant proponent.

Luceno's new book kinda puts a more believable perspective on Tarkin, in the fact that an arrogant and non-competent officer wouldn't have rose to Oversector Governance and in complete command of construction and operation of DS1.

However, Vader had more bravado based on his quote - " This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of Kenobi, it will soon see the end of the Rebellion"

 

As the dead heroes are carted away, someone says, "Why did they do this? It was hopeless. No hope at all..." Dissolve to a familiar figure standing on a dune, watching the sunsset...

Then, halfway through the credits, a close shot of one of the corpses...and their eyes open. (Admit it; you know someone at Disney is at least considering this.)

 

Leia sits in front of a VHS tape deck. She pushes in the tape. Motors do that little whirring sound. Clunk, clunk. She hits Play on the remote.

 

All of the Saga films end with a scene of pure music. I wonder if they will follow that pattern with this, the first stand-alone movie. If they don't, then a closing scene with Princess Leia is almost irresistible, as JabbatheHumanBeing mentioned. If they do, then I am picturing a collection of shots, starting with Leia on the Tantive IV, then a pensive Mon Mothma on Yavin IV, Vader on the Devastator, and ending on a shot of Tatooine...or something like that.

 

A scene of the back of Obi-Wan Kenobi looking up at Tattooine's twin suns, and suddenly he notices the Tantive IV being chased by an Imperial Star Destroyer.

 

Tantive IV and the Devastator flying overhead towards the camera (opposite ANH).

 

The simpler the better, IMO. Leia with the hair buns nods. Iris out.