In an interview with USA Today, Rogue One director Gareth Edwards talked Orson Krennic’s character and filming Darth Vader.
As the premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story draws closer, the hype surrounding the villains of the film continues to build. In a recent interview with USA Today, Rogue One director Gareth Edwards talked about both the latest addition to the Empire’s roster of posh evil-doers, Orson Krennic, and the most classic figure of evil in Star Wars, Darth Vader himself.
Orson Krennic, director of the construction of the first Death Star, is not your typical moustache-twirling Imperial. Though his style and British accent as performed by Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn are on point, Krennic is still not in the same league as Grand Moff Tarkin and his cronies.
Image Credit: Lucasfilm and Entertainment Weekly
In his interview with USA Today, Edwards addressed the recurring theme of the theatrical type of villain in the Empire and how Krennic veers away from it.
"“It feels like if the Empire ever have a job vacancy, they go to the Royal Shakespeare Company to headhunt people,” Edwards says. “I like the idea that Ben’s character was much more working-class” and rose in the ranks “through sheer force of personality and ideas.”"
It would seem, however, that class and breeding are issues for Krennic as he tries to rise in the Imperial ranks. Edwards said that Krennic “hits a brick wall in the hierarchy where they won’t let him in the club and it’s going to turn into a them-or-us situation: either Krennic or Tarkin and the others.”
Image Credit: Lucasfilm
While it sounds like Krennic is being portrayed as more of a wannabe villain struggling to feel justified and respected, the other main Imperial antagonist in the movie – Darth Vader – has no trouble being acknowledged. Edwards talked about how even outside of filming, Vader is a powerful presence.
"“It’s like we’re at the playground again and there’s this hero sort of standing there,” Edwards says. “You end up very respectful of him: Even though you know there’s a guy inside the outfit, you still talk to him like he’s Vader.”"
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Ben Mendelsohn was also not immune to the monumentality of filming a scene with Vader. During one such filming of a scene between Krennic and Vader, Mendelsohn called Edwards to him. Edwards was afraid something was wrong, but as it turned out, Mendelsohn just wanted to geek out.
"“He went, ‘It’s Darth Vader. We filmed with Darth Vader,’ ” Edward says. “And I was like,‘I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it?’ It was like no one wanted to admit that they’re having a little fanboy freak-out but everyone did. It’s impossible not to. He’s so iconic.”"
I am more excited to see Krennic on-screen than I am Vader. First of all, I’ve seen Vader many times before. Second of all, I want to see what new things Krennic will bring to the Star Wars definition of “bad guy.” From what Edwards said, Krennic is going to have a lot more frustrations and conflict with his peers than his fancy white cape and impressive title of “Director” first suggested. He is going to be interesting.
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But, of course, when Darth Vader first appears on the big screen in Rogue One, I’ll be screaming internally along with everyone else. Because come on: it’s Vader.