Rogue One: A Star Wars Story introduced a host of new characters…and then proceeded to kill them all. However, there once existed an alternate ending where some of our heroes actually made it out of the carnage alive….
When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story comes home on Digital HD on March 24, and Blu-Ray/DVD on April 4, Star Wars fans will get to relive all the action from the highest grossing film of 2016. And amid all the action and excellent storytelling, fans will also get to relive the heartbreaking ending for all those new heroes introduced in the film.
However, there was once an alternate ending that had some of those heroes actually escape the Battle of Scarif, and survive Darth Vader’s brutal pursuit and killing spree at the end of the movie, as Entertainment Weekly learned from Rogue One screenwriter Gary Whitta.
Image Credit: Lucasfilm
"I didn’t say everyone made it off. Kaytoo always died. Jyn did survive. ‘Cassian’ also survived. There were a lot of casualties on both sides, in both versions of the scripts."
As EW explains, that alternate ending was never filmed, but if it had been Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) would have been rescued by a rebel ship before the Death Star fired on Scarif. The ship escapes Scarif’s atmosphere and makes a hyperspace jump, Vader’s ship in hot pursuit.
Once the ship safely jumps away from the Empire and Scarif, it links up with Princess Leia’s ship (the Tantive IV) and transfers the Death Star plans as Darth Vader’s ship begins attacking them. Jyn and Cassian’s ship is destroyed, yet, they make it to an escape pod and jettison before the ship is destroyed.
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"They got away in an escape pod just in time. The pod looked like just another piece of debris."
But, as we all now know, the writers chose to go another route (rightfully so) and Jyn and Cassian perish on Scarif, along with Chirrut, Baze, Bodhi, and Kaytoo.
I’ve got to admit, the collector in me wishes director Gareth Edwards has filmed that ending, if for no other reason that to have it on the Blu-Ray when it is released on April 4. We want to hear from you: What do you think of the alternate ending to Rogue One that was never filmed? Let’s discuss in the comments below.