Well, here’s hoping this is the last time we have to run an article about this subject, but it seems that the internet went into panic mode when word of the reshoots for ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ surfaced and the rumors started flying, many of which have turned out to be completely fabricated. Here’s hoping this settles this matter once and for all.
The studio would not respond to RUMORS but some anonymous Lucasfilm sources were willing to offer some insight which should alleviate the negative buzz that has popped up surrounding this film.
- First of all, to reiterate, these reshoots were planned from the beginning, just as they are for EVERY major tentpole movie. They were even built into the actors’ contracts. This is NOT director Gareth Edwards and his Disney/Lucasfilm overseers scrambling to salvage a wreck of a movie. A source stated: “This is a normal part of our filmmaking process. We’re working and tweaking and making sure it’s right. This is how you build something in layers.”
- These reshoots were originally scheduled for the spring, but were pushed back in order to allow Edwards time to fine tune the footage he already had and to figure out what additions were needed. According to sources: “The changes have everything to do with clarity and character development and all take place [as inserts] within scenes we’ve already shot. It’s a lot of talking in cockpits.”
- This debunks the hefty proclamation that 40% of the movie had been rewritten and was being reshot. A source laughed and reported: “If we were rewriting the movie and reshooting 40 percent of movie, we would not be finishing in August. People really would be panicking – and changing the release date.”
- The delay did cause SOME complications as much of the cast had become involved in other projects, which resulted in the reshoot schedule being extended to allow the actors to come in when they were available. A source stated: “It is a complicated schedule trying to pull people in around other things they’re doing. And this cast is spread out all over the world.”
- There was NO advance test screening and Disney/Lucasfilm stated that there will most likely NEVER be a test screening for any ‘Star Wars’ movie. Rumors that a test screening went badly are just flat out LIES.
- One big rumor, which seemed likely was that ‘Rogue One’ was too much like a “war movie” and not as optimistic as the previous ‘Star Wars’ films. The rumor further went on to point toward the incredible popularity of ‘The Force Awakens’ which very much echoed the tone of the first three films. But this also seems to have been refuted. One source reports: “The movie is very different than [The Force Awakens], and that’s intentional. It’s a war film.”
- Last year, Edwards himself went on the record saying that Disney was fine with a different type of movie. “On ‘A New Hope,’ the good guys were really good and the bad guys were really bad. And so [‘Rogue One’] is really about a time where that black and white is more [morally] grey. Good guys are doing bad things, bad guys are doing good things. And it’s a little bit more about the nature of war and what it takes to do something important for the greater good. What’s great about everyone at Lucasfilm and Disney is they’re encouraging [about being a bit more free, more brave]. So I think this film is going to be quite different… and you should expect the unexpected.”
- ‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ director is NOT involved in any way with the reshoots or retooling the script. It was previously rumored that he “saved” the script, but McQuarrie only helped fine tune the script before filming and has had no further involvement.
- ‘Bourne’ franchise screenwriter Tony Gilroy did come on board to help with the reshoots. Gilroy reportedly did some uncredited work on the script last summer before filming. In addition to script notes, Gilroy will serve as second unit director of the film, tackling establishing shots, cutaways, inserts, and stunts. Gilroy worked on ‘Michael Clayton’ with Frank Marshall, the husband of Lucasfilm’s president Kathleen Kennedy and has reportedly been brought on to consult on future ‘Star Wars’ movies. Stunt coordinator and second unit director Simon Crane is also working on the reshoots.
Could all this be damage/spin control on the part of Disney/Lucasfilm? It’s possible. But as stated, EVERY major blockbuster movie plans for reshoots to help smooth out the finished product. Why did these light up the internet so dramatically?
Blame the fervent popularity of ‘Star Wars’, especially following ‘The Force Awakens’. It looks as if any further SW projects will be under scrutiny more intense than those of lesser franchises.
Are you confident that ‘Rogue One’ will deliver?
Directed by Gareth Edwards, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ stars Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Forest Whitaker, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, and Jiang Wen and will fly into theaters on December 16th, 2016.
Sources: Entertainment Weekly, /Film
