star wars : catalyst cover

We’ve already known that James Luceno’s novel ‘Star Wars: Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel‘, the prequel to ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘ would have Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic know one another but Pablo Hidalgo expands upon that and how they tackled the past for the builders of the Death Star. Hidalgo is a creative executive in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars Story Group and had quite a bit to share about the superweapon which we’ve all cheered seeing blown up on the big screen twice now.

According to Hidalgo though the stories aren’t about the Death Star itself but of the men who built it:

“Everyone knows about the Death Star as this way-larger-than-life concept. It’s hard to wrap your head around this weapon that’s so powerful. But this is the idea of understanding who were some of its architects and what were they thinking?

“It’s no accident that we’ve taken a look at the Manhattan project and what was happening at Los Alamos laboratories during the tail end of World War II. Being able to look at that kind of thing through history and then apply the Star Wars filter to it is really fascinating.”

I think that might be the absolute perfect analogy to see used here. At our current point the atomic bomb is the most destructive devices that mankind has created and so much has been explored about the men behind it. With a weapon, that can eliminate entire planets is created the same sense of interest could easily be used there. Why would these men create such a weapon? How did it all come to pass? These ideas are clearly set to be explored in both the novel and the film.

In fact, it isn’t just this area of our own history which is examined when comparing these two men. Krennic is a mastermind and Glaen is a genius so putting these two together according to Hidalgo:

“We jokingly refer to it as like Mozart and Salieri or even Jobs and Wozniak. It’s these opposites that come together.”

Sounds like there will be a strong frenemy relationship when all is said and done. Should prove to be pretty interesting to see play out on page and screen.

We’ve also learned that the book will cover quite a bit of ground historically as well. The Death Star has been in development since ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones’ and just was never able to be powered so the novel will have echoes of the Clone Wars in the story and feature Grand Moff Tarkin.

While the movie is a clear stand alone, there are pieces of our leading lady which will apparently make more sense if you’ve read the novel which is the biggest selling point for a tie-in novel that Lucasfilm has made to date.

Are you planning on reading ‘Star Wars: Catalyst’? What are your thoughts on how they are comparing Galen Erso and Orson Krennic? Share your thoughts below!

Synopsis:

War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key.Galen’s energy-focused research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic’s debt. Krennic then offers Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that his energy research will be used purely in altruistic ways, Krennic has other plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their benefactor’s tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic’s web of deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.

‘Star Wars: Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel’ will be available on November 15, 2016, while you can check out ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ on the big screen on December 16th, 2016!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

horizontal line

Stuart Conover is an author, blogger, and all around geek. When not busy being a father and husband he tries to spend as much time as possible immersed in comic books, science fiction, and horror! Would you like to know more? Follow him on Twitter!