Many fans were disappointed last night when the secondRogue One: A Star Wars Storytrailer didn’t debut on ABC during theForce Awakensbehind-the-scenes documentary. Instead, they got the same sizzle reel from theStar Wars Celebrationpanel, although with a few new seconds of extra footage not shown overseas. To make up for it, today we have the first reveal of newStar Warscharacter Galen Erso, played byMads Mikkelsen. The father of Jyn Erso, we have to yet see this character in any of the previous footage or images released thus far.
Mads Mikkelsenwas on hand at yesterday’sRogue One panel, where he described his character as a scientist, and is said to have once created something ‘so beautiful’ for the entire galaxy. In this first look image, Galen doesn’t appear to have seen the best of days, and is wearing a worn and dirty black uniform like something that might be worn on Tatooine during the time ofA New Hope. Early rumors suggest that Galen helped design the Death Star. Though, his guilt about the project drove him to abandoned the Empire. He is now considered a ‘person of interest’. And it sounds as though he is an asset to both the Imperial Forces and The Rebel Alliance.
Going back to theStar WarsCelebrationsizzle reelreleased yesterday, while it didn’t give us a look at Galen Erso, it may have revealed the return of another iconic character. One that was introduced in the prequel trilogy. We know the movie isbringing backiconic villain Darth Vader, and we’ll see politician and war strategist Mon Mothma in quite a substantial role. But eagle eye fans are now speculating that Princess Leia’s adoptive father Bail Organa is also set to reemerge in thisfirst spinoff, which is set betweenRevenge of the SithandA New Hope.
TheTweetbelow is a still captured from the behind-the-scenes Celebration trailer. And low-and-behold if that doesn’t appear to be none other than Jimmy Smits reprising his role as Bail. Though his face is obscured by camera equipment, so we can’t outright confirm what we’re looking at. Not only did Bail Organa take in Leia after the death of Padme Amidala, he is also a Rebel founder and a casualty of the first Death Star. Could we see his final moments leading up to his untimely death on the planet Alderaan?
If Bail Organa is inRogue One, he’ll be the first prequel trilogy character seen in a post-George LucasStar Warsmovie. LucasFilm has made it known that they want to distance these new movies from the George Lucas trilogy that gave Darth Vader his origin story. But bringing in Bail Organa makes sense for this story and timeline. And his legacy inStar Warslore is quite strong, extending beyond what happened inAttack of the ClonesandRevenge of the Sith.
Rogue Oneis said to end just moments beforeA New Hopebegins. It’s unclear if we’ll catch a glimpse of Leia, but it’s quite possible that Disney will utilize the same technology it did in bringing a young Michael Douglas to the screen inAnt-Manto bring Carrie Fisher back as Princess Leia inRogue One. While we’ll see Darth Vader in the upcomingRogue Onetrailer, it’s unlikely that we’ll see Leia until the very end of the movie. And it could come as a one-minute surprise cameo much in the same wayLuke Skywalkerwas used at the end ofThe Force Awakens. You can take a look here at both Galen Erso and the possible return of Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa.
