Yesterday, we reported that expensive reshoots had been ordered for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story because Disney executives were unhappy with test screenings of the film. Today, that story has been slightly amended, and we have a clearer pictures of why exactly the film is headed for reshoots.
First, as some of you know, reshoots are a standard part of any blockbuster film, and they’re not newsworthy on their own. What made these reshoots notable is that they were supposedly to address the dissatisfaction Disney executives have with the film right now. THR elaborates on that dissatisfaction by pointing out that the film isn’t at disaster, but rather it’s tonally not in line with what Disney wants the movie to be.
According to THR, “felt it was tonally off with what a “classic” Star Wars movie should feel like. The pic has not yet been tested before audiences, but one source describes the cut as having the feel of a war movie.”
That’s a bit disheartening because I would love to see a Star Wars movie that was in the style of a war film (also, war film has a broad connotation. No one would confuse The Guns of Navarone with Saving Private Ryan, but they’re both “war films”). However, a source argues to THR, “This is the closest thing to a prequel ever,” a source tells THR. “This takes place just before A New Hope and leads up to the 10 minutes before that classic film begins. You have to match the tone!”
But do you? If anything, it sounds like Disney is just trying to play it safe. Star Wars: The Force Awakens played it as safe as possible by pretty much aping A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and audiences ate it up, so perhaps that’s why Disney wants something that plays it “classic”.
It’s also possible that the reshoots are meant to bring in an appearance of Han Solo as played by Alden Ehrenreich, but that wouldn’t make a lot of sense. If this film leads up to “10 minutes before” A New Hope, then why would you have a younger looking Han Solo popping up? Granted, the timeline isn’t exactly clear, so perhaps that “10 minutes” is an exaggeration and the Death Star plans languish for some time before landing in Leia’s hands, but that would remove a sense of urgency from the proceedings.
Hopefully, these reshoots will strike a balance between something fresh and exciting and the classic feel of the original movies.
