I’ve got a bad feeling about this. According to Page Six (which can be a bit gossipy, but they did get the Alden Ehrenreich/Han Solo story correct, so credit where credit is due), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is in a bit of trouble. The first cut was recently shown to Disney executives and “bosses at Disney are not fully satisfied with the first cut from director Gareth Edwards.” Those bosses have now ordered expensive reshoots to take place in July. Page Six’s source also said, “Disney won’t take a back seat, and is demanding changes, as the movie isn’t testing well.”

So is this cause for panic? Not necessarily. Reshoots are part of the filmmaking process, and just because Disney is unhappy with what Edwards has turned in, that doesn’t mean that the upcoming film will be a disaster. Filmmaking is about compromise, and it will be interesting to see what kind of compromises will have to be made for the upcoming film (and if audiences will even notice them).


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Image via Lucasfilm

A Disney source added:

“The filmmaking team and the studio always anticipated additional shooting and second unit work to make the film the absolute best it can be, and the actors were aware there would be additional shooting. Coming off ‘The Force Awakens,’ there’s an incredibly high bar for this movie and we have a responsibility to the franchise and to the fans to deliver the best possible movie we can.”

For those who don’t know, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story focuses on the scheme to steal the plans for the Death Star.   Darth Vader is expected to show up as the Emperor’s chief enforcer, and there’s also a rumor that the young Han Solo might show up as well (thus making the universe even smaller).

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens December 16th and stars Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker, Donnie Yen, Alan Tudyk, Mads Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed, and Ben Mendelsohn.

For more on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, be sure to take a look at some of our recent coverage below:


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Image via Lucasfilm
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Image via Lucasfilm
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Image via Lucasfilm