There's really only so much suspense Rogue One: A Star Wars Story can drum up in an audience familiar with the Star Wars saga. The first Star Wars anthology film — made outside a planned trilogy — takes place in between the prequels and the original series (aka after Episode III and before Episode IV), which means that the audience knows how the main Rebel cause explored in Rogue One ends. Darth Vader will be defeated, a new generation of Jedi will rise, and Han Solo and Princess Leia will find love...at least for a little while. But, knowing the end result hasn't stopped fans from coming up with a million and one theories about Rogue One . These are the seven biggest Rogue One theories you need to know going into the movie.
Before I get into the fan theories about how Rogue One characters connect to the greater Star Wars universe, etc, though, there are some facts you need to know. The movie is focused on Jyn Erso, a Rebel soldier chosen to lead a team to steal the plans to the Death Star. Those plans, of course, are used by Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy to blow up the Death Star and defeat Darth Vader. Since we know what the plans are used for, many Rogue One theories speculate not on what happens in the film, but what ties the new characters might have to characters in the other films. But these seven Rogue One theories are a combination of both.
1. Jyn Erso Is Rey's Mom
Rey's parentage was a huge mystery set forth in The Force Awakens, with many wondering if she has any relation to Luke and Leia. But, after seeing the first Rogue One trailer, fans started developing a new theory: Rey is Jyn Erso's daughter. There isn't a ton of evidence to support this theory other than the fact that we know Rey's parentage is important and the vague resemblance between stars Daisy Ridley (Rey) and Felicity Jones (Jyn). Rogue One takes place a good 30 years before The Force Awakens, so Jyn wouldn't be pregnant with Rey during the events of Rogue One, so it's possible that, even if this theory is true, we won't find out until Episode VIII.
2. Galen Erso Is Lor San Tekka
Cinemablend first floated a theory that Galen Erso, Jyn's father, was Lor San Tekka, the mysterious, older man who gives Poe the missing plans to find Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens. This would have a funny full-circle element to it, as the pre- Rogue One book Catalyst reveals via Yahoo that Galen is the man who designed the Death Star, though not entirely of his free will. It would be funny for the man who created the Death Star and made the plans to give plans of a different kind to Poe 30 years later.
As for the difference in name, it could be explained by Galen's complicated story. In the teaser trailer for Rogue One , it is said that Jyn has been on her own since she was 15, meaning that either her parents died (which would negate this theory), were taken from her, or abandoned her. If Jyn's father abandoned her or was abducted to finish the Death Star, it would make sense that, after the war, he might settle down with a brand new identity.
3. The Rogue One Crew Are The Knights Of Ren
OK, this one is kind of wild, and it will haunt your dreams, so, get ready. There is a theory floating around the Internet that the Rogue One crew — namely Jyn, Cassian Andor, Bodhi Rook, Baze Malbus, and Chirrut Imwe — eventually cross over to the Dark Side and become the Knights of Ren seen in The Force Awakens. The theory, via Dorkly, is based on the art from the book The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens , which gives fans a clear look at the five Knights of Ren seen only briefly in the film. Looking at the photos, fans have noticed some similarities between the Knights of Ren and the Rogue One crew as depicted in the first official photograph from the production.
Notice how Cassian Andor holds his riffle like the Sniper, or how the Armory and Bodhi Rook are wearing similar getups. Is it really the strongest evidence? No. But now that you've seen it, it cannot be unseen.
4. Jyn Erso Is Captain Phasma
The theory that Jyn Erso eventually becomes Captain Phasma appears to be based on two things. One, according to Dorkly, the speech Saw Gerrera gives in the trailer when he asks her "What will you become?" could be interpreted as an ominous prediction of how Jyn Erso will be affected by her mission. Two, there are few leading female characters in the Star Wars universe, so it's possible that Jyn Erso is a character we've seen before. That one's unlikely, though.
5. A Star Wars Rebels Crossover Will Happen
Eagle eyed fans spotted what looks like the Ghost, the ship from the animated series Star Wars Rebels, in a trailer for Rogue One, according to Nerdist. Now, the ship only appears briefly in one shot, and it doesn't necessarily mean that characters from Star Wars Rebels are going to be making their way to the big screen. However, it does look like the Rebels will have some presence in Rogue One, even if it is just a Ghost ship cameo.
6. Darth Vader Will Help The Rogue One Crew
As the rising ruler of the galaxy, Darth Vader will appear in Rogue One in all of his caped glory. The only question is how much of the classic Star Wars villain we'll get to see. Fans are hoping Darth Vader will play a huge role in Rogue One and, as reported by Goliath, some are suggesting he might actually help the rebels steal plans to the Death Star. The idea is that Vader is at odds with Director Krennic, who is determined to get the Death Star up and running. Vader, the theory suggests, believes in the power of the force over technology, and so, in his conflict with Krennic, might allow at least some of the rebels to escape with the Death Star plans.
7. Grand Moff Tarkin Will Appear
Grand Moff Tarkin, the Imperial commander from the original Star Wars trilogy, is believed to appear in one of the latest Rogue One teasers, looking on as the Death Star is completed. He is only shown from behind, but fans and outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, are convinced the man in question is Tarkin. It seems likely that Tarkin will, in fact, have a role in Rogue One, as he does appear in the prequel book, Catalyst, according to io9. In the book, he is shown as having a strained relationship with Director Krennic, the man who leads the creation of the Death Star, so his role in Rogue One is really anybody's guess. In Episode IV, Tarkin was the commander of the Death Star, and perhaps we'll get to see how he came to have such a position.
Maybe a few of these will be proven true when Rogue One hits theaters, or maybe none of them will. Just remember that after Rogue One, there's a ton of Episode VIII theories waiting to be discovered next.
Images: Walt Disney Pictures; Giphy (2); mikkelsenmads/tumblr; skywalkrs/tumblr; tysw/tumblr; elvenbarnes/tumblr; im-solo/tumblr
