Gary Whitta's ROGUE ONE script had a happy ending

[Scullibundo]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/h...lG9FxSjGVysqkXnU8QgwE8tkJUvMtghPYf1iYxXU8QMZU

Chris Weitz, who inherited the screenplay from writer Gary Whitta, revealed during an interview for the CultPopture podcast that when he became involved with the feature, the fan-favorite ending that saw every protagonist sacrifice himself for the mission didn't exist yet.


"The version prior to [my involvement] didn't have everyone die. As a matter of fact, it ended with a wedding," Weitz said. "I think it was on the presumption that Disney wouldn't allow characters to die with such abandon." The reason Weitz felt the need to end on a more downbeat note was a practical one: "I felt it was necessary because nobody ever mentions them or sees them again but also because we've done this whole sort of theme about sacrifice that it was appropriate that all of our main characters die."


That's not to say that Weitz was responsible for the version of the movie that fans saw on screen in 2016, however. Between the end of director Gareth Edwards' shoot and the eventual release of the movie — which was taken over by Tony Gilroy during editing and substantially changed, according to multiple sources, including Gilroy himself — the movie underwent some drastic rebuilding, Weitz said.

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There was also no Vader attack scene.

More at the link.

 

[Sign My Guestbook!]

Well, I think we definitely got a more honest ending.

 

[capitalCORN]

Ewww.....

 

[Brass Body Dave]

glad they didn't go with that version. of course, context matters, but it doesn't sound good.

 

[Deleted member 19782]

I prefer honest, sad endings than a fairytale ending. So it was a good decision by far.

 

[Gustaf]

we already knew there were like 3 different endings where most of the team survive

 

[Deleted member 24052]

Sorry Gary, but this movie could only have a sad ending.

 

[Deleted member 10629]

Ending...with a wedding? This ain't a Mexican soap opera mate lol

 

[leafcutter]

Very interesting. I still prefer the ending we got.

 

[TAJ]

Did it have any characters, or a story that wasn't plot MadLibs?

 

[LewieP]

I think the film was only OK, but the ending was great as it was.

 

[Bonefish]

The secret plans to the Death Star were a Bible all along

 

[Liquidsnake]

What we got is a lot better!!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 4260]

Gary Whitta is a cool dude, but the ending we got in the end was the right choice.

 

[Kevers]

I didn't like any part of the movie other than the battle so I don't think them living and being happy would change that. I'm happy to hear Vader didn't have his little hissy fit scene at the end, that was stupid as fuck.

 

[Kurdel]

Lol a wedding, can't be Cassian and Jyn Erso's, right??

 

[KtotheRoc]

They made the right choice. I don't think the movie would have worked with a happy ending for the characters. I'd argue it still has a hopeful ending.

 

[Sweeney Swift]

The rare time in Disney/Star Wars where the change was made for the better. Whatever you think of the film, Vader/the ending weren't the big issue

 

[Cascadero]

I liked the ending for that movie so good on them that they changed it.

 

[Deleted member 42]

Made sense that Gary would write for that, being unsure about how Disney would handle going in

 

[Khanimus]

Lol a wedding, can't be Cassian and Jyn Erso's, right??

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I would assume that it was.

 

[Pata Hikari]

Rogue One having the guts to have its cast die elevated it a lot.

 

[Magus Cimarron]

Glad they changed it. A happy ending would have sucked.

 

[Z-Beat]

I'd heard a long time ago that they were gonna survive in escape cryo pods to potentially come back in another movie. I like the Halo Reach route they took more. It was riskier and makes the movie stand out

Also that's hands down the best Vader moment in the series

 

[WadiumArcadium]

I didn't like any part of the movie other than the battle so I don't think them living and being happy would change that. I'm happy to hear Vader wasn't in it though, that was stupid an fuck.

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Vader was still in the movie in Whitta's draft. He's the one that came up with Vader's fortress.

 

[Kevers]

Vader was still in the movie in Whitta's draft. He's the one that came up with Vader's castle.

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The article refers to his attack scene at the end which is what I was talking about.

 

[NTGYK]

I thought it's ending was a joke because the deaths just felt like they had very little impact personally.

 

[Shodan14]

I hate it already. Thanks, Gary!

Vader was still in the movie in Whitta's draft. He's the one that came up with Vader's fortress.

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He was around when Episode V was being written up in 1978?

 

[Deleted member 2802]

There was also no Vader attack scene.

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hahaha

 

[itwasTuesday]

But I wanna see what a Star Wars wedding looks like.

 

[Liquidsnake]

The rare time in Disney/Star Wars where the change was made for the better. Whatever you think of the film, Vader/the ending weren't the big issue

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The Vader scene kinda saved the movie in a way.

 

[WadiumArcadium]

The article refers to his attack scene which is what I was talking about.

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OK, that's not what your post said.

 

[CreepingFear]

I think they meant it ended with Red Wedding with Vader crashing the party. "The empire sends it's regards".

 

[SoundCheck]

I still want to see the director's cut of this movie. Many interesting scenes of the teaser aren't in the final cut.

 

[Deleted member 12352]

As a matter of fact, it ended with a wedding,

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Cringe af

These changes were definitely for the better.

 

[Username1198]

No thanks. Rogue one is such a great movie. It's my favorite SW movie. Loved the depressing ending.

 

[Deleted member 3815]

I don't remember this movie and I watched it in cinema...I thought that I just made it up.

 

[metalslimer]

I can understand why he wouldn't think Disney would go for that kind of ending, but I really loved the entire sequence of the ending even if other parts of the movie were only mediocre. The end through the Vader scene was perfect.

 

[Twstr709]

Glad there wasn't a Cassius and Jyn wedding. They didn't have chemistry anyway.

 

[Pop-O-Matic]

Honestly I would have taken a super-happy ending, as nonsensical as it would be, over that completely BS Vader hallway slaughter that's completely out of place in the film (especially after the main characters' tragic deaths) and serves only to undercut the whole point of the movie. Besides, the current "everybody dies" ending lacks bite because the characters are so bland and forgettable that their deaths leave basically no impact.

 

[AegonSnake]

I thought it's ending was a joke because the deaths just felt like they had very little impact personally.

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same. couldnt give two shits about any of the character.

but then again by the end of the movie i was mostly pissed at how we didnt see any of the cool shots from the trailer.

 

[Kevers]

OK, that's not what your post said.

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I edited it to clarify

 

[Deleted member 31817]

The ending and the darth vader attack scenes were the best part of the movie along with PG HK-47 so glad we got what we got

 

[Deleted member 9241]

Rogue One is a pretty forgettable movie but it is easily the best out of the new Star Wars stuff. The ending is the major reason for that.

 

[Maximus]

Sounds like we got the better version.

 

[menacer]

I thought the ending was perfect in tone and I'm glad they didn't go with that.

 

[Billfisto]

I'd have been okay with a wedding.

Spoiler

Had it been between Chirrut and Baze.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Were there interesting characters in his version of the script?

 

[Fireatwill]

I love the ending we got. I would have felt cheated with a wedding (presumably Jyn and Cassian).

 

[Deleted member 21339]

All I know is I listened to the podcast interview with Tony Gilroy and the guy comes across as such a pompous douche.