While Marvel likes to constantly remind us that “It’s All Connected” with regards to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we’re yet to see any of the studio’s TV shows referenced on the big screen. However, that’s certainly not the case over at Lucasfilm, with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story featuring several Easter eggs for fans of the Disney animated series Star Wars Rebels.
As glimpsed in the TV spots, the Rebels spaceship The Ghost takes part in the battle at Scarif (as well as appearing parked up on Yavin 4), while there’s also mention of General Syndulla, as well as a brief glimpse of the astromech droid Chopper in the Rebel base.
“None of the things we put in really jump out at you,” said Star Wars Rebels creator Dave Filoni in an interview with EW. “If you don’t watch Rebels, there’s never a moment where you’re staring at the [movie] screen going, ‘Why was that important?’ For the people who do know, they get that added level of immersion.”
“I can clarify that’s absolutely Hera being paged, not her dad,” added Filoni with regards to the General Syndulla mention. “The movie gives that away, but I would rather have all the [references] be right. Hera will eventually become a general in the Rebel Alliance.”
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Where’s Chopper?Meanwhile, Filoni also teased the possibility of retelling the film’s climactic battle from the point of view of the Rebels crew, stating that: “I already have some theories about the story behind it. I can imagine doing that entire battle from their point of view, whoever is on the Ghost at that point.”
From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story sees Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) directing a cast that includes Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Diego Luna (Milk), Ben Mendelsohn (The Dark Knight Rises), Donnie Yen (Ip Man), Jiang Wen (Let the Bullets Fly), Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland), Alan Tudyk (Con Man), Riz Ahmed (Nightcrawler), Genevieve O’Reilly (Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith), Jimmy Smits (Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones), James Earl Jones (Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope), Valene Kane (The Fall), Alistair Petrie (The Night Manager), Warwick Davis (Star Wars: Episode IV – Return of the Jedi), Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones) and Jonathan Aris (Sherlock).
Originally published December 24, 2016. Updated March 2, 2020.
