It’s no surprise that Disney’s blockbuster spin-offRogue One: A Star Wars Storyhas been dominating the online movie landscape, with fans clamoring to find out everything they can about this big-screen adventure, before they see it again and again. In the five days since it hit theaters on December 16, a number of new details have emerged, including directorGareth Edwardsrevealing that he actually repurposed some unused footage fromA New HopeinRogue One, while we also learned more about Darth Vader’s castle. If you demand more details aboutRogue Onebefore the holidays, then you’re in luck, because screenwriterGary Whittarecently held a Twitter Q&A session, where he confirmed that the iconic Nerf Herders were almost featured inRogue One.
Gary Whittawas joined byStar WarsexpertsChris PirilloandJoe Vargasduring this liveTwitterQ&A session yesterday, where they took questions from the fans aboutRogue One.Gary Whittawas the first writer hired for this spin-off, spending a full year working on the script before turning in his draft.Chris Weitztook over the writing duties after that, withGary WhittaandJohn Knollreceiving story credit onRogue One, andChris WeitzandTony Gilroy, who was brought in to re-work the script for reshoots, receiving full screenplay credit. One of the most interesting tidbitsGary Whittarevealed during this Q&A is that his first draft originally showed the nerf herders, but he wouldn’t say how they were involved in the story.
Fans never got to see what an actual “nerf herder” looks like, but the name itself became cemented inStar Warslore with a line Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) delivers inEmpire Strikes Back, when she insultsHan Soloby calling him a “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder.” Han’s response was also the stuff of legend, telling Leia, “Who’s scruffy-looking?” Nerf herders were actual people who rounded up members of the nerf species, who were, “furry, non-sentient animals raised for their milk, meat, and hide,” according to theStar WarsWikia known as Wookiepedia. If they would have been seen inRogue One, it would have marked the first time the nerf herders were actually seen in aStar Warsmovie, but they recently made their first comic book appearance in Marvel’sStar Wars#18, which was released in April.
Gary Whittaalso discussedGalen Erso’s (Mads Mikkelsen) act of defiance by purposefully building a flaw into the Death Star plans, which was ultimately exploited by the Rebel Alliance inA New Hope. The writer revealed that the flaw was, “always intended as an act of defiance and also a way to unmake what he was forced to help make.” He also added that Galen kept working on the Death Star in hopes that the Empire would let him work on bringing free energy to developing planets, as promised. He also added thatForest Whitakerwas the one actor who first came to mind when discussing Saw Gerrera, adding that they were “lucky to get him.” It was announced this week thatForest Whitakeris returning to voiceSaw Gerreraon the small screen inStar Wars Rebels.
When asked ifGrand Moff Tarkinteamed up with Vader to take Krennic off of the Death Star project, the writer revealed that, “Vader is above all that internecine rivalry. I don’t think he cares which officer he has to force-choke on any given day.” He also adds that he thinks Vader chose to make his home on Mustafar, the same place he dueled with Obi-Wan Kenobi, revealing that “it’s his choice because he wants to punish himself. As Luke says, there’s still good/conflict in him.” We have assembled all ofGary Whitta’s tweets from theRogue One: A Star Wars StoryTwitter Q&A session, which you’re able to check out below.
