‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ May Link The Past To The Future, But Not For Daisy Ridley

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the next big film in the franchise, but unlike The Force Awakens, this story doesn’t explore completely uncharted territory, but it instead is an exploration of a subplot only briefly mentioned in Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. Rogue One tells the story of how the plans to the first Death Star were obtained by the resistance and, as such, will introduce new characters and re-imagine classic Star Wars favorites.

Daisy Ridley Has Something To Say About Those Rogue One Conspiracy Theories

While rumors and speculation are already flooding the net in expected fashion, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley is quick to debunk any ideas that the star of Rogue One, Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, holds any connection to her Rey character.

Jyn isn’t the typical rebel scum, like those indoctrinated into the rebel alliance at young ages, who learn discipline, order, and strategy. Instead, Jones’ Rogue One character holds much more in common with another famous Star Wars character, Han Solo. The first trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story tells us that Jyn is suspected and possibly convicted of a number of crimes against the Empire, including the forgery of Imperial documents and aggravated assault.

While some Star Wars fans still persist with the theory that Ridley’s character from The Force Awakens is the daughter of Han Solo and Leia, other fans have begun to theorize that Rey is actually the daughter of Jyn Erso. Upon hearing the latest idea concerning Rey’s parentage, Daisy felt compelled to warn Star Wars fans not to read so much into everything.

“…just because she’s white and got brown hair… it doesn’t mean she’s my mom,” Ridley pointed out at this year’s MTV Movie Awards.

The Force Awakens‘ Daisy Ridley Looks To The Future…Much Like A Young Luke Skywalker

Instead, Daisy says there’s something to be said for her character’s mysterious heritage, suggesting that Star Wars fans may never really know who her parents were or what ever became of them.

“I think the amazing thing about [The Force Awakens] is that Finn and Rey don’t come from anywhere, and they find a place,” Ridley explained. “And so to me, it’s funny that people think [Rey’s parentage] is so important. Because I guess it is, but I don’t really think it is.”

For Ms. Ridley, looking forward is so much more important than dwelling on the past. As much as she hints that our pasts do help us to form the people we are to become, it’s our present actions and our hopes for the future that really matter most of all.

“Because regardless of where you come from, where you go is the thing. You’re moving forward, and you can make family, and you can find people you love. And so I think the progression Rey is making and the people she’s meeting and the relationships she’s making now are kind of more important than where she comes from. But that’s just me.”

On another front, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story must also look to the future in its casting of the story’s top villain. Originally, Darth Vader was played by David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones, but Prowse is now in his 80s and, as his health is failing, he’s quite unable to return to the role. Instead of reaching out to Hayden Christensen, who donned the infamous costume in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith, Rogue One producers have revealed that Spencer Wilding (Guardians of the Galaxy, Batman Begins) will be playing Darth Vader in this new film.

What everyone really wants to know, however, is who will take on the voice of Darth Vader, and that may be a more complicated role to cast than any other part associated with Rogue One. Jones’ unmistakable voice as the Dark Lord of the Sith is almost a character of its own, booming with authority and strength in a way that may be near impossible to duplicate. Yet no one seems to be able to either confirm or deny whether Jones has been enlisted to voice Darth Vader once more.

“I have no idea,” 85-year-old James Earl Jones said on whether he would be reprising his role as Darth Vader’s voice. “I’ve loved being a part of that whole cult. Especially because I’m only special effects, I’m not a character. But it’s been great. But that’s all I know.”

Recognizing that Jones won’t be available forever, Disney and Rogue One producers may be pursuing other options for the Star Wars villain.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is scheduled for a December 16 theatrical release.

[Image by Disney]