ROGUE ONE: UNWANTED VISITORS!

In the wild beauty of Iceland, Gareth Edwards and his crew capture to celluloid the unwanted arrival of Orson Krennic and his Deathtroopers squad on the far-off realm of Lah'mu, in a memorable start to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

ROGUE ONE: WHEN A MURDERER'S WORK IS NEVER DONE...

Emerging from the body and tech debris littered beach front of the war-torn Scarif, brutal Director Orson Krennic readies his trusty ancient blaster in order to efficiently do the job that those fools in the military couldn't - namely destroy the surviving Rebel Alliance operatives at work inside the Imperial base's communication dish facility, in a deleted scene from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

AFICIONADO REVIEW: 'THRAWN - TREASON'

Loyalties tested and warfare emergent for Grand Admiral Thrawn in Thrawn - Treason, out now from Century.

The eagerly awaited finale to the presumed second trilogy of the world famous SW Expanded Universe Uber villain Grand Admiral Thrawn is here, and once again his creator Timothy Zahn delivers a page-turning adventure with Thrawn - Treason, UK published by Century, that fans will be delighted by.

We last encountered Thrawn aligned with the formidable powers of his true rival Darth Vader, the infamous Dark Lord of the Sith and right hand man to the Emperor himself, the results of which, whilst keeping at bay a determinedly growing alien force emergent from the Outlying Regions of the galaxy, the alien leader would ultimately piece together Vader's true past identity as the once greatest Jedi, Anakin Skywalker. Now, in the aftermath of that stand firm conflict against the Grysk Hegemony, armed with the knowledge that the militaristic manipulators will undoubtedly cross into the Empire's territory sooner rather than later, the Grand Admiral returns back to Imperial Centre only to find himself mired in all-new conflicts with rivals old and new, at a critical time in the development of the Emperor's vision and stranglehold of the galaxy via the birth of a unique and powerful construction project nearing completion: code-named 'Stardust'. A development that, if successfully realized, may threaten Thrawn's own unique plans to aid the Empire, to whom he has allied his past and future ambitions so intrinsically in ways beyond anything from his past history and dedication as an esteemed warrior for his own species- the warriors of the Chiss Ascendancy.

The Grand Moff Tarkin will stop at nothing to achieve his own goals for power.

And Thrawn couldn't be more caught in a nest of viper's like the one established in Treason, primarily the pawn of a much larger game orchestrated by the infamous Grand Moff Tarkin, carving his own powerplay strategy against the ambitious, lower down the Imperial elite chain (but nonetheless rising up) determination of Director Orson Krennic, whose caretaker/orchestration of Stardust and its powerful and prestigious potential, though dogged by years of delays and production problems, has nonetheless gained him considerable grace and favour with the Emperor- a project he personally wishes complete whatever it takes. Tarkin, wanting Stardust and its power all to himself, is determined to unseat Krennic, even if means sacrificing Thrawn as part of that scheme. Krennic is already aware of Tarkin's underhand scheming, but Thrawn himself has no choice but to follow the undercurrents of battle between the two rivals- a mysterious scenario now affecting Stardust potentially threatening the go-ahead by the Emperor to the successful creation/production pipeline of his unique TIE Defender fighter program, rendering it forfeit and extinct through lack of funding.

Eli Vanto returns, alongside the efficient Chiss officer Admiral Ar'alani. Art by Darren Tan.

Entering into the Stardust problem, a certainly unique mystery is revealed- a seemingly natural and unusual situation nicely linked to The Empire Strikes Back, though its ultimate solving leads to even greater danger with the return of the Grysk threat, acting in ways more cunning, bigger in ambition than we discovered in book two, and whose powers in control of other races remain cruelly effective. As Treason carefully unspools the threat, plot strands and characters from book one return to provide an effective closing symmetry to this trilogy finale. We discover just what happened to Thrawn's friend Eli Vanto, the Imperial officer with whom he developed a strong early rapport with, and who disappeared under a cloud a year earlier, seemingly never to return to the Star Destroyer Chimera. Under mysterious orders and a shroud of secrecy, Vanto now acts as the ultimate race relations liaison of sorts with the Chiss, of which his reemergence during a critical point sees him uncomfortably caught between worlds just like Thrawn has been over the decade since his 'discovery'. Cleverly, Vanto is our window into the world of Thrawn and his unique gifts, though he too now understands what it's like to be a stranger in a strange but fascinating land.

Zahn adds further intriguing facets to the alien Chiss, notably introducing a female warrior the equivalent to Thrawn, Admiral Ar'alani, unhappy with his seeming defection to the enemy side with the Empire and always probing where his true loyalties lie. The Chiss have a sense of honour and clan power basing not unlike the Klingons of the modern Star Trek series, it seems- a unique race with more secrets about their personal nature and technology to be revealed in future media-related tales, for sure.

With Death Troopers at his side, Director Orson Krennic remains steadfast to the 'Stardust' project.

Despite lots of advance publicity, the only real disappointment to the book is the true lack of Director Orson Krennic within the story. He was such an interesting baddie, not an elitist but an angry man with a grudge who had had to work hard to join the ranks, within the core of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. I'd hoped he would properly lock horns with the Grand Admiral throughout the entire story. Sadly, despite one Imperial meeting chapter early on, they share little time together, the potential character clashing of the story instead relayed via one of Krennic's less interesting yet key lackeys. A genuine wasted opportunity - perhaps the author was restricted in using the character for some reason on the Lucasfilm creative side?

But Zahn, whose writing style is never less than subtly depthful and efficient, instinctively knows how to give the Expanded Universe lovers more of what they want, and what that 'more' is is Thrawn. With his strategic and tactical genius, he continues to shine under his creator's storytelling, always able to out-think, out-anticipate and jump three steps ahead of all his rivals, leading his taskforce to an ending that pulls out all the stops via a forty-page finale space battle split in two, as opponents lock horns and laser cannons in conflicts that will surely blow the minds of Imperial Navy fans and those SW readers who appreciate battle tactics in both history and the franchise's history. The battles not just showcasing Thrawn but the book's other core characters most effectively too, including his efficient and capable female second-in-command, Faro.

Will Thrawn's post Star Wars Rebels fate be revealed in a later trilogy?

So, a satisfying end to this already acclaimed new trilogy featuring the complex and enigmatic alien warrior who serves the Empire with thoughtful distinction. But will there will be more of Thrawn? I'm more than certain there will be- some interesting little plot strands are resolved, but most can be reopened and expanded. Just as Harrison Ford is Han Solo, I'm sure there's a lot of Thrawn (in a good way, of course) is buried within Timothy Zahn's DNA. And where there's intrigue and warfare to come, from whichever side of the galaxy he may end up, the Grand Admiral will be centred at the bridge of the Chimera, ready and waiting to serve in the Emperor's name and legacy...

AFICIONADO RATING: It's Thrawn. It's Zahn. It's a must-have! 4 out of 5

A trilogy now complete, available from Century UK.

Get Thrawn - Treason here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrawn-Treason-Star-Timothy-Zahn/dp/1529124018/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=thrawn+treason&qid=1568807241&sr=8-1

ROGUE ONE: KRENNIC'S ULTIMATE VICTORY?

Imperial Director Krennic takes aim at Jyn Erso, determined not to let any further security breaches or Rebel incursions stand in the way of his Death Star's destiny as the ultimate power of the Empire, in this scene from Rogue One, set during the finale action on Scarif.

OUT THIS MONTH IN UK PAPERBACK: 'CATALYST - A ROGUE ONE NOVEL'

Rebellions may be built on hope but they are also primarily instigated from the need for defiance, as the evil and tyranny of the Empire's despicable new technological terror, a space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet is revealed: the Death Star, its secret construction and plans for final dominance of the galaxy assured unless it can be stopped.

Discover the truth behind its original construction, and the devices and desires of the two men ultimately behind its terrifying inception: ruthless rising star of the Imperial Navy, Director Orson Krennic, and the man he called friend whom he will manipulate, cajole and betray into working for him, dedicated scientist Galen Erso, who with his loving wife Lyra and newly born daughter Jyn find themselves at the very epicenter of tragedy, deceit, danger and revelations that will shock a universe and see the fire rising to a soon united front of humans and aliens determined to fight against this shocking nightmare made reality...

Keeping the story tight and flowing, James Luceno's reader rewarding prequel novel to ROGUE ONE, Catalyst, is out this month (May 28th, 2017) in UK paperback, courtesy of ARROW. If you haven't read it, it's indeed a worthy tie-in to both of the George Lucas created trilogies, and if you already luckily possess it, then a second read in light of the movie's release makes it even more enjoyable.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Catalyst-Rogue-Novel/dp/1101967005/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1494418928&sr=1-2&keywords=catalyst+rogue+one

ROGUE ONE: DARTH VADER'S LOST SCENES...

The original force of STAR WARS evildom: Darth Vader, as seen in ROGUE ONE. 

It was always planned that the STAR WARS saga's most iconic and popular villain would appear in ROGUE ONE, but originally it was only to have been on the strategic periphery of the story telling, a shadowy but imposing third party in the battle of wills and power for control of the Death Star between Tarkin and Krennic. As in the finished film, Krennic, recognising Vader's power and his influence with the Empire, was eager to win over the Dark Lord's support, in scenes originally set on the space station in orbit around Scarif (its sanctuary moon and construction site) before being rewritten and transferred to the fan friendly environment of Vader's new home castle on Mustafar- a further welcome bridging between the Prequel and Classic trilogies, and incorporating the lead-in scene of Vader/Anakin Skywalker in the bacta tank. This was an environment originally likely to have been either within the Death Star or an Imperial Star Destroyer, before being relocated. Wearing prosthetics as Anakin was stuntman/actor Daniel Naprous, of which this scene must have been shot before the Summer 2016 reshoots, as it made the first teaser trailer for ROGUE ONE that debuted in April that year...

As seen in an early trailer, the reflection of Vader (Spencer Wilding) at the Death Star overview bridge.

Looking at computer graphics, presumably of Scarif (the original secret construction homeworld to the Death Star) or Jedha prior to its destruction?

Krennic has an audience with Vader (Spencer Wilding) at the location.

TOPPS card Rebel Missions Briefing Comic Strip 1 art no doubt based on this deleted scene.

The idea of a castle home for Vader had been conceived early on for ROGUE ONE (as recently confirmed by Art Director Doug Chiang), with an archive visitation of Ralph McQuarrie's original ideas for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK plus other Mustafar designs from EPISODE III, before the concept was seemingly dropped then reappeared as a filming reality for the 2016 re-shoots, with Ben Mendelsohn back as Krennic and stuntman Daniel Naprous now inhabiting the costume for this and the later in the reshoot schedule epic Vader confrontation on the Blockade Runner- a genius idea from the film's co-editor Jabez Olssen to director Gareth Edwards, and quickly given the go order for three days filming by Kathleen Kennedy, recognising its potential to wow audiences- Vader was always to have given chase to the departing Death Star plan custodians at the end of the film but never in such a proactive and murderous way.

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On a Star Destroyer, Krennic confers with Vader (Spencer Wilding).

This might be from filming originally linked to Mustafar but the costume looks different to the one seen on film. Perhaps an alternate scene version or camera test of some kind.

As to other areas of the film, Vader was originally present to watch the earlier destruction of Jedha, alongside Tarkin at one point - a classic image that we wish had made the final cut. A scene set between Krennic and Vader on both the Death Star and on a Star Destroyer bridge was clearly shot, as seen in another early trailer where the former talks about the immeasurable power of the Death Star, clearly using it to further acquire Vader's support. This could be where James Earl Jones unused ADR reply dialogue regarding "power", mentioned by Gareth Edwards at CELEBRATION EUROPE 2016, was to have been used. The idea and tone of this scene was presumably shifted over to the Mustafar location in re-shoots.

Vader on the Star Destroyer bridge, most likely played here by Spencer Wilding.

Gareth Edwards watches shooting of a deleted Vader scene on a Star Destroyer bridge, possibly linked to the film's original ending.

The Vader suit, first worn in the original filming period by actor/stuntman Spencer Wilding, and later in the re-shoots by Naprous, was not from the Lucasfilm Archives but fan built- camera tested by Gareth Edwards and his crew on one of the Starkiller Base sets during production of THE FORCE AWAKENS. Original sculptor Brian Muir returned to create the old/new helmet that would replicate Vader's facial appearance in A New Hope, whilst the overall final appearance of the character was checked over by his original costume designer, John Mollo. For reasons unknown, however, it was decided that Vader's appearance in ROGUE ONE in its final iteration would not fully adhere to the 1977 film's continuity- his inner cloak wrappings not being displayed outside the shoulder armour.

Star Wars Director Reveals the Secrets Behind Rogue One's Final Vader Scene - YouTube

Rogue One Director Admits Filming Darth Vader's Scenes Was Scary

Rogue One almost had a bonus Vader scene

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: KRENNIC'S LOST SCENES...

ROGUE ONE: WHEN KRENNIC RULED THE WORLD!

Image: Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios.

All of the STAR WARS CELEBRATION events have had their terrific moments for audiences and fans to savour and remember over the years, but surely last year's UK event and the entrance of Ben Mendelsohn dressed and in-character as the Empire's Director Krennic, with his sleek and dangerous Death Troopers in tow, was one of the all-time greats, adding further buzz to a terrific ROGUE ONE preview panel of stars and behind the scenes talent.

Top that, CELEBRATION US, this April!

Home - Star Wars Celebration • April 13 - 16, 2017

ROGUE ONE: DECIPHERING THE ORIGINAL SCARIF LAND BATTLE...

Into the fire, as Jyn and her team run towards Imperial Walker fire in a classic deleted scene from ROGUE ONE.

Who didn't love that superb end shot to the first April 2016 teaser trailer of ROGUE ONE showing our heroes, led by Jyn clutching the stolen Death Star data tape, running into an approaching storm of AT-AT's? And who wasn't mildly disappointed that the scene - the perfect visual marketing image - didn't make it to the final film?

From what's been revealed in all the various behind the scenes materials and trailers, and until some hopefully deleted scene material reaches the DVD and Blu-ray this April, here's AFICIONADO's best guess as to how the original land battle of Scarif played out before it underwent drastic editing and reshoots last summer. Don't get me wrong, we loved the end cinematic product and how it played out - tense, dramatic and involving, but the original sequence is too fascinating to not want to discover more about, especially as interviews with the film's editors remains relatively vague on what was changed and reworked here.

A helicopter follows our arrived heroes for unused camera angles.

No time to enjoy the scenery.

Another unused angle being shot.

Rushing the beach and on the look out for Stormtrooper patrols.

Either a generic patrol of the shore, or a scene where they are looking for our heroes.

Another great shot of the Stormtroopers in this evocative setting.

Specially posed image, or the aftermath of a beach battle?

Stormtrooper in the jungle.

Presumably the same one that falls foul of Chirrut Imwe's lightning reflexes.

Our heroes gather outside the bunker entrance after taking down a Stormtrooper squad.

Jyn and Cassian check equipment as they begin the next stage of their plan.

A brief respite from battle for Baze Malbus and Chirrut.

Filming this scene with director Gareth Edwards in the UK.

The Moroff (Ian Whyte) was cut out from the Scarif scenes but was seen earlier in the film, on Jedha.

Moroff and Rebel squad leader Pao on the beach in a behind the scenes shot.

Our disguised heroes begin their entry to the Imperial Vault complex.

Starting out, we can assume that Bodhi dropped Jyn Erso and her main squad (which also comprised Baze and Chirrut) from their obtained shuttle onto the beach, before heading to one of the outdoor Imperial landing fields. Jyn's party then ran to one of the outdoor bunker areas leading into the vault complex. On the way, they likely took out Imperial Stormtrooper beach patrols and Shoretroopers, with Baze, Chirrut and the rest of their squad being cover and/or creating numerous diversions in and around the bunker, whilst Jyn, Cassian and K-2SO, disguised as Imperials, entered the facility, then the vault, to steal the plans.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: ENTERING THE VAULT - THE UNUSED FOOTAGE

The alarm has been raised...

The AT-ACT's are out in force on the shoreline.

A race against time for Jyn and her comrades to the Communications Tower.

Jyn, holding the plans, Cassian and K-2 run for it amongst debris.

As enemy fire blankets the beach, a stuntman on wires prepares to "die".

Still running from the bunker as Rebels fire at enemy troops now also behind them.

Running out of options...

A Rebel U-wing makes a timely entrance.

Suspended by crane, the container representing the U-wing gun interior is above our heroes.

Bistan provides fire against the enemy.

Advance leaked BTS image of the crashed U-wing on the jungle/shoreline set recreated at Buckinghamshire.

Our heroes dive for cover and return fire at both attacking sides from within the huge sand trails of the crashed U-wing.

Pao is front and centre of the battle but soon killed.

Felicity Jones on the burning wreckage set at Pinewood.

Filming on the Maldives from various positions, including more aerial shots.

Cassian and his men fight back against beach Stormtroopers.

Pinned down by enemy forces.

Baze fires at a Walker, as Cassian and his men provide additional blaster support.

Bodhi on the beach holding binoculars not seen in the film.

Filming on location in Maldives, Bodhi with the heavy duty cable he'd wear on his back as seen in the film.

A different angle of the exploding shuttle than was seen in the completed film.

By then, the base is on alert, and as the team assembled and rushed out of the Bunker - Jyn and Cassian - now back in Rebel fatigues- are attacked by four approaching AT-ACT Walkers (three seen in the film) as they rush to the separate location Communications Tower and its dish from which to send the captured plans/schematics to their arriving forces (the dish can be seen in the teaser trailer). As the race/battle across the shore continued, the U-wing carrying Bistan provided cover fire above/behind them (as filmed on location in the Maldives, and confirmed by Felicity Jones in a recent magazine interview) but is soon cut down, crashing on a section of beach near the Communications Tower (seen but reworked with editing/CGI in the finished movie). We know that in this original sequence, Jyn, Cassian, K-2, Chirrut and Baze were all together (alongside several of the other alien creature rebels joining them somewhere in the action), cut off and fighting in small sand trenches against front and behind opponents near the U-wing wreckage, before the timely arrival of the X-wings and their swift attack on the lumbering beasts. Concurrently, Bodhi, at some point alongside Rebel protectors in the jungle (as seen in an early released image/BTS footage), is presumably killed in the exploding shuttle on the landing field, before he can take off to rescue his colleagues. (Bodhi's role in the film's story would be significantly expanded on at the beginning and end in re-shoots, one notable example: the need for him to send a signal to Admiral Raddus about the incoming transmission from Jyn- a sequence shot in the Maldives but with more added to it later).

Shoretroopers and Stormtroopers emerge as our heroes press on to the communications dish- part of a reworked scene in post production.

Death Troopers rush the beach.

Ruthlessly attacking our heroes by the crashed U-wing fighter.

Baze's last stand was re-worked for the final cut.

The enemy presses its attack
.

Atmospheric war shot from behind the scenes footage.

Director Krennic arrives at the Communications Tower to survey the chaos.

Krennic pulls his trusty blaster pistol out, in a scene shot at Pinewood.

The original demise of K-2, being repeatedly gunned down, presumably in the alcove or just inside the Communications Tower entrance.

K-2 collapses near to the dead (or injured) Cassian.

Jyn inside the Imperial facility - on a set we didn't see in the film.

Injured and limping, Jyn struggles across the dish platform catwalk.

Gareth Edwards films Jyn's struggle.

Cornered by a TIE fighter, though this images was supposedly only created for the trailer according to Gareth Edwards, and a different TIE vehicle designed by Doug Chiang was used to attack Jyn in the final movie.

Jyn leaps out of the way of blaster cannon fire...

We know that Krennic's Death Troopers rushed the beach originally (the film scene of them coming down the all-new TIE Shuttle ramp to attack surviving Rebel soldiers added or digitally manipulated in re-shoots/post production), and were fighting our remaining core heroes in and around the U-wing wreckage- presumably where Chirrut and Baze met their end taking out the special enemy soldiers, and that, in a beach area laden with Stormtrooper bodies, the newly arrived Krennic may have killed or critically injured Cassian (footage shows Krennic pulling out his gun to shoot at someone), with K-2 also succumbing to further enemy fire in the bunker or canopy area to fall near Cassian's body (as seen in a recent ABC news clip). With a wounded (clearly limping) Jyn the only survivor, she makes her way up to the tower's dish (presumably by lift), getting it ready to send the signal transmissions of the plans, then faces down a TIE fighter which laser strafes the catwalk she races across, partially destroying it (the TIE fighter was replaced  in an alternate scene (now apparently only created in the trailer for marketing use!), with a new ship used on Scarif - the fast atmosphere riding TIE Striker). After the catwalk attack, we can assume that Jyn confronted and killed Krennic either by herself or possibly with the help of a not dead but wounded Cassian, presumably leading to their final scenes together as seen in the film, escaping via the beach bunker to witness their final end from the Death Star weapon Tsunami...

If anyone has any more information on the sequence, please get in touch.