10 Ways Star Wars Rogue One Was Almost Totally Different

2. Jyn’s Mother Was A Jedi In Hiding

The Art Of Rogue One book has been a treasure trove for fans looking for additional easter eggs. This includes the major revelation that Jyn’s mother was originally a Jedi, which might explain why she had a Kyber Crystal handy.

Screenwriter Chris Weitz revealed Lyra was originally a Jedi in hiding, but this concept was dropped when it was decided the film should be about ordinary people struggling against the Empire. So while certain characters – namely Chirrut – may believe strongly in the Force, no actual Jedi’s appear and the only lightsaber belongs to good old Darth himself.

Plus it might seem odd to have another Jedi outside of Obi-Wan surviving Order 66, so it’s probably for the best this concept was dropped. In this early draft, Jyn also had a younger brother to protect, but this too was quickly dropped.