Star Wars: Rogue One's Vader Scene Was Almost Very Different

By James Hunt / July 25, 2018

Darth Vader's role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is one of the most memorable parts of the movie, with the climactic moments unleashing the Sith Lord in a way we'd never really seen before in live-action.

Vader cutting through the Rebels was, like much of Rogue One's third act, the product of its well-publicised reshoots, but even before then it could've been very different. Writer Gary Whitta has revealed on Twitter how his vision for the scene originally took shape, saying:

"The version I pitched (but never wrote) had Vader on the Scarif beach single-handedly slaughtering his way through a Rebel blockade at the base of the Imperial tower. The version in the Raddus hallway works much better because it's so contained, feels more horror than action."

Although the destruction caused by Vader would've remained the same, it no doubt would've played out very differently with the character out on the bright, sunny beach, rather than the dark hallway illuminated by the red of his lightsaber.

That gives it a claustrophobic feel that adds to its intensity and, as Whitta says, horror vibe, which wouldn't have existed had it taken place on Scarif's beach, although it would've explained why he was so pissed off - he doesn't like sand, after all...

Are you glad this change was made? What do you think of the Vader scene? Let us know down in the comments.