10 Ways Star Wars Rogue One Was Almost Totally Different
1. The Heroes Survived In The First Draft
Given the nature of the story, fans assumed that not everyone was going to come out of Rogue One's story alive. It was a fair assumption, since practically every character introduced in the movie is dead by the time the credits roll.
It’s a ballsy move for Disney, even if it makes sense storywise; after all, none of these characters appear in the original trilogy. Director Gareth Edwards also assumed he'd have to soften the edges of the story, with the first draft featuring a couple of the rebels – including Jyn – somehow surviving the end battle.
It turns out Disney were onboard with the darkness of the story and gave him permission to wipe everyone out in the climax. This makes for a poignant ending and gives A New Hope a bit more bite, thanks to the new backstory.