Exclusive: The Untold Journey of How Rogue One Director Made History in Star Wars Universe

Summary

Gareth Edwards, director of Rogue One, was thrilled to be able to direct a Star Wars movie because of his love for the franchise.

Edwards initially neglected the chance to have a meeting with Lucasfilm due to his busy schedule working on Godzilla, but he ultimately managed to arrange it.

To his astonishment, Edwards discovered that Lucasfilm had solely approached him for the movie concept, and he felt thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to a project linked to A New Hope.

Gareth Edwards, the director of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, has always been forthright about his deep affection for Star Wars. In fact, on his 30th birthday, he even ventured to Tunisia, where the original Star Wars film was filmed, and indulged in Blue Milk. Understandably, the opportunity to direct a Star Wars film was a dream come true for Edwards. Despite the well-documented challenges faced during the production of Rogue One, Edwards holds nothing but admiration for Lucas and the entire Lucasfilm team due to his immense love for the franchise.

During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Edwards fondly recalls the thrill of joining the Star Wars family. At the time, he was already occupied with his work on Godzilla, and initially, he was unable to commit to the project when approached by Lucasfilm. However, after a few months and ongoing communication from Lucasfilm, the proposition of directing a Star Wars movie truly began to sink in for him.

"There were these two ideas for a movie. After reading one, I realized that it wasn't the right fit for me. I became extremely curious about the other idea. As I started reading the pitch by John Noel, which was around two pages long, I found myself constantly wondering where the story was heading. And then, right at the end, came the big reveal - Princess Leia! I was completely blown away. This pitch turned out to be the prequel that connects everything to 'A New Hope,' and it instantly gave me a purpose for pursuing this project."

Gareth Edwards Is A Star Wars Fan Who Got To Live The Dream

The interview with Gareth Edwards is incredibly delightful. When Lucasfilm reached out to him, he initially assumed he was low on their list of about 3,000 potential candidates and didn't prioritize it. He was in the midst of filming Godzilla and couldn't possibly attend a meeting. A few months later, while in pre-production at Warner Bros. near Disney, he received another meeting request.

I didn't dare tell anyone about my meeting, so I made up excuses like needing to go to the restroom or feeling sick. I don't know what they thought. I quickly left the edit, ran down the street, got into my car, and drove to the meeting location, which was only a block away or so.

Later on, Lucasfilm emailed Edwards with two ideas for Star Wars movies. One of those ideas eventually became Rogue One (Edwards won't reveal the other idea, but he is confident that Lucasfilm will eventually make it, although he doesn't believe he was the right fit for it). "When I first heard about this film, I was initially against it," he recalls. "I thought it was sacrilegious and shouldn't be made." Even while making the movie, he still felt the strangeness of working on a Star Wars project without George Lucas' involvement. However, his excitement and eagerness ultimately convinced him to move forward, and he had another meeting with Lucasfilm.

Edwards suspected that Lucasfilm had already shared this with numerous individuals. However, it was only after a few more discussions that he inquired:

"Are there any other filmmakers being considered for this concept?" Their response was, "No, just you."

"And I was thinking, 'Alright, when exactly would you want to do this?' And they replied, 'It would be our next project.' I had to maintain a cool demeanor, you know. Remember, I didn't direct The Raid, right? You do know that I'm not Gareth Evans?"

Despite its challenges, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a true passion project for Edwards. He is, above all, a dedicated fan who entered the world of filmmaking because of Star Wars' profound impact. The unforgettable experience of creating this film will always hold a special place in his heart. This is the remarkable aspect of Star Wars' resurgence; those who adored Lucas' creations now have the opportunity to contribute to his magnificent universe.

Source: Happy Sad Confused