Earlier this week, we shared leaked reports regarding major reshoots for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Via movie insider blog Making Star Wars: "I reached out to several sources to find out exactly what was going on with Rogue One. When I asked a few crew members what was being reshot they laughed and said “everything.” Of course they were kidding but from the sound of it, the shooting will be extensive."
"The crew expects they are reshooting 40 percent of the film," stated Making Star Wars. Of course, reshoots are quite common in the movie industry and sources even said that reshoots "were always part of the plan." However, 40 percent could mean eight weeks worth of reshoots, which is very significant no matter how you try to slice it.
Thankfully, new reports from EW suggest that the claimed figure of 40 percent was greatly exaggerated. Instead, the reshoots will only count for about four weeks. What's more, the extra work will not affect the date Rogue One arrives in theaters on Dec. 16.
"The changes have everything to do with clarity and character development and all take place [as inserts] within scenes we’ve already shot." More specifically, most of the scenes that will require a reshoot only involve "a lot of talking in cockpits." The source for EW expects the film will be complete by August. Had the crew actually faced reshoots for 40 percent of the film, an August deadline simply would not be possible.
Another rumor from earlier this week suggested that filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie, known for Mission: Impossible and Edge of Tomorrow, would take part in the reshoots. However, McQuarrie was quick to deny involvement. Still, Rogue One director Gareth Edwards can't do it all by himself.
EW has reported that writer Tony Gilroy of the Bourne franchise will be involved as the second unit director of the Rogue One reshoots. Despite getting in wrong with McQuarrie, the latest reports regarding Gilroy have substance as Edwards had worked with Gilroy previously for 2014's Godzilla. That said, Gilroy has yet to confirm the latest reports.
Unlike The Force Awakens and the past Star Wars movies, Rogue One is said to adapt a grittier tone than the sci-fi space opera styles of the classic movies.
“The movie is very different than [The Force Awakens], and that’s intentional,” one source says. “It’s a war film.”
Thankfully, reports reinforce that the reshoots will not change the tone of Rogue One's harder-edged storytelling.
