Darth Vader Definitely Part of 'Rogue One'
by EG
Given the plot of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it seemed certain that Darth Vader would have to be involved in the movie. After all, the film is about the plan to steal the plans of the Death Star, Vader's pet project, and it's unthinkable that the Empire's greatest villain would sit out such a pivotal moment in Star Wars history. This week, Disney finally confirmed that Vader will, in fact, make an appearance in Rogue One.
"I think we can talk about Vader," Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy told Entertainment Weekly when she was asked which classic characters might be part of Rogue One.
Kennedy admitted that Vader would be in the film, but she also made sure that she downplayed the extent of the character's role.
"He will be in the movie sparingly, but at a key, strategic moment, he’s going to loom large," she said.
That probably means that Vader will show up only for a cameo, a la Luke Skywalker in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. That's likely to disappoint fans who had been hoping that Vader would be the film's central villain, but at least we now know that he won't be ignored entirely.
Rogue One is currently scheduled for release on December 16, 2016, but Disney has recently called for reshoots after the studio was presented with a disappointing first cut.