Ten Years Later, Rogue One Is Officially Disney’s Most Important Star Wars Movie

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You know, it’s been ten years since Rogue One: A Star Wars Story came out, and honestly, it holds up incredibly well – it’s actually gotten better with time. What’s really interesting is that it’s one of Disney’s strongest Star Wars films, and the audience loved it – Rotten Tomatoes shows an 87% Audience Score, which is even higher than what the critics gave it! Considering all the trouble it had behind the scenes – the fact that Tony Gilroy had to step in and essentially take over from Gareth Edwards during filming – that’s pretty amazing. It really proves that even massive reshoots don’t necessarily ruin a movie.

It’s been ten years since its release, so it’s a good time to ask: why has Rogue One become a favorite among Star Wars fans, while other recent Disney Star Wars projects haven’t fared as well? The sequel trilogy sparked a lot of debate, plans for more standalone films were cancelled after Solo didn’t perform well in theaters, and viewership for the Star Wars shows on Disney+ has been declining. What made Rogue One succeed when so many other Disney-era Star Wars releases have faced challenges?

Rogue One Was the Natural Evolution of Star Wars

George Lucas often said he had the entire Star Wars saga planned from the beginning, but that’s likely an oversimplification. For example, the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back—written by Leigh Brackett—didn’t include the iconic “I am your father” moment. The truth is, Star Wars was always developing and changing. Luke Skywalker began as a relatable, ordinary hero, but in The Empire Strikes Back, he became more of a hero destined for greatness. Later, the prequel films shifted the story’s focus to Anakin Skywalker, with Lucas stating the saga was always about him, not Luke. Finally, The Clone Wars series further fleshed out Anakin’s tragic downfall by introducing a Padawan learner to his story.

While other Disney-era Star Wars films have added to the story, Rogue One uniquely expanded the franchise by shifting its focus. It moved away from the Jedi and the Force, instead highlighting the ordinary people who risked everything to fight against the Empire. The heroes of Rogue One felt relatable and weren’t defined by special powers, but by their courage and willingness to sacrifice for the rebellion. Even though the film ends with the characters’ tragic deaths, it ultimately leaves you feeling hopeful.

Darth Vader’s appearance in Rogue One isn’t just a fun scene – it powerfully demonstrates how truly formidable he is. His arrival dramatically raises the tension, and the fact that the heroes still succeed, even with great sacrifice, is what makes the story so compelling. Despite being a legendary figure, Darth Vader fails to recover the Death Star plans, and this failure is a key step in the Empire’s eventual collapse. Rogue One shows us that the galaxy isn’t saved by powerful individuals, but by ordinary people with the courage to fight for what’s right, delivering a remarkably inspiring message.

Rogue One’s Message Has Improved Over Time

As a huge Star Wars fan, when I think about Rogue One, I can’t help but remember everything that came after. Lucasfilm really knocked it out of the park with the books they released alongside it – Alexander Freed’s novelization of the movie is brilliant, and James Luceno’s Catalyst is a must-read if you want to understand the backstory. But honestly, the best tie-in of all took six years to arrive – Andor, created by Tony Gilroy. It’s funny looking back now, because when Andor was first announced, the fanbase was almost universally against it! Everyone thought it was totally unnecessary and something nobody asked for.

It’s easy for both fans and studios to lose sight of this: a studio shouldn’t just give people what they think they want, but create something so compelling that fans discover a new, better vision. That’s exactly what Tony Gilroy achieved with Andor. This ambitious series uses the extended format of a two-season show to build on the characters and ideas from Rogue One, realistically portraying the sacrifices required to fight against oppression, while also highlighting the importance of ordinary people taking a stand. Andor succeeds because it naturally expands upon the mature storytelling established in Rogue One.

Rogue One & Andor Have a Fundamentally Different View of History

Unlike the main Star Wars films, Rogue One offers a different take on how history unfolds. The core Star Wars saga often emphasizes the idea that history is shaped by a few powerful individuals – chosen heroes and imposing villains. This concept, where a handful of people control everything, is currently popular in our culture, as seen in figures like Donald Trump who present themselves as dominant forces. However, this perspective can feel limiting, as it suggests that most people are simply affected by the decisions of these powerful figures, rather than having a meaningful impact themselves.

It’s important to remember that George Lucas didn’t originally intend for Star Wars to be about destiny or special bloodlines. The story was meant to be about Luke Skywalker, an ordinary person who proved anyone – even someone from a humble background – could become a hero and change the galaxy. This allowed audiences to imagine themselves in Luke’s place, achieving great things. However, as the series continued, this core idea was unintentionally lost, though the sequels briefly tried to recapture it with the character of Rey, portraying her as someone with no significant past.

Both Rogue One and Andor offer a fresh perspective on the Star Wars universe’s history. These stories show that powerful leaders can only maintain control as long as people feel helpless and accept their rule. However, when ordinary citizens choose to fight back and take control, even the most influential figures can’t stop them. This is a really inspiring idea, and it aligns with what George Lucas originally envisioned for Star Wars. It’s great to see this message being explored in the newer stories.

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2026-03-10 20:43