4) All The Cameos
Even though Rogue One is a spinoff of the mainline saga films, it’s not shy about tying in to the rest of the Star Wars franchise, as various familiar characters turn up. Tarkin and Vader appear for significant roles, as does Mon Mothma on the Rebels side, but there are plenty more shorter cameos scattered throughout the film.
Speaking of Mothma, she’s seen talking to her Rebel colleague Bail Organa at one stage (as played by Jimmi Smits, reprising the role he previously played in the prequels). The Alderaan ambassador discusses his plan to contact an old Jedi friend of his who’s been in hiding for many years – a clear nod to Obi-Wan Kenobi that sets up A New Hope.
Another nod to the first Star Wars movie occurs in the brief appearance of Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan. The pair memorably met Luke and Obi-Wan at the Mos Eisley Cantina in the original film and here turn up on Jedha (somehow escaping the moon’s subsequent destruction).
Some much bigger players also appear, of course. R2-D2 and C-3PO turn up very briefly at the Rebel base on Yavin in a totally needless but fun bit of fan service all the same. Finally, none other than Princess Leia – or at least a CG version of a young Carrie Fisher – appears at the film’s close. In a beautiful bit of continuity, she receives the plans to the Death Star, which leads perfectly into the beginning of A New Hope.Â
