The forthcoming reshoots for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story easily took the mantle of the most involving movie news item of the past week. Speculation still looms on what the problem might be with Gareth Edwards‘ take of the first Star Wars spin-off film, largely because so much involving the movie and its production are being kept under lock and key. The Hollywood Reporter unearthed a bit of information, however, that may be telling of a larger story.
According to THR, esteemed stunt coordinator and second unit director Simon Crane and Oscar nominated scribe Tony Gilory have both been enlisted to assist with the Rogue One reshoots, which reportedly may mark nearly 40% of the finished film and may last as long as six weeks if rumors are deemed true. The nature of the reshoots, and this where hyperbole and the-sky-is-falling reports have to be taken with a grain of salt, are apparently designed to lighten the mood of Rogue One into more of a “classic Star Wars” temperament versus the reportedly darker movie delivered by Edwards – Edwards previously directed the 2014 reboot Godzilla and the 2010 indie Monsters.
The addition of Crane to the Rogue One team suggests the action sequences, in particular, may be modified. Crane, a veteran stunt coordinator, has helped to craft memorable action scenes in recent movies that include World War Z and Edge of Tomorrow. He has also served as the second unit director of films like Maleficent and this summer’s Jason Bourne. Gilroy will also be hand as production resumes at Pinewood Studios, and is believed to have helped in re-writing the film (other sources suggest Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie played a hand in re-writes as well). Gilroy, who was nominated for both directing and writing the legal thriller Michael Clayton, has action bonafides as well, having written the Bourne movies and directed the most recent entry, The Bourne Legacy.
This continues to be an evolving story. Rogue One is still slated to open on December 16th.