'Rogue One' writer reveals the film could have ended with a wedding

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story took a turbulent journey from page to screen, but we never realized how different things could have been. Screenwriter Chris Weitz revealed that before he joined the project, the story had a happy ending.

“The version prior to [my involvement] didn’t have everyone die. As a matter of fact, it ended with a wedding,” Weitz told CultPopture. “I think it was on the presumption that Disney wouldn’t allow characters to die with such abandon.”

More than two years after the film's release, this is almost impossible to imagine. Rogue One ending with a joyful wedding???

Weitz took over the script from Star Wars Rebels writer Gary Whitta and tried a new ending that he felt made more sense.

“I felt it was necessary because nobody ever mentions them or sees them again," he said. "But also because we’ve done this whole sort of theme about sacrifice that it was appropriate that all of our main characters die.”

The final film departed even farther from Weitz's screenplay after changes from editor Tony Gilroy. Scenes in the middle of the movie shifted around and at least one character (K-2SO) died in a different location than the script had previously dictated.

Rogue One's ending is now famous in the Star Wars universe, killing off almost every single main character yet still ending on Princess Leia's crucial bid for hope. It also stunned fans by showing Darth Vader – a ubiquitous presence in the franchise, but one we didn't expect to actually see in the film.

“The Darth Vader kicking ass I cannot take credit for,” Weitz said. “That was a later invention.”

Ultimately, Weitz said he was satisfied with the theatrical version of the film – a rare sentiment when it comes to movies with difficult productions (just ask this one's cousin, Solo).