ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY director Gareth Edwards has definitively pivoted from a galaxy far, far away, telling Business Insider he would “never make another Star Wars movie” and is “very happy to move on and do my thing.” This stance comes despite Rogue One (2016) – his gritty standalone film about Rebel spies stealing Death Star plans – being hailed by many as the crown jewel of Disney’s Lucasfilm era.
When presented with the popular fan argument that his ensemble thriller (starring Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, and Ben Mendelsohn) stands as the franchise’s strongest Disney-era entry, Edwards responded diplomatically: “I don’t agree with it, but I appreciate it. I’m very grateful that people say nice things.” The film’s reputation has soared further with the critical triumph of its Disney+ prequel series Andor, created by Tony Gilroy who also oversaw Rogue One‘s extensive reshoots.
Reflecting on the film’s upcoming 10th anniversary, Edwards shared his philosophy on legacy: “What you keep in your pocket is that it’s not about release-day reactions, but how people feel in 10 or 20 years. The real reward is the kid who tells you decades later, ‘I loved that movie!’”
Addressing long-simmering production rumors – notably reports that Lucasfilm sidelined him during reshoots, bringing in Gilroy for significant revisions – Edwards pushed back firmly in a 2023 KCRW interview: “The internet narratives are wildly inaccurate. Tony did great work, but we ALL worked together until the final minute.” Speaking to Variety that same year, he framed his experience positively: “I won the lottery getting to make a Star Wars film. For someone as privileged as me to imply it was anything less than amazing? I have no empathy for that perspective.”
Edwards’ closure with Lucasfilm coincides with his latest blockbuster venture: directing Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth (July 2 release). His comments signal a deliberate embrace of original storytelling and creative autonomy beyond franchise obligations, even as Rogue One continues to cement its status as a fan-favorite chapter in the Star Wars saga.
Featured Image © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Lucasfilm Ltd.
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