Speculation: Felicity Jones’ Character in Rogue One
Ever since Felicity Jones was confirmed to star in the first Star Wars anthology film (now known as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), rumors swirled around the character the Academy Award nominated actress would be portraying in the upcoming film.
Fans have speculated a vast array of characters, a couple of the most popular being former Jedi padawan Ahsoka Tano of the Clone Wars and Rebels series (below; left), and the young Mandolorian Imperial dropout and rebel Sabine (below; right). Recent rumors have even gone as far as to speculate that she is none other than the daughter of the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett. If we can gain any insight from any of these speculations, it’s that we really don’t know much of anything yet about the upcoming film or the character Jones will be playing in it. Let’s talk about what we do know so far…
Originally, it was rumored that the film would be a tale about a group of bounty hunters / mercenaries that were involved in stealing the plans for the original Death Star, thus placing the timeline of the film right before A New Hope. When the title Rogue One was officially announced, this made some doubt the validity of the original plot rumor, dropping the rumor in favor of a movie about the elite Rebel X-Wing squadron known to Star Wars fans as Rogue Squadron.
However, announcements about the film at Stars Wars Celebration in Anaheim confirmed the original rumor that the film will in fact be about a group of resistance fighters (who may or may not be bounty hunters) stealing the Death Star plans for the Rebellion. The recent cast photo released at D23 (below) confirmed many of the casting rumors we have heard, the gritty tone we were expecting, and the fact that Jones (along with all the others in the photo) is a human character.
So with the cast photo reveal, the Ahsoka rumor is out, and Jones really doesn’t give off much of a Sabine vibe either with her lack of Mandalorian armor and the individual stylistic flare that Sabine is so known for. Avoiding the ridiculous notion that a 10-yr-old Boba Fett fathered her and the likelihood that she is a brand new character that we have never seen before, who does that leave? Is there a character in the Star Wars universe, whether it be from Canon or Legends, that makes sense? I would say “yes” to that question. I believe the answer has been right under our noses since the release of issue #3 of Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader comic.
The third issue in the series introduced readers to a brand new character by the name of Dr. Aphra, a twenty-something-yr-old droid programmer and adventurer whose introduction into SW canon was reminiscent of that of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark – ducking and diving through lasers to obtain her prize, accidentally setting off the defense system, and barely escaping with her life as a Clone Wars era destroyer droid barreled after her. Vader quickly recognizes her talents and hires her to aid him in his efforts to get back his master’s favor after his failure at the Death Star. Aphra proves to be a valuable asset to Vader, albeit chatty and naïve at times.
She soon reveals that she’s no dummy and is fully aware of how powerful the one who has employed her is, asking him for the mercy of a quick death when she exceeds her usefulness to the dark lord. That being said, she doesn’t ever come across as being evil either, although she does demonstrate that she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty or to employ the use of bounty hunters (the likes of who she has obviously worked with before) in her task.
Her skills with technology – especially concerning droids, her connections with the underworld, and her ability to lead a successful Imperial heist (as shown in the most recent issue of the comic series) make her a likely candidate in my opinion to lead a rag tag group of mercenaries on a heist mission for the Alliance prior to her meeting up with Vader. Aphra loves her work and goes where the money is. To me, this makes perfect sense. Also, as you can see in the cast photo from D23, Jones’ character shares a similar style to that of Aphra. She wears her pant waist a little higher here and has a scarf around her neck, but there are a lot of similarites, such as the haircolor, the jacket, the gloves, and the holster on her right hip.
Aside from what we know of her attitude and unique skill set from the comic series, at this point we know next to nothing about her backstory which could easily be explored to a degree in the anthology film.
I still think it’s more likely that Jones will be portraying a character that is all new to the Star Wars universe, but if she is one we have seen before – Aphra gets my vote.
What do you think? Share your comments below.
Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.
I think Sabine will actually DIE in Rebels, as a result some massive sacrifice for the rebellion. That’s why the Rebels adopt her Pheonix symbol to commemorate her and her big act. Absolute speculation on my part but I think it’s kinda cool!
I think pretty much all the crew will die in rebels. I just don’t see a happy ending at all. 🙁
Young Mon Mothma?
No way, mon mothma is a politician–not a soldier.
Maybe she becomes a politician later, have been through the ravages of war.
The age doesn’t line up…Rogue One happens around the time of ANH, Felicity is too young. She isn’t Mon Mothma.
Nope. She is a Senator during the Clone Wars.
I was going to post the same thought.
Thanks for letting us know.
Mon mothma was already a politician in the clone wars so it’s definitely not her.
Not possible. Mon Mothma was 48 during the events of A New Hope.
Cant be, in Revenge of the Sith (deleted scene) she’s already at least 30 and so wouldn’t be fighting, also in A New Hope she’s older than nearly most of the people on the side of the rebellion and that is only a few years after this film – doesn’t tie up
Mon Mothma! Trust me
It HAS TO BE Mon Mothma. Because all of her comrades will die in this movie, so it will be that much more powerful when she chokes up saying “many soldiers died…” line in Return Of The Jedi.
I mean, picture watching Rogue One and then watching ROTJ and seeing Mon Mothma years later….
Chills
I think Mon Mothma is a good idea, but it would necessitate Rogue One taking place 25 – 35 years before A New Hope ( judging from Motha’s approximate age in ROTJ.
Exactly. People seem to forget that Rogue One is set weeks – or even days – before ANH.
yup. Mon Mothma actually appeared as a young woman in deleted scenes from Revenge of the Sith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBGJTiyvd90
Felicity would have to age about 25 years in the five-or-so years between Rogue One and ROTJ to be Mon Mothma.
Mon Mothma said “many Bothan’s died to bring us this information”. She didn’t say soldiers. Bothan spies provided the intelligence for Death Star II.
In ROTJ she is talking about spies finding the location of the shield generator of the second death star.
Rogue One is about stealing the plans to Death Star 1. No Bothan spies. Why can’t people grasp this?
And Mothma is in her frikkin late 40s during the events of Rogue One. She isn’t Felicity.
THANK YOU. This has been driving me crazy
It’s not Mon Mothma, she’s too young.
Definitely Not. In Revenge of the Sith Deleted scene She appeared as adult woman.
Is a deleted scene cannon? Because Mothma never really appeared in SW3, we are left only to speculate at her age in SW6. The Mon Mothma idea makes a lot of sense and would provide an interesting depth to this character we only really know from a couple scenes in SW6. I guess we will have to wait and see!
Mon Mothma also appeared as a senator in Star Wars: The Clone Wars cartoon, which is canon. So yes, Mon Mothma being established during the Clone Wars and after, ie Episode 3, is real. Jones’ character cannot be her. by the time ANH comes along, she would be mid to late 40’s. Jones is most likely a new character we have never seen before, but the Aphra theory is interesting.
I think she’s way too young for Mon Mothma.
Nice, that would be a great story. Although we only get a short glimpse of who her character thus far, the story is very interesting; specifically her relationship with vader, as well as, her advanced expertise and intelligence with technology, science, and machinery gains her respect and attention from the elite.
What if she’s playing Leia? LOL nah, that’s ridiculous……..or is it?
Great idea! Who knows? I mean she did actually have the death star plans with her on the Tantive iv. I think it’s quite a long shot, but that would be badass!
I believe she is playing an all new character introduced for ROGUE ONE. However, if she were to play a pre-existing character, my bet would be on a variation of Princess Leia’s friend, Winter, a Rebel agent who could impersonate Leia.
I don’t think they always need to tie in characters from canon. I’m hoping she is a new character. I find this spin off more exciting because of the new characters! As opposed to following a backstory of an already established one.
Like the sound of the Dr. Aphra character. Would make a very interesting protagonist.
I would be more inclined to believe the squadron are comprised of mercs. No uniformity in their outfits or weapons, but look a more cohesive unit than a bunch of individualist bounty hunters.
Nice post.
Aphra would be great but I don’t see how a character that collabs with Vader only weeks after the Anthology Film would fit in that mission.
Has anyone else noticed how much felicity Jones looks like Riley in Star Wars: Uprising?
Yeah. Good eye. That wouldn´t be bad either….
Please god, not Dr Aphra – she’s looks like something out of Tank Girl and does not befit Star Wars whatsoever. If you’re gonna put her in a movie, you might as well introduce Jaxxon the Rabbit. In fact, he’d be more preferable.
If there is any close analog to a character from the comics, Felicity Jones reminds me of Shira Brie – although ( depending on when the Rogue One movie is set ) she would seemingly appear to be older ( perhaps, much older ) than Luke Skywalker.
Actually, I think the rogue one film takes place like days, or at most weeks prior to “A new hope”. So, she looks to be roughly the same age, or possibly a few years older than Luke, but not by much.
Interesting
But Felicity Jones is white… Dr.Aphra is not.
I think that she will actually leave the rebellion in this season. Then she will embrace her madalorian heritage and become a bounty hunter. Eventually hired to be Felicity Jones in Rouge One.
Please, please not Dr. Aphra. The character in the Vader comics is just horrible.
Sorry, hit report on accident as I scrolled.
I really hope that the movie is about a group of REBELS not bounty hunters stealing the plans to the Death Star. It would suck if the rebel alliance was like, ‘Hey bounty hunters, we suck too much to steal the plans on our own. If we pay you, will you guys steal it for us?
Mercenaries, elite rebels, and bounty hunters; A crack team assembled by high ranking Rebels under extreme secrecy. Much of the Rebellion doesn’t even know of the team’s existence or mission until after the plans arrive on Yavin IV.
The patsies….some kinda suicide squad…
I have serious doubts about this theory, the first of which is the dubious assumption that we would be introduced to such a character in a comic years before the script was even finalized. We’re also supposed to assume that someone instrumental in securing the DS plans for the Rebels would be working with Vader only a month or so later? No, I don’t buy that.
There is also the fact that most people don’t read the comics or have any idea who Doctor Aphra is; giving her a heoroic backstory in Rouge One just to flesh out a B-list character from the comics makes no sense. It makes much more sense to craft an original character for the entire audience to learn about on-screen; Aphra, or any other established character, could be included as a supporting role but will certainly not star in the film.
Aphra is clearly Asian, whereas Felicity Jones is not. In a series that, lately, seems to care about representing racial diversity in it’s storytelling combined with going through great lengths to cast all well known roles with their original actors, this possibility is extremely unlikely. She’s going to be a new character that, if has any ties at all to another character, will be a minor character in the Star Wars universe, that only the sharpest of fans will recognize.
If this really is a ‘one-off’ movie, then the character can die for the cause at the end of the movie. That way it doesn’t have to be someone with a huge Star Wars history or future. They do their job, die, end of story for them but it works for the greater good.
I made a teaser for Rogue One featuring some Peter Cushing dialogue from older movies, what u guys think : https://youtu.be/ujA2QgDkycI
Very nice! (Cushing sounded more menacing when he was actually playing Tarkin, though!)
Like Sabine, Dr. Aphra doesn’t look like a lily white woman but rather a woman of color. Nice try though.
Move along! Move along!
Jan Ors from the Dark Forces series. Dark troopers have already been made canon.
Most Definitely she is a new character. Pay attention to Edwarth comment regarding this movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQsaEJMQ2wk&index=1&list=PLi8DA5V4mmme590nX343jH0qw1e_T7ckB
He would meka this film as far as the other episode movies. Gritty and realistic movies. Still expecting cameo from NH like Tarkin and Vader. I suspect No Bounty hunters.
Or could it be a new character? Why is that so difficult for these speculative fans to imagine? According to them, every character has to be related to a preexisting character or be a preexisting character themselves.
I think she’ll play Kris Adams, the group leader.
If she were Aphra, she would probably be wearing that stupid hat.
Aphra’s obviously Asian though and Felicity isn’t…
Nah, I’ve got a feeling that Felicity’s character will be based on Mara Jade – not the Emperor’s Hand Mara, but the outlaw/smuggler Mara who ends up working with the rebels.
Kind of like a female Han Solo…I like it.
I kinda hope they aren’t “droid hackers”
I think there’s a better chance of her playing Beru Lars than Dr. Aphra. Which is to say there is none.
I thinkFJ will be a new character, but I would like to see comic characters such as Evaan show up!
She should be Luke’s future wife. And the Rey’s mom
Ummm, Sabine and the character you mentioned up above is ASIAN. You might need your eyes checked if you think Jones looks anything other than white.
I didn’t come up with the Sabine speculation nor do I agree with it. She is definitely not white like Jones though. After reading the last Vader issue it struck a note with me that Aphra was a possibility. I thought she looked Asian as well when the first issue came out, but as the comic progresses she is starting to look more Caucasion. I was mainly pointing out some aspects of Aphra’s character that I thought would fit the role well, and I thought the speculation would start some good conversation and it has. I still think that F. Jones will be a new character. It’s not necessary that they tie in everything, but of all the options of existing characters, I thought she made the most sense. 🙂
On a side note, what is the over/under on Bail Organa and R2-D2 making an appearance at the end of this
Would love it if she’s playing a new character
Not one Jedi or Sith in this ?…. Not one character from Rebels in this ?… Sorry but not interested in the Rogue One movie at all… This sounds like a repeat story arc of Guardians of the Galaxy to me… How mean really, how many fans out there even keep up with the comics ?… Many prequel bashers didnt even watch Clone Wars let alone comic books…. I say this, Episode 7 better be dam good and not a bunch of horse shoe, bucket dropping full of crap forced on fans to make a quick buck, or fans will speak their wayz…. Just ask Lucas…
Cool story.
The guys from rogue one said they are “very aware that rebels takes place in a similar time”. So I’m pretty sure that we’ll at least get mention plus maybe some of them on Alderaan before it gets blown up. Then they’re dead. Which is good.
you actually contradicted yourself…you said ” Vader quickly recognizes her talents and hires her to aid him in his efforts to get back his master’s favor after his failure at the Death Star.”….so ummmm wth? Why would the person who helped steal the death star plans…eventually help Vader make up for his failure of the death star?
I was going with the idea that the Rebels hired her for the job. These guys might not even know what they’re stealing. She may not care who hires her or what the job is as long as she gets paid. Her motivations in the comic haven’t been fleshed out yet. Vader seems to be a steady job for her right now so that’s who she’s with. From that angle there is no contradiction.
A little better informed than Luke has more scenes becuz he tell me. But do carry on for the clicks/clincks.
She plays Minnie Bothans. ;P
LOOOOOL “Minnie Bothans died to bring us this information”.
This made my day hahaha. Good one!
Minnie Bothans! This Bothans character would have stolen 2 death star plans! I would laugh my ass off if this were true.
I am pretty sure Aphra is “Asian” and Felicity is not.
Of all the gloves she could have work…. Fingerless. I am almost certain it’s Aphra. Even her sleeves are covered so you can’t see those epic arm tattoos. Should she be another character in the universe I will still be okay with that.
Boba Fett started early!
Heir to the Jedi: Nakari Kelen
You heard it here first.
Mara Jade, just look at her scarf/hood,
Has the hair.
Is the mother of Gen Hux, son of Skywalker.
Died at the hands of Kylo Ren her nephew…
Who killed the new Jedi at the battle of Jaku.
Kylo and Hux defected to the Empire that had massed in sullist system.
I just hope Hux and Finn don’t have an adventure with Poe…reminders of study hall in the library on ludes.
SHE WILL NOT BE PLAYING MON MOTHMA. Mon Mothma was a senator during the clone wars era plus WHY. Is it “cool” for a senator to suddenly become a badass then go back to being a political figure? NO. That would be ridiculous, unbelievable and unnecessary! please stop arguing that it’s her!
Thank you
It makes no sense whatsoever. This movie is set only a few years prior to ROTJ. This theory is laughable and silly.
like Leia?
If you’ve kept up on the Vader comics you would know that Aphra is actually worried that Vader is going to kill her at any moment, maybe she thinks he knows that she led that mission? That part where she asks “how did you find me”. Makes you wonder if she’s just scared she’s been caught. I get the impression in the comics that she’s just looking for a way out of her relationship with Vader that doesn’t end up with her death. I think this is a possibility, she doesn’t look that differnt in the books. I didn’t even notice those gloves until it was pointed out. Plus they made a huge deal about this character being introduced. They didn’t for any other new comic character. Leia had Evann, Kanan had Kasmir even Star Wars had Sana but every comic collector wanted this issue number 3.