Rogue One is widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars movies of all time and for good reason. It’s beautifully shot, well-acted and tells the thrilling story of how the Rebel Alliance obtained the Death Star plans ahead of A New Hope.
One of the most shocking parts of Rogue One is the fact that so many of the main characters die during the film. In an era where filmmakers are prone to protecting their cast through plot armour, the makers of Rogue One stay true to the dark period the film is set in and protect nobody.
With that in mind, did all of the Rebels die during Rogue One or did some of them survive? Here is what you need to know.
Did any Rebels survive Rogue One?
There were countless Rebels featured in Rogue One, from the main crew who went to Scarif to obtain the plans to Mon Mothma and the other council members who were based on Yavin 4. Not all of them died, but plenty did. Let’s break it down.
The Rebels who died during Rogue One
During the battle of Scarif at the end of the film, we see plenty of unnamed Rebels die from X-wing pilots to soldiers on the ground. We also see Darth Vader savagely murder a group of Rebels during THAT famous hallway scene. In terms of important Rebels who die in the film, though, they are as follows:
Tivik
Right at the start of the film, a Rebel informant called Tivik was shot dead by Cassian Andor. Tivik had told Cassian about the Death Star but when Stormtroopers came looking for the pair of them, Cassian killed Tivik so that he could escape easier.
You can find out why Cassian decided to kill Tivik here.
Saw Gerrera
Saw Gerrera is one of the most iconic Rebels across all Star Wars media. During the time that Rogue One is set, Saw had been banished from the official Rebel Alliance due to his extreme methods and views. He had set up base on Jedha, where he ultimately perished as a result of a Death Star trial run.
K-2SO
While security droids don’t have the capacity to decide their political viewpoints for themselves, K-2SO is effectively Cassian Andor’s right-hand man meaning he was a key part of the Rebel Alliance. The droid died sacrificing himself to buy Cassian and Jyn Erso more time on Scarif.
Chirrut Îmwe
Chirrut Îmwe is the blind warrior who believes in the will of the force. He joined the Rebels’ cause on Jedha when Cassian and Jyn ended up in a battle with a group of Stormtroopers and Saw Gerrera’s army. He died after turning on a switch which would allow the Rebels to receive the Death Star Plans from Scarif.
Bodhi Rook
Bodhi is the former Imperial pilot who tells the Rebels about the weak spot on the Death Star. Bodhi also flies the Rogue One crew to Scarif to get the plans for the Death Star to aid them in their quest to destroy the space station. He dies when a Stormtrooper throws a grenade into his ship.
Baze Malbus
Baze is very close with Chirrut Îmwe and acts as his sharpshooting wingman. After Chirrut dies on Scarif, Baze accepts that his fate will be the same and goes on a suicide mission, killing as many death troopers as he could before being blown up by a grenade.
Cassian Andor
Cassian Andor was introduced to us at the beginning of Rogue One as a ruthless Rebel spy who would kill in the name of the Rebellion. The character stayed true to this persona throughout the film and ultimately died when a blast from the Death Star consumed Scarif.
If you’re still confused between Andor and Endor, you can check out this guide here.
Jyn Erso
Jyn Erso was the main character in the film, making it all the more shocking that she ultimately perished. She was the one who retrieved the Death Star plans from the vault on Scarif and sent them through to the Rebels in the air. Like Cassian, she also died as a result of the Death Star attack on Scarif.
Jyn’s father, Galen was killed as well, and you can find out why the Rebels wanted him dead here.
The Rebels who survived Rogue One
If all the Rebels died during Rogue One then Star Wars would have ended right there and then and the events of the Original Trilogy would never have taken place. In terms of the Rebels we actually see in Rogue One, though, here are some of the most important survivors:
Mon Mothma
Mon Mothma was the elected Chancellor of the Rebel Alliance. She initially couldn’t approve the mission to Scarif because not all council members agreed. She survived the events of the film and went on to play a leading role in the destruction of both Death Stars in the Original Trilogy.
Bail Organa
Bail Organa was a Senator, but also a key member of the Rebel Alliance. Bail’s final scenes in Rogue One involved him telling Mon Mothma that he was to return to Alderaan to warn his people about the impending fight that was about to break out. Sadly, he would die on his home planet not long after as a result of a blast from the Death Star.
You can find out whether Bail can be considered as a king here.
Leia Organa
Leia Organa was the adopted daughter of Bail Organa and the biological daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. She features at the very end of the film after obtaining the Death Star plans. She would go on to play a huge role as the Rebel Alliance defeated the Empire.
Anakin was the true father of Leia, and you can find out how Bail managed to figure that out here.
Why did everyone die in Rogue One?
The reality of the situation is, Rogue One was set during an incredibly dark time period of the Star Wars timeline. The Galactic Empire were well in control and they were on the verge of completing the construction of a planet-killing weapon. It wasn’t going to be a film about sunshine and rainbows!
It made sense that deaths occurred frequently throughout the movie, particularly to key characters. It showed how big the stakes were for the Rebels and that many of them were prepared to die for the cause.
From a continuity point of view, it would have been problematic if some of the people who had obtained the Death Star plans from Scarif had survived. It would have taken some impressive explaining to outline why these Rebels weren’t then involved in the Original Trilogy.
Conclusion
To conclude, Rogue One is a rather dark film where lots of characters die. It’s in keeping with the themes of the film and each death is done well.
We now hope that you have a better understanding of who dies and who survives during the events of the film!
You can find out if the Rebels were actually evil here.
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