Yesterday, tickets went on sale for LucasFilm’s highly-anticipatedRogue One: A Star Wars Story, with movie ticketing websites such as Fandango crashing due to the movie’s overwhelmingpre-sale ticketdemand. Some box office analysts are predicting the movie will earn $130 million when it hits theaters next month, and even though this is easily one of the most highly-anticipated movies of the year, there are still some fans who aren’t too pleased with the casting of a woman in a lead role, such asFelicity Jones' Jyn Erso. If you’re still upset about having a woman at the front and center of aStar Warsmovie, then you may be in for a rude awakening, as long as LucasFilm presidentKathleen Kennedyis still around.
WhenStar Wars: The Force Awakenswas in production, there were also a number of vocal fans speaking out against the casting of young African-American starJohn Boyegaas Finn, so those who have been following the franchise shouldn’t be too surprised that some are still criticizing the casting of African-Americans and women in primary roles. Buried within a lengthy profile ofFelicity Jones,The New York Timesasked LucasFilm presidentKathleen Kennedyabout the controversy that swirled around the casting ofRogue Oneand the all-femaleGhostbustersreboot. Here’s what she had to say below.
“I have a responsibility to the company that I work with. I don’t feel that I have a responsibility to cater in some way. I would never just seize on saying, ‘Well, this is a franchise that’s appealed primarily to men for many, many years, and therefore I owe men something.'”
Felicity Jonesherself added that they wanted the audience to relate to her characterJyn Erso, “as a person, whether you’re a boy or a girl, a man or a woman.” This story is set between the events ofRevenge of the SithandA New Hope, with directorGareth Edwardsteasing that his story turns the original classic on its ear, in more ways than one. Here’s what he had to say below, while revealing why he castFelicity Jonesas Jyn Erso
“A New Hopeis the story of a boy who grows up in a tranquil home and dreams of joining a war. What if we have the story of a girl who grows up in a war and dreams of returning to the tranquillity of home? (I wasn’t looking for) an action star in the classic sense - the clichéd expectation of a soldier or a rebel. You can teach anyone to fight, with enough stunt training. But you can’t teach someone to have that soul in their eyes. Whenever you point the camera at Felicity, there’s just so much going on inside.”
Felicity Jones’ Jyn Erso leads a team of Rebels inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, who are trying to retrieve the plans for the originalDeath Star. She leads a diverse international cast that also includesDiego Lunaas Captain Cassian Andor,Riz Ahmedas Bodhi Rook,Alan Tudykas the droid K-2S0,Forest Whitakeras Saw Gerrera,Donnie Yenas Chirrut Imwe,Wen Jiangas Baze Malbus,Mads Mikkelsenas Galen Erso andBen Mendelsohnas Director Orson Krennic. With just a few weeks left untilRogue Onehits theaters, we’ll keep you posted with more on this big-screen adventure.
