Star Wars Rogue One: Donnie Yen Vs Darth Vader

Post Release Update - Verdict: False Prediction!

Donnie Yen's character died like a bum... He did sacrifice himself to save the heist, yet no fancy melee duel, no connection to the Imperial Guard.

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A picture equals a thousand words. Here’s two of them:


Not many similarities, true. But pay some attention, and there is some resemblance to Donnie Yen’s outfit and the Royal Guards. Right? In the first one, he is holding what looks like a custom wooden Force Pike, the iconic weapon of the Emperor’s Guard. And underneath his armor, old red skirts?

Let’s take a step back, look at the grander picture for a minute. Donnie Yen is a legendary martial artist. Casting him in a role that involves ranged weapons is such a freekin waste. Of course he will be a melee warrior, and aside Jedi, there aren’t that many cool (and recognizable by the non Expanded-Universe-geeks) possibilities in the Star Wars mythos. Therefore, it is highly likely that Donnie Yen will be playing a rogue Royal Guard. After all, this movie is about the secret plans of the Death Star falling in the hands of the Rebellion. Some double crossing from the Empire’s side may be required.

Where does Vader fit into all this? Aside the rumors that he will be making an appearance, it’s a no brainer. He is the only one wielding the iconic lightsaber in this time period and location. You can’t have Star Wars without lightsabers or the Force. Period. Besides, Vader is beyond awesome to ignore – not exploit in this awesome opportunity. Hell, Disney should shoehorn him in the movie no matter what...


But let’s get to the screenwriting reverse engineering. According to Rogue One’s director Gareth Edwards, this will be a heist movie. Heist movies are about a fancy ensemble of con men, a fancy MacGuffin (the Death Star plans), an elaborate plan to get said MacGuffin, the plan going horribly wrong due to some unaccounted for factor (wink, wink) and the ensemble having to improvise while their lives are on the line. If it were up to me, one of these unaccounted for factors would be one of our heroes suddenly levitating in midair, choking -- hence Darth Vader’s presence in the heist. An imposing character intro for the hands down most iconic villain in the history of cinema.


Another common trope in movies is the martial artist of the team sacrificing himself to save the team. And this leads to this blog’s prediction, Rogue One will have a super cool dramatic and exciting duel close to its end between Donnie Yen’s Royal Guard and Darth Vader.


Hey, only a few months to prove this wrong   ;)

  Author Bio
Demosthenes Daskaleas Image

Demosthenes Daskaleas

Born in 1980 in Athens-Greece, Demosthenes Daskaleas is an Architect Eng, the owner of Deimos Comics and the writer of its two series, Kingdom of Light and Theoktonia.