When Does Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Fit in With the Rest of the Saga?

Introduction

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a fascinating film that explores the events leading up to A New Hope. Many fans wonder when this movie fits in the Star Wars timeline and how it connects with the rest of the saga. This article aims to provide clarity on the time period during which Rogue One takes place, based on the evidence provided in the film.

Understanding the Time Frame

The events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story occur right before the events of A New Hope. In fact, the very last scenes of the film seamlessly transition into the opening of A New Hope, with the Tantive IV, the ship from A New Hope, appearing in the background. This visual connection helps to confirm the close temporal relationship between the two films.

Battle Over Scarif

Rogue One culminates with the pivotal battle over Scarif, which lasts for a substantial amount of time. The film's end scene shows Darth Vader slaughtering rebel troopers as they pass by, holding the stolen plans of the Death Star. This battle sets the stage for the immediate events in A New Hope. After the battle, the film ends with Leia boarding the Tantive IV, which is the first ship seen in A New Hope.

Estimated Timeline

Based on the evidence presented in the film and the reference to the events of A New Hope, the timeline can be estimated as follows:

The Battle of Scarif, which marks the climax of Rogue One, likely occurred within a week or up to two days before A New Hope. The immediate travel from Scarif to Yavin 4 (the location of the rebel base in A New Hope) took some time, indicating a period of about a day or two. The point in time when Darth Vader confronts the remaining rebels in Rogue One is minutes away from the beginning of A New Hope.

EU Nerd Perspective

For fans who are well-versed in the Expanded Universe (EU), the timeline of Rogue One is even more closely aligned with the known events. Many EU sources estimate the timeframe between A New Hope and The Force Awakens to be roughly 4 years. Given this context, it's reasonable to assume that the events of Rogue One took place between 3 and 4 days before the events of A New Hope.

Conclusion

In summary, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story fits into the Star Wars timeline as the events leading up to A New Hope. The exact timeframe can vary, but the film's content and visual continuity with A New Hope suggest a timeline of between a week and three to four days prior to the events of A New Hope.