Fans just can’t get enough of the critically-acclaimedStar Warsspin-offRogue One: A Star Wars Story, which some are calling the bestStar Wars moviesince the original classic, 1977’sA New Hope. The movie is already off to a great start at the box office, taking in $155.5 million domestic and $290.5 million worldwide, but before you head to the theater to see it again, we have new concept art that sheds some light on a buzzworthy scene from the film that involves Darth Vader. If you haven’t seenRogue Oneyet, there will be SPOILERS below, so read on at your own risk.
This artwork comes fromio9’s exclusive first look at the bookThe Art of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which debuted on Friday, the same dayRogue Onehit theaters. Even if you haven’t seenRogue Oneyet, you’ll certainly know that the iconicDarth Vadermakes an appearance, since he has been teased in various trailers, but this concept art offers a different glimpse at the iconic villain, as he is submerged in a bacta tank.
The scene in question showsBen Mendelsohn’s DirectorOrson Krennicvisiting Darth Vader on the planet of Mustafar. In the finished film, Darth Vader is just briefly seen in the bacta tank, without his cybernetic limbs, with two red-cloaked Imperial guards standing watch, along with another unnamed caretaker. Vader then suits up and has a brief discussion with Krennic, where Lord Vader tells him to get back on task. When Krennic demands to receive the credit he deserves, he instead is put on the receiving end of a force choke, before Vader leaves the room. This concept art shows that we almost saw much more of Vader in the tank, but perhaps we’ll get to see this scene in extra footage revealed on the Blu-ray and DVD release sometime next year.
There had been rumors that, after the events ofRevenge of the Sith, Darth Vader did not eat or drink, which meant he would need something like abacta tank, which would sustain his life. As you can see in the concept art, it looks like Vader has a feeding tube in his mouth, and other wires connecting to his partially-amputated limbs. We don’t know for sure if there was ever a longer scene with the bacta tank that was actually filmed whenRogue Onewas in production, or if this concept art never made it past the design phase.
The last time we saw Darth Vader so vulnerable was towards the end ofRevenge of the Sith, where droids were seen attaching his cybernetic limbs and repairing his charred flesh. It remains unclear if there are plans to bringLord Vaderback in theHan Solospin-off set for 2018, or the rumored Boba Fett spin-off, which may hit theaters in 2020. Even if we don’t get to see Darth Vader on the big screen again, his place as one of the most iconic villains in cinematic history is most certainly safe. While we wait for more on the burgeoningStar Warsfranchise, take a look at this new concept art fromRogue One: A Star Wars Story.
