With the release ofRogue Onejust three weeks away, fans are more eager than ever. It doesn’t help, or maybe it does depending on how you view it, that Disney is in full-blown marketing mode, so a lot of new stuff related to this firstStar Wars spinoffis making its way online. The latest photo to hit the web gives us our first look atJimmy Smits, who is returning to the franchise to play Bail Organa, probably for the last time.
The photo made its way toTwitterrecently and will be an exclusive in the latest issue of US Weekly. In it, we get to see Bail Organa for the first time since the end ofStar Wars: Revenge of the Sith, when he offered to take Princess Leia into his care. We can also see that he isn’t looking quite as fancy and dapper as we are accustomed to seeing him and according toJimmy Smits, there is a good reason for that. As we can see in the photo, Bail Organa “isn’t as high up the political food chain” as he once was.
Given whereRogue One: A Star Wars Storyfalls in the overallStar Warstimeline, it makes perfect sense that we would see Bail Organa in the movie. Several months agoJimmy Smitsbroke the news on The Talk that he would be appearing in the movie, but he made it clear that he would have a small part in the movie. So he may not have a lot of screen time, but Bail Organa will be providing some connective tissue between the prequels and these new Disney eraStar Wars movies. Those who know theirStar Warshistory also probably know that since this movie takes place so close to the events ofStar Wars: A New Hope, this is probably the last time we will ever seeJimmy Smitsas Bail Organa. The first planet the Death Star destroys is Alderaan, Princess Leia’s home planet. It hasn’t been confirmed in the newStar Wars canonyet, but it is a safe bet that Bail Organa will be on Alderaan when it blows up, adding another heartbreaking layer to that event inStar Warshistory.
Jimmy Smitsas Bail Organa will be one of the only recognizableStar Warscharacters inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, as the movie will primarily be centering on a new cast of characters. Specifically, a band of Rebels led by Jyn Erso, played byFelicity Jones, who are tasked with stealing the plans for the Death Star, something that was teased in the original opening crawl ofStar Wars: A New Hope. However, there will be another classicStar Warscharacter in the form of famed Sith Lord Darth Vader, which has been teased in the trailers quite a bit. As an added bonus,James Earl Joneshas returned to voice the character, which hasStar Warsfans very excited.
Rogue OnestarsFelicity Jones,Mads Mikkelsen,Riz Ahmed,Ben Mendelsohn,Alan Tudyk,Diego Luna,Jiang Wen,Donnie Yen,Wen JiangandForest Whitaker. The movie is being directed byGodzillahelmerGareth Edwards.Rogue One: A Star Wars Storyis set to hit theaters on June 21, 2025. You can check out the first image ofJimmy Smitsas Bail Organa for yourself below.
