The first draft of Rogue One actually had Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor survive. Gareth Edwards and writer Gary Whitta wanted the heroes to sacrifice themselves, but assumed Disney would never let them kill off the entire main cast. Then Kathleen Kennedy read the script and asked: “Shouldn’t they... all die?” Edwards couldn’t believe they were being given the green light. And that’s how Rogue One got one of the boldest endings in Star Wars.show more

I don't believe this. It makes sense for them to die so they don't have to retcon why they did not appear in the future.

Source:

That was their mindset from the start. " it was clear we were going to kill a lot of people. Potentially everyone." Read More:

Kathleen Kennedy didn’t come up with that idea. I don’t believe this for a second.

Which sets up one of the greatest final two minutes of any movie to bridge the continuity gap between original and prequel.

And think how many more seasons of Andor we could have had? Thanks, Kathleen.

And created zero last power, barely sold any toys, and resulted in being totally made irrelevant by the success of ANDOR. RO isn’t good. Barely suitable “made for tv” level

I thought it was understood they all were going to die…?

Binge watch Andor 1&2, then immediately watch Rogue One. It's a trip!

Makes the ending more powerful - they all sacrificed their lives just to give that small chance which Luke eventually took in Red 5. This is the best Disney Star Wars film by far. The Vader corridor sequence made me feel like a kid again.

Oddly enough once they started to kick the bucket you could tell they were all going to be killed off. And it somehow lessened the surprise and the effect.

Logically they had to die, otherwise you would be wondering where they'd got to in the original trilogy.

I refuse to believe this, Kathleen is incapable of making good decisions

There was a freedom in killing them off. That the movie was going to be a one off. It certainly made the movie better.

Please bring this back in 3-D @imax @IMAX_JAPAN people need to see this in 3-D. Nobody owns a 3-D television anymore or ever did.

I think Rogue One is the best of all the Star Wars movies.

First draft was a game part of a series called Jedi Knight and starred a dude called Kyle Katarn.

The only Disney Star Wars live action to be on par with Lucas’s vision. Solo is serviceable. Mandalorian seasons 1 & 2 and Andor the only live action shows. Incredibly sad.

IMHO Rouge One is the best and most real of the SW movies. In real life as in this movie there is sacrifice to be successful and the ending isn’t happy.

She wanted them to all die... Because she knew they were better than the slop others were coming out with

Ahh yes the last great Star Wars movie!

Remember the Bothan spies and their sacrifice…

Please. Let us not credit KK with anything positive.

And this is why Rogue One is the best of all the Star Wars movies.

This is the best of any of the Star Wars movies that don't include the original Lucas ones in my opinion 😊 at least it is my favorite one that's not one of The Originals

The best ending. Too bad everything that came after sucked Vader’s Lightsaber

Interesting

Didn’t Mon Mothma say “Many Bothans died bringing us this information” when presenting the Death Star plans to the Tie Fighter pilots in the original Star Wars? Still don’t know what a Bothan is – something to do with 🏏 I think – but I assumed Rogue One was telling that story.

No way, alleged once-in-a-lifetime Kathleen Kennedy W??

Star Wars, Empire, and this are in their own league.

Boring, he should have lived.

Sorry, "Star Wars" 🤓, "Rogue One" is a GREAT film!!! Still, I would like to see the original cut of the film. That would be interesting.

Damn I was hoping it would play out..

The Japanese swordsman made it very hard to watch

Actually, did any of them have to die? They could have went on with their lives and faded into the background. Not every character in a prequel movie has to die just because they didn't show up or was referenced in films that came out decades before it.

Never bettered it since with Movies the question is why??? Andor was great the mandolorion was good until they went woke in season 3 a guy on the internet is making better series about Vader and Jedi then anything Disney had produced so far the house of mouse needs to produce