One thing the trailer for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story didn’t feature very much was Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) and his glorious capes. But we’re finding out more about this intimidating figure running the Death Star project thanks to Star Wars tie-in novel Catalyst, written by James Luceno, which will release this November 15th. It seems like these tie-in novels are becoming a great place to get new details about the movies like General Hux’s background, Leia’s force sensitivity, and the new reason Chewie owes Han a life debt.
The new Rogue One details not only tell us more about Krennic, but also confirm (again) that Mads Mikkelsen’s character Galen is the father of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). An early rumor pegged Galen as a scientist who helps design the Death Star then regrets it and works to destroy it, and the recently-unearthed publisher’s synopsis for Catalyst, via /film, lines up with that:
War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building more and more deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine’s top secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can. And an old friend of Krennic’s, the brilliant scientist Galen Erso, could be the key.
Galen’s energy-focused research has captured the attention of both Krennic and his foes, making the scientist a crucial pawn in the galactic conflict. But after Krennic rescues Galen, his wife, Lyra, and their young daughter, Jyn, from Separatist kidnappers, the Erso family is deeply in Krennic’s debt. Krennic then offers Galen an extraordinary opportunity: to continue his scientific studies with every resource put utterly at his disposal. While Galen and Lyra believe that his energy research will be used purely in altruistic ways, Krennic has other plans that will finally make the Death Star a reality. Trapped in their benefactor’s tightening grasp, the Ersos must untangle Krennic’s web of deception to save themselves and the galaxy itself.
So it turns out the Skywalkers aren’t the only family who manage to constantly get themselves into shenanigans in this hillbilly universe.
(Via /film, Jedi Bibliothek, and Star Wars Underworld)
