Three of Rogue One‘s main characters are getting their own tie-in novels this summer, exploring how they fought back against the Empire before the events of the movie.
We expect to hear more announcements for Rogue One novels and comics soon, but for now, Star Wars has revealed the cover art and plot summaries for a young adult (YA) novel about rebel hero Jyn Erso and a middle-grade book about Jedha’s badass power couple Baze Malbus and Chirrut Imwe.
Rebel Rising/Star Wars
Written by YA sci-fi author Beth Ravis, Rebel Rising goes back in time to Jyn Erso’s backstory with Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), a relationship that didn’t get much screentime in the final cut of the movie.
Saw Gerrera is an established character in Star Wars canon, a rebel fighter who, after 20 years of fighting against the Empire, had evolved into a paranoid extremist by the time of Rogue One. He was a surrogate father to Jyn after she was separated from her parents, so this book will explore how he shaped her fighting abilities and political outlook as a teen.
Guardians of the Whills/Star Wars
Star Wars stalwart Greg Rucka (Star Wars: Before the Awakening) returns for Baze and Chirrut’s novel, Guardians of the Whills. This book also involves Saw Gerrera, capitalizing on a character who clearly has an important place in the Star Wars universe despite his minimal screentime in Rogue One.
Baze and Chirrut used to be Guardians of the Whills, who looked after the Kyber Temple on Jedha and all those who worshipped there. Then the Empire came and took over the planet. The temple was destroyed and the people scattered. Now Baze and Chirrut do what they can to resist the Empire and protect the people of Jedha, but it never seems to be enough. When a man named Saw Gerrera arrives with grand plans to take down the Empire, it seems like the perfect way for Baze and Chirrut to make a real difference and help the people of Jedha. But will it come at too great a cost?
Both Rebel Rising and Guardians of the Whills will be released May 2.