Mon Mothma, one of the more beloved yet obscure characters belonging to the "Star Wars" Expanded Universe (seen in many of the EU fiction, including the wide array of video games) is promised to get more screen time in this year's "Star Wars" spin-off, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."
The former Imperial Senator and leader of the Rebel Alliance's role and story in the expounded canon as part of the Rebel Alliance was one of the more mourned casualties when Disney and Lucasfilm decided to jettison all the commissioned material created after the original "Star Wars" trilogy. (They announced "The Force Awakens" would replace the EU canon.) Mon Mothma was first played by Genevieve O'Reilly in "Revenge of the Sith," albeit the character was only present in a deleted scene from the movie. (O'Reilly also possesses an uncanny resemblance to the woman who played Mon Mothma in "Return of the Jedi," Caroline Blakiston) However, "Star Wars" fans no longer need to worry as no less than Lucasfilm's president has guaranteed her role's substance.
"We actually see quite a bit of her [in "Rogue One"]," according to Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy in an article on Entertainment Weekly discussing the movie. "The Rebel alliance is in disarray. Pretty panicked. Up against it. And she is trying the best she can to provide the leadership."
"Rogue One" is set right before the events of "A New Hope," and the main plot involves Mon Mothma recruiting a young "rogue" Jyn Erso (played by Felicity Jones) to go with rebellion pilot Capt. Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) to retrieve information about the Death Star, which is currently in construction in the movie. Mon Mothma is the leader who succeeded in uniting different intergalactic systems to rebel against the cruel rule of the Galactic Empire.
There aren't any news and updates on other possible EU characters returning to more prominent roles in the movie, but we'll keep you updated. "Rogue One" comes out in theaters later this year, on December 16.
