Before Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) declared that Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) was her only hope, the possibly Force-sensitive Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) were trying to destroy the Death Star in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” The 2016 prequel is set right before the events of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”, and it smartly includes a handful of staple characters, like C-3PO (Anthony Daniels). It’s only fitting that Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) would have some skin in the game that Erso and her fellow rebels are running — but his menacing hallway scene at the end of the film was almost scrapped due to issues with his lightsaber.

Despite bringing this intense moment to the screen, cinematographer Greig Fraser revealed he still finds the lighting bothersome. “The lightsaber comes on and then… there’s a light behind him?” he noted. “I don’t want to ruin it for viewers, but the lighting isn’t quite right.” Fortunately, it only took about 15 minutes to adjust the lighting rigs, a relief given that Vader’s memorable appearance was a late addition to the film.

The original ending of “Rogue One,” as co-writer Chris Weitz shared with CinemaBlend, was markedly different. Initially, it featured a wedding and fewer casualties, based on the assumption that Disney would shy away from such a high body count. However, Weitz decided to replace the wedding with a harsh, yet fitting, conclusion that aligned with the film’s theme of sacrifice. This narrative shift also provided a definitive end for characters like Cassian Andor, whose earlier life is explored in the “Andor” TV series prequel.

The film’s ending, a testament to sacrifice, serves as a fitting capstone to this war epic, perfectly complementing the “Star Wars” saga. Much of “Rogue One” immerses audiences in the gritty struggle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance, making Vader’s fearsome display a natural and necessary highlight. The scene showcases his true power, contrasting sharply with his more subdued appearances in the original trilogy, and vividly illustrates the lengths to which he will go to crush the rebellion.

Editor Kevin Hickman told CinemaBlend that Darth Vader’s epic hallway scene wasn’t filmed until about three or four months before the movie’s release. “I still get chills when I watch it,” he said. 

Not only is it a fitting ending to a movie about sacrifice, but it’s a conclusion worthy of a war epic, which is exactly what this film is for the “Star Wars” franchise. Much of its runtime is spent giving viewers an in-depth look at the physical conflict between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance. It only makes sense that we see Darth Vader in his full glory, violently whipping around his lightsaber in stark contrast to his more stagnant appearances in the early “Star Wars” movies. It’s a chance to show people just how much power he actually wields, and what he’s willing to do when he takes matters into his own hands.