(Zzyzx, CA) Screenwriter Gary Whitta spoke with Novel Premise today about the original script for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the first of what is predicted to be a string of hits in the Star Wars franchise from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

(spoiler warning)

The movie famously ends with most of the main characters dying, while smoothly handing off the plot to where the original Star Wars film, titled “Star Wars IV: A New Hope,” begins.

“The original, and better, story for Rogue One had all of the Rebels at the battle of Scarif being struck by a ray from the Death Star, slightly tweaked by Galen Erso so that its original purpose was somewhat altered,” Whitta said.  “The result of the blast from the Death Star was that everyone who was hit, including the Rebels and the Imperials, were turned into Ewoks!”

When we had no reply, Whitta continued.

“Grand Moff Tarkin, who can’t stand cute cuddly things, had all of the newly minted Ewoks banished to the planet Endor. The only way they could be restored to their original form would be to be kissed by a princess. That’s classic Disney, all the way!”

“So princess Leia has to kiss the Ewoks?” we asked.

“That was the plan. Cool huh? It would tie in quite well with Return of the Jedi.”

“But that didn’t happen in Return of the Jedi,” we reminded Whitta.

“Hey,” he replied, “none of the Star Wars movies are anything like the original versions. I just figured that Lucas, Kennedy, and Disney wouldn’t mind making some additional changes for the next release of the movies.”

“But how will Leia have time to kiss the Ewoks if she is kissing Han Solo?”

“That part needs to go. Han isn’t exactly a Prince Charming!”

When asked about this alternate ending, director Gareth Edwards tweeted back: “@NovelPremise, there’s a reason scriptwriters don’t have the last word. #DirectorsRule”

Rumors of the upcoming Han Solo spin-off movie indicate some of the same Disney influences that were present in Whitta’s original script. Our sources tell us that Han Solo will be presented as an ugly military starship pilot looking for a princess. He’ll have lots of conversations with inanimate objects who like to sing all around his starship. Once he kisses a Wookie, Chewbacca, he turns into a handsome scoundrel smuggler with severe debt problems, looking for a princess to save in order to make his life worth living.

If nothing else, Disney will bring consistency to the Star Wars franchise.