‘Star Wars Rogue One’ Villains In Style: Darth Vader And Orson Krennic Costumes Explained

The Rogue One: A Star Wars Story villains Darth Vader And Orson Krennic reveal what makes their evil characters tick: it’s their wicked sense of fashion.

Costume design has always played a huge part in movies, especially movies set in high fantasy and fictional worlds. Costume design is key to making the viewer believe the legitimacy of the characters and of the world, and Star Wars has never failed to excel in this particular field. Princess Leia’s costumes throughout the Star Wars saga has particularly drawn attention and the Stormtroopers have become a classic, as well as Darth Vader’s signature look.

But did you know that while many Star Wars’ Darth Vader has become one of the most recognizable character all over the world, if you looked closely at the Darth Vader costumes throughout the Star Wars saga, you’ll notice that they are a bit different from each other. While it looks almost the same, there has never been really a singular Darth Vader costume.

Star Wars VFX legend John Knoll reveals to Comicbook that bringing Darth Vader back to the screen after quite some time (not counting, of course, his cameo at the end of Revenge of the Sith) was a bit of a pressure for the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story team. So if you scrutinize the Darth Vader of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, you’ll notice that he is a hybrid of the previous Darth Vaders.

“If you look in New Hope, especially like that white corridor scene at the beginning you can see all these smudges and all these fingerprints on there because it was cast from a clay sculpt. Then by the time we got to Empire Strikes Back they made a new one that was like really polished and smooth and shiny and perfect. The chest plate is different in every film. We matched more the, what the chest plate looked like in Episode IV, but a little bit more of the high polish that’s in Episode V.”

Knoll goes on to explain that there could even be a canon reason why Darth Vader’s outfit varied in the previous Star Wars movies. Much like a regular person changes clothes depending on the situation, Darth Vader could be dressing up to what the situation calls for.

“I figure he’s got more than one version of those outfits. The reason the armor looks a little grungier and dented up in A New Hope is you’re not going to wear your nice armor into battle. You’re gonna wear your beater armor into battle. Then, if you’re going to go talk to the Emperor or something you put on the nice shiny one, show some respect.”

But while Darth Vader will surely make quite an impact in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the movie’s primary villain is Orson Krennic (played by actor Ben Mendelsohn). Krennic will be a high-ranking official in the evil Empire, who is tasked to supervise the development of the Star Wars’ iconic Death Star. Krennic will be working with Darth Vader in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as colleagues on the Dark Side to succeed with the Death Star.

Talking to The Wall Street Journal, Mendelsohn reveals that embodying Rogue One‘s evil character that is Orson Krennic has become easier for him given the astounding work of the costume design team.

“That costume takes you a good half of the way there. You put that costume on, and you feel very upright and you feel a great sense of power in an outfit like that.”

Donning a high-and-tight collar, black gloves, and a sweeping white cloak himself, Mendelsohn continues to explain how important it is for the characters in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, especially for the Imperial officers, to look as natty and dapper in their clothes.

“I think it’s because…probably the closest thing to the Empire at the time that Star Wars came into being, is the Third Reich. It’s no mistake that they look very well-put-together with fine uniforms. That stuff matters in the Empire. The Empire does stand for a certain resplendent order.”

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has just premiered and was well received by Star Wars fans. Look out for Rogue One to hit theaters internationally starting December 14.

Holy Sith! @RogueOneMovie is unbelievably wonderful! No lie: it is #EmpireStrikesBack great! An excellent chapter in the @starwars Universe! pic.twitter.com/Lb0vQ06ifh

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) December 11, 2016

[Featured image by Stefano Buttafoco / Shutterstock]