Rogue One: Let’s Talk About that Darth Vader Tank and His Love of Lava

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story gave fans what they wanted and featured two Darth Vader scenes that really left an impression.

Even if we only saw him for a second, don’t act like you didn’t rush to see Rogue One just for a glimpse of Darth Vader. Fortunately, we got a lot more than just a second. 

But before we go any further, let me just hit you with that Spoiler Warning!

The Darth Vader Tank in ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ (Credit: Lucasfilm)

Now, remember when we first saw this scene in the trailer and speculated to kingdom come as to whether that was Darth Vader and what the hell that thing was? Was it an altar? Was this a flashback? Of the million ideas I came up with, none of them included seeing Darth Vader actually in the tank.

The first time we see Darth Vader in Rogue One, the hooded figure seen above enters Vader’s bathhouse and tells him that Director Orson Krennic has requested an audience with him. The “water” drains and we see Darth Vader sans mechanical suit.

Thanks to The Art of Rogue One, with a hat tip to io9, we have another look at Lord Vader in the Bacta tank. First, it looks like the scene could’ve been much longer. But instead, Lucasfilm decided to leave more to the imagination.

As a child, I always wondered if he slept in the suit. Like, how does he use the bathroom?

In addition to the awesome tank scene, we also learned that Darth Vader resides on a very special planet. Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo confirmed that Darth Vader lives on the very same planet where Obi-Wan stood with the high ground, chopped his legs off, then decided to leave him for dead.

Yeah, Mustafar. That Mustafar.

Obviously, it’s things like that make Darth Vader so iconic. His struggle is real. As screenwriter Gary Whitta acknowledges, “the fact that he has chosen to build his mausoleum here is a nod to the conflict in him — that he would go back to this place to reflect on what happened to the man he once was. At the same time, it’s also terrifying, and when he emerges with all of his armor, he’s Darth Vader.”

Further, The Art of Rogue One details that George Lucas always planned to give Darth Vader a castle. Because of course the King of Drama needs his own castle.

Earlier this month, we wrote an article that speculated about a comment Gareth Edwards made. He said, “I can’t speak for Lucasfilm because I know it felt like there was something nice about Jedha and I think that it’s going to be included somewhere, somehow, in something.” According to CBR (via Slashfilm), Vader’s castle could also appear again later in the franchise.

Related Story: Anthony Daniels Basically Shamed Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO for Being a CGI Droid

Star Wars continues to amaze me with its “big picture” and deliberate tie-ins.

To see Darth Vader in action, check out Rogue One, now playing in theaters everywhere.