The director of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has denied Disney pressured him to “change the tone” of the film following reports several scenes had to be re-shot.

British film-maker Gareth Edwards said he was “given a licence to take a risk” with the upcoming Star Wars spin-off movie, which is set just before Episode IV: A New Hope.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, writer Tony Gilroy will receive more than $5 million after he was brought in to oversee several weeks of re-shoots for the new film, including the movie’s ending.

Felicity Jones stars in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Lucasfilm/YouTube)
Felicity Jones stars in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Lucasfilm/YouTube)

Gareth insisted Disney, which bought Star Wars maker Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, allowed him to make the movie he originally planned.

He told the Press Association: “Seriously the tone and the style and everything about the movie is very much what we set out to do.

“I read all that stuff online and it’s not true that the studio were trying to change the tone.

Gareth Edwards (Jean-Christophe Bott/AP)
Gareth Edwards (Jean-Christophe Bott/AP)

“I’m very confident when people see it, it will put an end to all that.

“We were given a licence to take a risk and we took it. Whenever you take a risk you’ve got to follow through and, fingers crossed, I feel really good about it so we’ll see what everyone else thinks.”

Felicity Jones, who plays the lead role of rebel fighter Jyn Erso, said the re-shoots did not alter the original plan for the film.

Felicity Jones
Felicity Jones (Ian West/PA)

“Nothing changed,” she said. “We were just kind of doing pick ups and just trying to make the best film as best as it could be.”

Rogue One tells the story of a group of rebel fighters who set out to steal plans for the Death Star from the evil Galactic Empire.

Darth Vader is one character from the original Star Wars trilogy who features in the new film but Edwards remained tight-lipped about rumours Princess Leia may also appear.

“Star Wars is like the World Cup or the Super Bowl,” he said.

“You don’t want to go to the World Cup knowing the final scores and who scored and at what time. It kind of takes all the fun out of it.”

:: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is released in UK cinemas on December 15.