Here’s Why Rogue One’s ‘Rebellions Are Built on Hope’ Got Its Payoff in Andor

Cassian Andor’s purpose as a messenger, as foretold by the Force healer, comes into play in one pivotal moment in this week’s Andor. As Ghorman falls, the bellhop that assisted him earlier in the season, Thela (Stefon Crepon), delivers “Rebellions are built on hope” as a core moment for him to carry and share

It totally gives new meaning to its canon when Cassian says it in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), and it came about thanks to show creator Tony Gilroy’s son. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the showrunner said that when it was said in Rogue One, he assumed it was just already a thing in the Star Wars lore.

“My son is a big Star Wars fan, and he often comes to the house and busts my balls at the computer about how little I know,” Gilroy admitted. “One day he’s there at the house and he’s goofballing on me, and he’s like, ‘Well, who’s going to introduce ‘rebellions are built on hope?””

He continued, “And I go, ‘What do you mean?’ … He goes, ‘Well, in Rogue One, Diego [Luna, who plays Andor] says it. And [Felicity Jones’ character] Jyn repeats it.’ And I go, ‘Well, isn’t that from somewhere?’ He goes, ‘No, man, what are you talking about? You better figure that out.’”

Which meant the master scribe of this Star Wars era had to think quickly, so he gave it to Thela with the Ghorman backdrop fully solidifying its purpose. “The hotel clerk is such a groovy little character,” he said, and quipped about the Easter egg moment, “it definitely comes from my son busting me on not having it in earlier [scripts]. I was like, ‘Good catch.’”

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.