It’s key scene in Rogue One, the moment on Yavin when Jyn Erso is trying to convince the rebel council to take the fight to the Empire at Scarif and she repeats something Cassian Andor said to her on Jedha earlier in the film. It’s a moment that Tony Gilroys son quite astutely pointed out to his Dad needed addressing in the second season of Andor, and thankfully for all of us, that memorable phrase was given to a seemingly minor character on Ghorman; the bellboy who helps Cassian not once but twice, and who’s quiet resolve along with the story of his fathers demise in the Tarkin Massacre almost 20 years before, stays with Cassian long after his departure from the soon-to-be devasteted world.
“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. 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’?
And I go, ‘What do you mean?’ He goes, ‘Well, in Rogue One, Diego says it. And 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.’
The hotel clerk is such a groovy little character. It definitely comes from my son busting me on not having it in earlier. I was like, ‘Good catch.’ So that’s where it comes from.”
