So here’s what Princess Leia was actually up to during “Rogue One”

As we watched Rogue One, we all knew everything was leading toward the Rebel Alliance coming together to get the Death Star plans into safe hands. And we knew those hands were Princess Leia’s. But did you wonder what she was up to that whole time? Eleanor Tremeer at MoviePilot compiled the answer for us. And it’s so satisfying.

First, she starts with an important question: Why was Leia even at the Battle of Scarif?

Her ship, the Tantive IV, was nowhere to be seen during that final battle. Until, of course, it was revealed inside Admiral Raddus’ warship. Earlier in the movie, we learn that Leia’s adoptive father, Bail, sent her off to recruit an old Jedi general. We know that turns out to be Obi Wan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUaxXsqGeFI?feature=oembed

But somewhere along the way, she must have gotten diverted her from her mission to Tatooine.

So what was she up to?

Star Wars Story Group chief Pablo Hidalgo explained it all to The Star Wars Show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvT2F1j-SvA?feature=oembed

Leia was actually on the Yavin 4 base the whole time! We just didn’t see her. The primary reason is that the film’s creative team wanted to save Leia’s cameo until the very end, for dramatic purposes. As for why she gets diverted from Tatooine, the fault lies with with her escort, Admiral Raddus, and his ship the Profundity.

Hidalgo says, "The plan was always that Leia was going to go to Tatooine to pick up Obi-Wan and Raddus was going to escort her. Then the news of Scarif came in, and that was deemed more important ... [because] it’s the one warship that they have at this point."

Sure, Leia possibly could have grabbed the Tantive IV and helped out in the fight. But she had other things in mind.

Remember, Leia was primarily a senator and not a Rebel soldier. She couldn’t blow her cover.

"Leia is like public face of the cause, but she hasn't outed herself as a member of the Rebel Alliance," Hidalgo explained. "She's using her cover as senator to get them all the things they need, which Bail used to do when he was senator."

Therefore, in A New Hope, she goes around telling people she’s on a “diplomatic mission.” Guffaw.

Amazing.