http://collider.com/star-wars-rogue-one-script-christopher-mcquarrie/

Ralph won’t be the only McQuarrie associated with Star Wars. While Lucasfilm continues the trek to get the Gareth Edwards-helmed Rogue One: A Star Wars Story to the big screen later this year, a report has surfaced confirming that Christopher McQuarrie (no relation to award-winning illustrator) the unofficial Hollywood script doctor, has come aboard to “save” the project.

“Save” is a direct quote from a source to Birth. Movies. Death. According to the site, McQuarrie has been quietly brought in to fix the script for Rogue One, a heist film about a group of rebels working to steal plans for the Death Star. Gary Whitta was originally on script duties, but he soon departed the standalone film and moved on to Starlight, adapted from Mark Millar’s comic. Chris Weitz then came on, later remarking how “there’s a very strong structure from Gary’s work and that’s a huge advantage to me.”
mission-impossible-5-image-christopher-mcquarrie


However, Birth. Movies. Death. further states that the script still wasn’t in the right place after these change of hands. McQuarrie, will likely remain out of the film’s credits even though he’s said to be tightening up the story. This news comes a few months after Latino Review’s report from last October which claimed McQuarrie’s involvement extended over the course of two weeks

So... I wonder if we may actually see this film delayed if it's not up to standards.

In the words of many Star Wars characters: "I have a bad feeling about this." I am not sold on the spin-offs. I don't see the need and fear it waters down the impact of the saga. I think these are ripe for failure. I hope I'm wrong.

Same here. I'll see them of course, but I just don't see how they will amount to much more than confusion for the general audience. There are already some in the entertainment media who have described Episode 8 as "Rogue One," and vice versa.

That $4 billion Disney paid Lucas ain't gonna pay for itself yanno...

Regardless of the film's actual quality I'm sure it's going to turn a strong profit. That's clearly what matters to Disney more.

I've had to explain the idea of these spin-off films many, many times. Even to pretty avid Star Wars fans.

Yeah, I haven't been completely sold on it yet either. Waiting for a trailer to see what kinda vibes I get. Wife refuses to give any of them the benefit of the doubt. She's not interested in any Star Wars that's not part of the Skywalker Saga (Rebels is about the only thing she will even bat an eye at).

Personally I think it's a huge mistake to focus on telling stories that take place between sagas. If 4-7 hadn't been done yet then Rogue One could work. I have zero interest in spinoffs of characters who we already know their fates (Han Solo, Obi-Wan, Boba Fett, and Yoda come to mind). The only way any of these could possibly make sense is if they're using them to retcon new history into the saga films possibly explaining characters that will be introduced in the new saga. Otherwise introducing them between the saga films makes no sense, will confuse viewers, and dilute the property.

So yeah. I too have a bad feeling about this.

You literally can explain to someone when the Rogue One story is set in ONE sentence, just say "It's set just before 1977's Star Wars: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE." If they are still confused after that, they don't "get" Star Wars at all.

Exactly - all you have to do is say it's set between episodes and people generally get it.

If they don't, well, they're probably the kind of people who got confused by BTTF 2/3 or Total Recall

Also - the whole 'save' bit in the title? An awful lot of scripts were polished - including Empire Strikes Back! Doesn't mean they're being 'saved', just tweaked. Usually for the better!