Bodhi Rook
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Bodhi Rook
Biographical information
Descriptive information
Pronouns
Eye color
Skin color
Chronological & political information
- "This is for you, Galen."
- ―Bodhi Rook during the Battle of Scarif[4]
Bodhi Rook was ahumanmale fromJedha who served as a cargopilot for theGalactic Empire prior to theGalactic Civil War. He graduated from theTerrabe Sector Service Academy, serving as a shuttle pilot after. In1 BBY, Rook defected to theAlliance to Restore the Republic, intending to deliver the Rebellion a message from the Imperial scientistGalen Erso. However, he was captured by thePartisans, a different rebel group, who brought him toJedha for interrogation. After being rescued byAlliance IntelligenceofficerCassian Andor andJyn Erso, he fought alongside agroup of rebels during theBattle of Scarif, where he was killed. His actions paved the way for the Rebellion's success of obtaining theDeath Star plans.
Biography[]
Background[]
In25 BBY,[2] Bodhi Rook wasborn onJedha, where he was similarlyraised.[1] As ayouth, he had two run-ins with the law. One was for unlawful wagering on sporting events and the other was unsafe operation of anairspeeder.[2] He lived with his mother while growing up. Usually, she forbade him from using a knife in the kitchen, but in one instance, she made an exception, showing him how to cut a vegetable stalk. At some point, he developed a crush on someone when he was onBamayar, but when he revealed his feelings for the individual, he was rejected.[6]
He enlisted in theGalactic Empire and had aspirations to become an Imperialstarfighterpilot. He enteredTerrabe Sector Service Academy in7 BBY[2] and pursued flight training for twoyears, but due to insufficient test scores, Rook did not qualify for admission into the starfighter program.[1] Two years later, Rook was granted therank ofensign[7] and eventually cleared to work in cargoshuttles for thetransport of Imperial documents and artifacts.[1]
At some point during his career, he had to fly away from a group of rebels shooting at his shuttle, even as the shuttle itself was already in flames.[6]
Defection to the Rebellion[]
Searching for Saw Gerrera on Jedha[]
- "Would I risk everything for a lie? We don’t have time for this!"
- ―Bodhi Rook to Saw Gerrera[6]

Rook speaking with Galen Erso on Eadu
Rook defected from the Empire after a conversation onEadu withGalen Erso, an Imperialscientist who worked on theDeath Star project. Erso told Rook that the Empire preferred good citizens who did their duty without asking questions. When Rook pushed back that Erso had wanted him to ask questions about the project he was working on in order to fix the scientists mistakes, Erso responded asking Rook if he could say he paid no part in the project knowing what became of his cargo. He told the pilot there was still time to make things right and that he could only move forward with what he had learned.[8] Erso entrusted Rook with an important message that contained a recording with information about a flaw in the Death Star that he had helped build. Erso told him to seek out theresistance fighterSaw Gerrera.[4] Upon his return to Jedha, the Empire placed a 75,000-credit reward for his capture.[9]
Arriving on Jedha, Rook was captured by a band of Gerrera’s partisans,[4] and, whilst they did not harm Rook en route to their destination, they treated him more like an object than a man. Rook continued to believe he had made the right decision to seek out Gerrera and hoped the Partisans would accept him as a good and brave man once he had delivered Galen’s message.[6] He attempted to gain their trust before another group of Saw’s fighters, includingBenthic andMoroff, arrived to collect the pilot.[4] When Moroff took hold of him, Rook flinched in Imperial-taught nervousness at the non-human and immediately felt shame.[6]

Rook was captured by Saw Gerrera's Partisans on Jedha.
Though he initially believed Benthic to be Gerrera, Rook pleaded that he be taken to the Partisan leader before it was too late and began to feel frustrated at their silence. In response, a cloth sack was placed over his head, obscuring his vision[4] and leaving him momentarily feeling hate for Galen Erso.[6]
Rook was concerned that his captors were not the Rebels that Erso had described to him, instead, they acted more like the murderers, criminals, and terrorists that the Empire warned about.[6] Although he found Gerrera, the rebel was initially distrustful of Rook's motives, believing the message was meant to lure him into a trap. Rook argued that he had not been brought to him under capture but that he had decided to seek Gerrera out himself as a defector, and tried to convince Gerrera that Galen Erso had sent him. In an attempt to discover if Rook was being truthful or not, Gerrera subjected him to atorturous experience involving aMairan namedBor Gullet who could sense if he was telling the truth
Rook was secured in a chair when Bor Gullet was set upon him. Though he could not see the creature initially, he eventually felt its tentacles wrap around his body and the feeling of pinpricks of fire in his temple.[4] As the creature began to infiltrate his mind, Rook thought of his mother teaching him how to use a knife to cut vegetables and immediately felt a pang of sadness. He thought ofMisurno, his teacher and copilot on theFentersohn run, who would regale Rook with stories of hisSeparatist years and who referred to Bodhi as his best friend. His mind also went to Galen Erso informing him there was nothing brave about blind obedience and to a burning cargo shuttle he was piloting being shot at by Rebels fighters.[6] Eventually, Bor Gullet completed its task at the cost of a temporary loss of Rook's sanity[4]

Rook was tortured by Bor Gullet.
Rook was placed in a prison cell while Gerrera studied the evidence at hand. Eventually, the cell next to him was occupied by the rebel operativeCassian Andor, who managed to help him regain his composure, the blind warriorChirrut Îmwe, and theassassinBaze Malbus, who wanted to kill him upon hearing of his Imperial past. In his reduced state, Rook was able to utter the words “planet killer” and tell Andor that Erso had sent him fromEadu. Before he could speak further, the cavern they were in shuddered and the Partisans hurriedly began to evacuate - unbeknownst to everyone, the Death Star had fired a single ignition reactor blast on Jedha City which would lead to itsdestruction. Îmwe and Malbus extracted the pilot and they made their way towards Andor’sU-wing ship piloted by the modifiedKX-series security droidK-2SO.[4]
The three made their way to a mountain ledge overlooking a valley where they saw a shadow like a moon eclipsing the sun, and Rook immediately knew what it was. He began to panic and started to blame himself as they ran to the approaching U-wing, questioning the point of them running and believing they were about to die. As he clambered on the ship and into the cockpit, the effects of Bor Gullet remained and Rook imagined he was laughing aboard hisNu-class transport with his classmates cheering him on as he successfully navigated through the gas giant ofBamayar IX.[6] When he returned to reality, he spotted a crack in the billowing dust[4] and fell to the floor in joy as Andor piloted the ship through it and to the safety of hyperspace.[6]
Mission to Eadu[]
- "He said I could make it right, if I was brave enough and listened to what was in my heart."
- ―Bodhi Rook to Jyn Erso[4]
Aboard the U-wing, Rook met with Galen's daughter,Jyn Erso, who learned of the truth of Rook's defection after seeing her father's message. Rook told Jyn that her father had told him he could get right by himself and could make things right if he was brave enough and listened to what was in his heart. As they made their way to the stormy planet of Eadu, Andor and Jyn argued about the validity of the planet killer claims, and Rook admitted he had not seen the now destroyed message Galen had sent.[4]

Rook instructs Cassian Andor and K-2SO as they struggle to fly through Eadu's storms.
As the U-wing entered Eadu, Rook instructed Andor to fly as low as possible to avoid detection, though due to the stormy conditions and an overshot approach, the ship crash landed near theEadu Flight Station. Rook accompanied Andor as the spy searched for a vantage point to view the landing pad Galen would be on - not knowing Andor had orders toassassinate him.[4] Rook spoke to Andor about his time on Eadu, saying if he had not started a conversation with Galen in the meal line about which droid to get food from, he never would have wondered what the Empire was working on. Andor asked the pilot how long Gerrera had held him, to which Rook replied he had been there a few days - when Andor bluntly responded that it must have been a hell of a few days, Rook allowed himself to smile.[6] Rook struggled to make the climb, but upon finding a suitable location, was able to identify Galen on the platform usingquadnoculars. WhenDelta-class shuttleST 149 descended towards the landing area, Andor sent Rook back to the team to find a ship that would allow them to escape.[4]
When Rook reached the U-wing, it was on fire with only K-2SO standing by. The droid offered to carry Rook to where they would need to go, but the pilot refused. Instead, he told the droid that he had to follow his lead stating they both wore the Imperial emblem and had both been reprogrammed in some way. When K-2SO agreed, Rook led them to the shuttle port.[6] Rook was able to commandeerZeta-class shuttleSW-0608 and rescue Andor, Jyn, Malbus, and Îmwe following a Rebel Alliance aerial assault on theEadu Energy Conversion Laboratory that claimed the life of Galen Erso.[4]
The motley crew set course for therebel base atYavin 4. During the journey, Andor and Erso got into a heated argument over Andor’s intention to kill her father on Eadu[4], an accusation that left Rook feeling wounded given his thoughts for Galen but unsurprised nonetheless.[6]
Yavin 4[]
- "Rogue. Rogue One."
- ―Bodhi Rook names the fated crew[4]
Upon arriving on Yavin 4, Rook spotted aFirefeather starcutter and assumed somebody wealthy was on board, and quickly felt overwhelmed by the bustling atmosphere as rebel aristocrats convened on the base. He took a moment to console Jyn on the death of her father but denied her words that he probably knew Galen better than she did. He also told her that he would remain in his Imperial flight suit as a reminder that he had volunteered to be there. Following this, Rook was taken away and interviewed byAlliance Intelligence about Galen Erso and the construction he had witnessed.[6]

Rook was present alongside Jyn Erso at the Alliance High Command meeting on Yavin 4.
During theAlliance High Command meeting regarding the Death Star, Rook’s authenticity was questioned bySenatorNower Jebel, who was sceptical about acting on the words of an Imperial pilot, scientist, and criminal. Following the meeting, in which the decision was made not to pursue capturing theDeath Star plans, Rook followed Jyn into the nearby hangar bay where he, along with Malbus and Îmwe, declared his intention to fight. They were then joined by more than a dozen rebel soldiers, includingRuescott Melshi and Andor, who also pledged themselves to the unsanctioned mission to steal the Death Star plans from theImperial Center of Military Research on the planetScarif. Rook told the assembled crew that the journey would be cramped and uncomfortable, but that they would all fit and they could go.[4]
The rebels usedSW-0608 as their transport and Rook and K-2SO served as the team's pilots. Before they could take off, Alliance air traffic control denied their exit due to not having a request for the ship to leave the planet.[4] Rook knew the plan was not good and reckoned if he survived the mission, he would be viewed as an Imperial traitor and a rebel mutineer and would be lucky to see the inside of a Yavin prison cell. He thought about all the bad bets he had made, when he had wagered everything on a long shot to win back what he had lost, only to end up with nothing. At that moment, he realised that he did not feel uncertain like he would have previously, instead, he was almost calm.[6] When theair traffic control dispatcher requested their call sign, Rook hurriedly replied, "Rogue One," but was told there was no such unit. K-2S0 then responded that there was one now and took the ship intospace.[4]
The Battle of Scarif and Death[]
- "We have the plans. They found the Death Star plans. They have to transmit them from the communications tower. You have to take down the shield gate. It's the only way they're gonna get them through."
- ―Bodhi Rook to Admiral Raddus[4]
For around half of the journey to Scarif,CorporalStordan Tonc sceptically questioned Rook about his suitability for the operation, including his competency with a blaster and whether the pilot had seen combat before, but he declared he would watch Rook’s back throughout the mission.[6]

Rook served as Rogue One's pilot, along with K-2SO.
After arriving above Scarif, Rook, now harbouring newfound confidence, explained to the team that aplanetwide defensive shield with a single main entrygate surrounded the planet, but the ship should be equipped with an access code to allow them through. He conceded that the Empire may have logged the ship as stolen which would result in them shutting the gate and annihilating the shuttle in the cold, dark vacuum of space.[4] Rook noticed the twoImperial Star Destroyers defending the planet and believed it to be a good sign, saying that another solitary ship in the mix would not be noticeable.[6]
Rook notified gate control and requested a landing pad. Since their arrival was not scheduled, Rook told thegate officer that they had been rerouted from Eadu Flight Station and ordered K-2SO to transmit the clearance codes. After the Imperials accepted their clearance code, the rebels landed their shuttle at the Imperial security complex'sLanding Platform Nine. Before landing, Rook pointed out theCitadel Tower and stated the Death Star plans were likely housed there. He also told the crew that the communication tower at the top handled all transmissions in and out of the base to penetrate the defensive shield.[4] Rook told Andor that he had made twenty cargo runs in and out of Scarif and had never been let off of a landing pad, so he could not confirm the levels of security on the planet's surface.[6]
Each member of Rogue One was given a task, and Rook’s was to keep the engine running as he was the team's only avenue of escape.[4] Whilst alone in the cockpit with K-2SO, Rook repeated to himself that he was the pilot. When the droid asked if he was having trouble remembering who he was, Rook told him that it was easy to pretend to be brave when the danger was far away, but it was different when you were in the danger zone with people counting on you. K-2SO told the pilot he would be as brave as he needed to be if his reprogramming had been completed correctly.[10]
When the ship had landed, anImperial inspection crew consisting of anofficer,technician, and two stormtroopers boarded the cargo shuttle, Rook and K-2SO greeted them. They led them down into the cargo bay where they were taken out by the other rebels.[4]
As the fighting began, Rook thought he should have felt guilt over his actions. Though he never saw himself as a soldier or a killer, he had picked a side following Galen’s conversation with him about the Death Star.[6] Rook was able to patch into the base’s main security channel and provided support by confusing Imperial officers with false reports on rebel movements throughout the base, delaying or redirecting Imperial reinforcements.[4]
After learning that the Rebel Alliance had arrived on Scarif whilst in the bases’data vault, Andor instructed Rook to get a message out to the Rebel ships in orbit and tell them they needed to blow a hole in the shield gate for them to transmit the plans. After Rook protested that he was not patched into the comm tower, Andor demanded he find a way.[4]
Rook knew that the Alliance arriving over Scarif would ensure the Empire closed the shield gate thus trapping them on the planet. He began to worry that he had not been thorough enough with his planning or explanations before the mission, and he found these thoughts to be a welcome distraction from what was required of him to complete his new task.[6] He explained to Tonc and the assembled soldiers what needed to be done and why he needed to be the one to patch into the comm tower due to his Imperial experience, and gathered the required equipment. He instructed Tonc to contact the ground soldiers and inform them to locate and activate a master switch.[4] As he prepared himself to make the ten-meter journey to the network console, Rook feared he would be cut down by crossfire or crushed by a falling starfighter. He compared his task to a race and recalled how he enjoyed betting on races, but before he could make his move, Tonc requested information on the master switch for Melshi. Feeling his determination wane, Rook returned to the comlink to instruct Melshi.[6]

Rook plugging into a network console on Scarif
Tonc and the remaining troops dispersed around the landing pad to provide Rook with cover in the event of stormtroopers finding their position.[4] He began to daydream of a scenario where he had scored much higher at theImperial Academy and where he was the one shooting at invadingX-wings. Telling himself once more that he was not a soldier, and, with a dry mouth and pounding heart,[6] Rook ran to the console. The heat hit him like a wall but he continued running and was able to quickly connect the comms cable to the console and waited for the console to register the connection. Once it was successfully connected, Rook ran back to the ship but was jerked back after the cable spool became snagged on a cargo crate. Upon returning to prize the cable loose, he was accosted by a group of stormtroopers enquiring as to his actions. Before he could answer, the rebels blasted the troopers leading to a skirmish between further troopers and the rebels which would claim the life of Tonc.[4]
As Rook knelt between cargo crates determining his next move, Andor contacted him. The pilot told the spy that he was pinned down and could not plug in, but Andor implored him that he must. He told Rook that they may not return for extraction so they had to try and transmit the schematics from the comm tower. Rook confirmed that was the only possible way to transmit such a large file to the fleet, and Andor again tasked him with getting a message to the rebel fleet that the shield gate needed to be disabled. Before he could talk himself out of the mission, Rook ran as fast as he could to the ship and narrowly avoided multiple blaster bolts. He connected the cable and the connection was registered, though the master switch would still need to be activated.[4] Rook allowed himself to envisage that Malbus and Imwe would activate the master switch, Andor and Erso would transmit the plans, and he would swoop in and pilot them all to safety - but he was all too aware that the landing pad was nearly overrun by Imperials.[6] He contacted Melshi and informed him that Andor and Erso had the plans and that the master switch needed to be activated to allow him to contact the rebel fleet.[4]
As stormtroopers began closing on the shuttle, Rook felt anguish that he had failed his crew for not figuring out a better plan,[6] but his thoughts were quickly banished as the ship console confirmed a connection between it and the comms tower. He immediately attempted to contact the rebel fleet but was initially unsuccessful. Eventually,AdmiralRaddus, commander of theProfundity, returned Rook’s contact and confirmed he could hear him. Rook hastily informed Raddus that they had the Death Star plans and that rebel ships would need to be in position for them to receive the transmission. The pilot also told Raddus that they would need to take out the shield gate for the data to get through. Raddus informed Rook that they would carry out his instructions and ended the communication.[4] Rook knew he had said what he needed to say.[6]

Rook moments before his death.
Rook thought again of his plan to fly in and save his comrades, but he also thought of the strain he heard in Andor’s voice and of his last, unanswered signal to Melshi. He knew that if he did not get the chance to fly in and save everyone, that he had done enough.[6] Knowing the Alliance fleet had received his message, he dedicated his actions to Galen Erso. After the broadcast, he heard the sound of metal clattering across the deck of the ship. He turned in time to see aC-25 fragmentation grenade thrown by ashoretrooper but heard nothing as the cabin flared impossibly bright, killing him instantly in the ensuing explosion.[4]
Legacy[]

Rook was a skilled pilot, but was filled with anxiety.
Thanks in part to Bodhi's efforts and sacrifice, Jyn was able to use the Imperial security complex's dish antenna to transmit the Death Star plans to the orbiting rebel fleet. DespiteGrand MoffTarkin's efforts to destroy the Scarif base, the rebels managed to transmit the plans to the rebelflagshipProfundity.PrincessLeia Organa then fled with the plans aboard the rebelcorvetteTantive IV, setting the stage for the events leading up to theBattle of Yavin.[4]
Personality and traits[]
Bodhi Rook was ahuman male withbrowneyes, blackhair and tan skin. He was a very experienced pilot, but had a tendency to be tense and anxious[11], but proved himself to be courageous and resourceful[9] following his defection to the Rebellion and actions on Scarif.[4] During his time in the Empire, he was trained to fly all kinds of Imperial cargo vessels. These includedLambda andZeta-class shuttles.[9] Bodhi took up gambling with fellow Imperial pilots to make ends meet and distract him from the evils of the Empire. He bet onOdupiendo races which resulted in him losing credits by the thousand, though he did win almost as much back, and allowed him to acquire a keen observational eye for speed and tactics.[1] He also stoleWeeteef Cyu-Bee's candy.[9]
Behind the scenes[]
Bodhi Rook is portrayed byRiz Ahmed in theStar Wars Anthology Series filmRogue One: A Star Wars Story. Ahmed's casting in the film was first announced onAugust 15,2015. At that time, the first photo of the character was released as well.[12] His first name "Bodhi" isSanskrit andPāli for "enlightenment" or "awaking". InBuddhism, Bodhi is the final enlightenment that ends transmigration and leads toNirvana.[13][14]
According to Ahmed,Star Wars: Andor series creatorTony Gilroy considered bringing Rook back forAndor, but ultimately decided against it due to concerns regarding the plot and the timeline of the story.[15]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: Force Arena
- Lost Stars webcomic
- Leia Organa: Ordeal of the Princess(In flashback(s))
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(First appearance)
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization(andaudiobook)
- Star Wars: Rogue One: A Junior Novel(andaudiobook)
- Star Wars: Rogue One: Secret Mission
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Graphic Novel Adaptation
- Rogue One Adaptation 1
- Rogue One Adaptation 2
- Rogue One Adaptation 3
- Rogue One Adaptation 4
- Rogue One Adaptation 5
- Rogue One Adaptation 6
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
Non-canon appearances[]
Star Wars Go Rogue | Chapter 4 on the officialStar WarsYouTube channel(backup link)(Posted on StarWars.com)
LEGO Star Wars Mini Movies:Capture the Crate Part 1 on the officialLEGOYouTube channel(backup link)
LEGO Star Wars Mini Movies:Capture the Crate Part 2 on the officialLEGOYouTube channel(backup link)
LEGO Star Wars Mini Movies:Capture the Crate Part 3 on the officialLEGOYouTube channel(backup link)
LEGO Star Wars Mini Movies:Star Wars: Rogue One As Told By LEGO on the officialLEGOYouTube channel(backup link)
LEGO Star Wars Battle Story:Let Vader Handle It on the officialLEGOYouTube channel(backup link)
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga(DLC)
Sources[]
Non-canon sources[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑1.01.11.21.31.41.5Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- ↑2.02.12.22.3Star Wars: Rogue One: Rebel Dossier
- ↑Star Wars: Timelines
- ↑4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.104.114.124.134.144.154.164.174.184.194.204.214.224.234.244.254.264.274.284.294.304.314.324.334.344.354.364.374.384.394.404.41Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- ↑5.05.15.25.3
Bodhi Rook in theDatabank(backup link) - ↑6.006.016.026.036.046.056.066.076.086.096.106.116.126.136.146.156.166.176.186.196.206.216.226.236.246.25Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization
- ↑Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- ↑Rogue One Adaptation 1
- ↑9.09.19.29.3Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know, Updated and Expanded
- ↑Rogue One Adaptation 5
- ↑
'Rogue One': 16 New Photos from the 'Star Wars' Film onEntertainment Weekly (June 23,2016) (backup link archived onJanuary 29,2019) - ↑
Rogue One—The Daring Mission Has Begun: Cast and Crew Announced onStarWars.com(backup link) - ↑
Rogue One: Riz Ahmed on his pilot's bad attitude — and Imperial insignia onEntertainment Weekly (August 9,2016) (backup link) - ↑
bodhi - Britannica.com onwww.britannica.com (backup link) - ↑
Riz Ahmed Reveals Why He Wasn't InAndor Season 2 by Lyvie Scott on Inverse (August 20,2025): "“I spoke to Tony Gilroy about this afterwards. [...] I was like, 'Yeah, thanks a lot, bud. Everyone gets a cameo apart from your old pal, Riz.' He was like, 'Actually, I thought about it, but it would've thrown all the timeline off and it would've unpicked a lot of the plotting.'”" (backup link archived onAugust 27,2025)
External links[]
Bodhi Rook on theBrickipedia











