Existing Characters in Rogue One

I think this can be rationalized as well though. Just with a bit more sarcasm from Luke's end.

"Its only one more season"
"Yeah, that's what you said when Biggs and Tank Left" (and that was five freakin years ago)

Biggs does look like he could be a bit older than Luke, although maybe its just the awesome 70's stache. But I could see a version of this where Biggs was 16 or so with a 15 year old Luke who idolized him. Biggs didn't have such a good life at home and as soon as he came of age took off to join the academy. Luke wanted to follow him , but Uncle Owen convinced him to stay on for one more season, and then another and another, and before you know it Luke is 20 and asking himself how he got stuck in this god forsaken place.

Of course if you are willing to go to that level of rationalization, you could probably do the same to the deleted scene as well. Biggs joined the academy, but was expelled for insubordination (maybe he didn't like what they were asking him to do or he failed evasive maneuvers in a small fighter training). Fell in with bounty hunters and scoundrels until one day they got a job working for an upstart rebel alliance. After he helped them steal the plans for the death star he realized their cause was worth fighting for and signed up to help. Getting there officially "with stories to tell" just before Luke came on board, but having worked with the rebels in the past.

There's no proof to any of these things. But its how I'll sleep at night when I suddenly need to reconcile the canonical implications if Biggs does end up in Rogue One.

 

Agreed. This is not something I'm hoping for. I'd honestly rather all the characters be new outside of perhaps a nice cameo by Bail Organa.

But Biggs' character history isn't a huge one for me. It would be easier to not deal with it. But I don't think it would be as impactful as the rationalizations the PT brought on. There will be some growing pains with the story group. I imagine there will be some "justificational gymnastics" (great term by the way) along the way. The primary benefit of the story group to me, is that going forward all new content will agree within itself. There may be some issues looking backward, but going forward it should be easier to manage. But again, that being said, there is no reason Biggs needs to be in this movie. So why mess with it.