Galen Walton Erso

"Jyn, whatever I do, I do it to protect you. Do you understand?''" "''I understand."

- Galen Erso and his daughter Jyn Erso

Galen Erso was a human male scientist who lived during the reign of the Galactic Empire.

Clone Wars
During the Clone Wars, Galen Erso, his wife Lyra and his daughter Jyn were abducted by Separatist agents but were then rescued by his old friend Orson Krennic.

Age of the Empire
"We have intercepted a coded Imperial transmission. It indicates that a major weapons test is imminent." "The message was sent by your father."

- Mon Mothma and Cassian Andor, to Jyn Erso

Galen Erso's knowledge of the galaxy led both the Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic to seek him out.

Shortly before the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Alliance intercepted a coded transmission from Erso indicating that a major weapons test was imminent, resulting in the Rebels recruiting his estranged daughter to partake in a mission to steal the plans to what they would discover to be the Imperial superweapon known as the Death Star.

Behind the scenes
Galen Erso, portrayed by Mads Mikkelsen, is a character created and developed for the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Mikkelsen's involvement was announced on August 15, 2015. Mikkelsen revealed on Sky News that he would be portraying Jyn Erso's father. Mikkelsen later revealed that her father would be portrayed when Jyn is a child, and stated that the film would "jump forward and backward in time". His name was revealed by Entertainment Weekly on June 22, 2016. The first photo of the character was revealed at Star Wars Celebration Europe on July 15, 2016.

Appearances

 * Catalyst
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story