 Knoll envisioned Jyn as a female protagonist who could be an inspiration for his daughters.The casting of Felicity Jones in the role of Jyn was announced on March 12, 2015.In January 2015, "The Hollywood Reporter" stated that numerous actresses, including Tatiana Maslany, Rooney Mara, and Felicity Jones were being tested for the lead role in "Rogue One", the first stand-alone "Star Wars" film.