The dossier
A rebel voice above the battle
Pao is a Drabatan commando serving the Rebel Alliance during the assault on Scarif. He joins the improvised Rogue One force after its leaders act without formal approval. On the beach, his wide mouth turns every command into a visible rallying signal.
His role places an unfamiliar species inside the rebellion's most costly ground operation. Pao helps hold Imperial forces away from the archive team while the Death Star plans move toward transmission. The mission gives ordinary fighters a direct stake in the saga's strategic turning point.
Derek Arnold uses physical movement and a forceful voice to make Pao readable within crowded combat scenes. The performance creates identity with limited screen time. Fans embraced his battle cry because it captures the urgency behind the larger Rebel symbol.