Chirrut Îmwe Chirrut Îmwe was a blind human male born on the moon Jedha in 52 BBY . One of the Guardians of the Whills , an order of spiritual warrior - monk s , he was active during the days of the Galactic Empire and worked as an itinerant preacher in Jedha City . Alongside his friend and protector , Baze Malbus , Îmwe became part of a volunteer group of Rebels tasked with stealing the plans of the first Death Star . Îmwe died during the Battle of Scarif in 0 BBY after assisting Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor in breaking into the Imperial archives . Biography . Early life . Born in 52 BBY , Chirrut Îmwe lived on the moon Jedha where he became a member of the Guardians of the Whills alongside his longtime friend Baze Malbus . In 1 BBY , one year before they joined the Rebellion , Îmwe ' s voice was heard by Padawan Ezra Bridger in a place that existed between time and space . Age of the Empire . Joining Saw ' s Partisans . Shortly after Saw Gerrera arrived on Jedha , Chirrut and Baze were approached by Beezer Fortuna , one of Saw ' s top men . They agreed to join on the condition that the orphanage that their friends ran would get any and all supplies they needed . The partisans greatly underestimated Chirrut ' s abilities , leaving him out of many missions , until Chirrut proved to them he was of value . As Saw ' s attacks increased , the Empire began to hurt the citizens of Jedha more . This resulted in more orphans , which meant they needed more supplies , Chirrut and Baze knew that they could not let the orphans remain here , so they struck a deal with the partisans to steal an Imperial Sentinel ship . However , as they put their plan into motion , Beezer and two other partisans betrayed Chirrut and Baze , attempting the steal the ship for themselves to use it as a giant explosive against the Imperial Star Destroyer that hovered above the city . Chirrut managed to convince Beezer that their movement would gain no more traction if word got out that Saw prevented the escape of the orphans . Ceding to Chirrut ' s rationale , Beezer surrendered the ship to them . This ended their relationship with Saw , however , leaving them on very bad terms . Meeting Jyn Erso . Nineteen years after Sheev Palpatine turned the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire , Îmwe was outside preaching of the Force when he met Jyn Erso . He asked her if she knew what Kyber crystal s were after sensing she had one on her necklace ; she told him that they were what powered a Jedi ' s lightsaber . She then left with Captain Cassian Andor . Joining the Rebellion . Later on , during a skirmish that took place in Jedha City , Îmwe helped free Andor , Erso and the droid K - 2SO from a group of stormtrooper s . Using his highly trained hearing to determine the positions of the approaching trooper s , he attacked them with his staff , knocking them all down in quick succession . Then Malbus shot and killed stormtrooper reinforcements approaching from behind Îmwe . After learning why Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor were there , a group of Saw Gerrera ' s insurgents came and placed sacks on all their heads , to which Îmwe remarked with annoyance because he was already blind and could not see where they were taking him anyway . They were taken to Gerrera ' s hideout and placed into a cell . In the cell Îmwe repeated the phrase , " I am one with the Force . The Force is with me . " Malbus didn ' t believe that Îmwe ' s praying would work to open the cell door . Îmwe asked Andor if he had been in any other cells before to which Andor told him it was his first one . He told him there was more than one type of cell and that he sensed that Andor carried his around with him everywhere he went . Îmwe then sensed that there was someone in the cell beside them . It turned out to be the Ex - Imperial Pilot Bodhi Rook . They eventually made their escape as the Jedha City was attacked by the Empire ' s superweapon , the Death Star . Îmwe made his escape with the others aboard the U - wing . Mission to Eadu . While on board the U - Wing , Îmwe questioned Malbus about the holy city to which he told him that it had been completely destroyed . Jyn told Andor about the weakness that her father had placed in the Death Star and the group made their way to Eadu . Once on the planet , Andor and Rook went out to scout the refinery . After asking Baze if Andor looked like a killer , Baze told him that he looked like a friend . Erso questioned this and Îmwe told her that the Force flows darkly around a creature that is about to kill . Fearing that Andor was going to kill her father she went out in search of him . Moments prior to Erso ' s departure , K - 2SO recalled that Andor ' s weapon was set in its sniper configuration , supporting Erso ' s fear that Andor was planning to kill her father . Îmwe later followed Erso . Baze soon followed . Baze and Îmwe stopped at a ridge to get a good look at things . Once the Rebel fighters arrived , Îmwe used his lightbow to take down a TIE Fighter which crashed into a turbo laser tower . Soon after Baze and Îmwe made their way to the shuttle that K - 2SO had stolen and made their way to Yavin 4 . Battle of Scarif . After the Alliance Council had told Jyn Erso that they could not afford to send the Rebel Fleet to Scarif , Îmwe was among those who chose to fight with her . Once they arrived on the planet , Îmwe and Malbus were put in charge of an assault team that would set charges to lure out the stormtroopers . After taking out several troopers , they made their way to the entrance to the complex . Îmwe and Malbus held the line with other Rebels until All Terrain Armored Cargo Transport s arrived at their position . Îmwe and the others ran for shelter . After learning that the master switch needed to be flipped for the Rebels to receive the Death Star plans , he made his way out onto the battle field to activate the switch , continuing to repeat the chant , " I am one with the Force . The Force is with me . " Managing to not be hit by any blaster bolts , Chirrut activated the switch as a fuel container was hit by Imperial blaster fire and an explosion occurred , sending him flying backwards . Malbus , seeing his friend injured ran onto the battlefield to help , firing at every trooper . Îmwe soon died in his friend ' s arms , but told Malbus not to grieve : if Malbus looked to the Force , he would always be able to find him . Personality and traits . Chirrut Îmwe was a blind human male , with pale blue eye s , black hair and tan skin . Although he lacked Force abilities , Îmwe was a strong believer in it and the Jedi way , carrying a simple staff and traditional lightbow bowcaster , contrasting greatly with his partner ' s more pragmatic personality . His devotion to spirituality helped him overcome his blindness and become a formidable warrior . Îmwe ' s Zama - shiwo skills were said to have given him supernatural powers that would alter his heart and oxygen intake . Îmwe always kept the cause of his blindness a close secret . Behind the scenes . Chirrut Îmwe is portrayed by Donnie Yen in the " Star Wars " stand - alone film " " . Director Gareth Edwards allowed Yen to flesh out the character as he saw fit . One of the traits that Yen created for his character was Îmwe ' s blindness . The role played by Baze and Chirrut in the final film replaced that of the aliens Senna and Lunak . Lunak was cut entirely from the film , while Senna eventually became the Gigoran Partisan Moroff .