The Star Wars saga is a truly enchanting piece of work the way it is, thanks to the magnificent brains of filmmaker cum philanthropist George Lucas. But while fans have come to love the space lore just the way it ended up being, a lot of them don’t know that it would have never been this way because of all the uncountable ideas the mastermind had for his iconic saga.
The Star Wars lore. | Credit: StarWars.com.
For instance, one of these drafts saw a different story unfold for the love triangle situation between Luke Skywalker, Leia Skywalker, and Han Solo in Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. And this version was a bit too brutally planned (emotionally) because it had Anakin Skywalker’s Darth Vader torture his own son Luke to win him over to the Dark Side through his love for Princess Leia.
George Lucas Initially Planned...
The Star Wars lore. | Credit: StarWars.com.
For instance, one of these drafts saw a different story unfold for the love triangle situation between Luke Skywalker, Leia Skywalker, and Han Solo in Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back. And this version was a bit too brutally planned (emotionally) because it had Anakin Skywalker’s Darth Vader torture his own son Luke to win him over to the Dark Side through his love for Princess Leia.
George Lucas Initially Planned...
- 6/7/2024
- by Mahin Sultan
- FandomWire
The Star Wars universe is rich with complex and compelling characters, especially its villains. These antagonists drive the narrative forward, offering challenges and intrigue that captivate fans across generations. With the debut of “murder-mystery” show The Acolyte this week on Disney+ we thought we’d take a look at the ten best villains in the Star Wars saga:
1. Darth Vader
Darth Vader, originally Anakin Skywalker, is perhaps the most iconic villain in cinematic history. His fall from a heroic Jedi Knight to a Sith Lord embodies the tragic nature of the Star Wars saga. Vader’s imposing presence, deep voice, and complex redemption arc make him a standout character.
2. Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious)
Emperor Palpatine is the mastermind behind the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire. His cunning manipulation of both the political and Sith arenas showcases his unparalleled strategic mind. His return in...
1. Darth Vader
Darth Vader, originally Anakin Skywalker, is perhaps the most iconic villain in cinematic history. His fall from a heroic Jedi Knight to a Sith Lord embodies the tragic nature of the Star Wars saga. Vader’s imposing presence, deep voice, and complex redemption arc make him a standout character.
2. Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious)
Emperor Palpatine is the mastermind behind the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire. His cunning manipulation of both the political and Sith arenas showcases his unparalleled strategic mind. His return in...
- 6/6/2024
- by George P Thomas
- Nerdly
A Comprehensive Guide to All Canon Acolytes in Star Wars - Main Image
Star Wars: The Acolyte is finally available to watch on Disney+ worldwide. This High Republic-era show gives fans a look at things (mostly) from the perspective of the Sith.
Mae is the show's titular character, and the main plot revolves around her working her way through a hit list of Jedi Masters. Working for a mysterious Sith who operates from the shadows, Mae has begun striking down the Jedi one by one.
But just what is an 'Acolyte', and are there any more of them in the canon Star Wars universe? The answer is yes, and you may already be familiar with them!
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte
What is a Sith Acolyte?
In the old Star Wars canon, now known as Legends, an Acolyte was...
Star Wars: The Acolyte is finally available to watch on Disney+ worldwide. This High Republic-era show gives fans a look at things (mostly) from the perspective of the Sith.
Mae is the show's titular character, and the main plot revolves around her working her way through a hit list of Jedi Masters. Working for a mysterious Sith who operates from the shadows, Mae has begun striking down the Jedi one by one.
But just what is an 'Acolyte', and are there any more of them in the canon Star Wars universe? The answer is yes, and you may already be familiar with them!
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Star Wars: The Acolyte
What is a Sith Acolyte?
In the old Star Wars canon, now known as Legends, an Acolyte was...
- 6/6/2024
- EpicStream
George Lucas’ Star Wars became a worldwide phenomenon upon release. The sci-fi epic was set in a galaxy far, far away and followed Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo in their journey to vanquish the Empire led by Darth Vader. The original film released in 1977 was known for its groundbreaking special effects and experience.
Though the films were meant largely for children, the second film of the original trilogy Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was notably darker than the rest. The leading characters face significant losses, which is not traditional for an epic film of this scale. However, the makers reportedly felt one scene was too intense for their younger viewers and left it on the floor.
George Lucas Cut Out Han Solo’s Torture Scene From Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back A still from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back | Credits: Lucasfilm
One aspect of the...
Though the films were meant largely for children, the second film of the original trilogy Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was notably darker than the rest. The leading characters face significant losses, which is not traditional for an epic film of this scale. However, the makers reportedly felt one scene was too intense for their younger viewers and left it on the floor.
George Lucas Cut Out Han Solo’s Torture Scene From Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back A still from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back | Credits: Lucasfilm
One aspect of the...
- 6/5/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
This article contains spoilers for The Acolyte episode 2.
What we know about the Jedi in Star Wars can — and has — filled not only several films and TV shows but a ton of books and comics, too. And, tellingly, one seclusive Jedi practice while introduced on screen in the films, was only given a name in the comic books. We’re talking about “the Barash Vow,” a Jedi tradition first explicitly mentioned in 2017 in issue #2 of Marvel’s first Darth Vader comic book miniseries. But, at this point, the Barash Vow is a big deal in Star Wars canon, having impacted the latter years of both Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
And, sneakily, this practice makes its way into the second episode of the newest Disney+ Star Wars TV series, The Acolyte. Here’s why the Barash Vow is such a big deal in Star Wars, why it appears in The Acolyte,...
What we know about the Jedi in Star Wars can — and has — filled not only several films and TV shows but a ton of books and comics, too. And, tellingly, one seclusive Jedi practice while introduced on screen in the films, was only given a name in the comic books. We’re talking about “the Barash Vow,” a Jedi tradition first explicitly mentioned in 2017 in issue #2 of Marvel’s first Darth Vader comic book miniseries. But, at this point, the Barash Vow is a big deal in Star Wars canon, having impacted the latter years of both Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
And, sneakily, this practice makes its way into the second episode of the newest Disney+ Star Wars TV series, The Acolyte. Here’s why the Barash Vow is such a big deal in Star Wars, why it appears in The Acolyte,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Star Wars: The Force Awakens flew into theaters almost a decade ago, capturing the imagination of the franchise’s existing fanbase while also welcoming newer fans to the epic space opera saga. The film was a major commercial success, but the following installments received polarizing reactions from critics and fans alike, tainting the legacy of the sequel trilogy.
The Force Awakens (2015) marked a new era for the Star Wars franchise (Credit: Lucasfilm).
However, all of that could have been potentially fixed with the first installment of the sequels retaining its tentative title. According to reports, The Force Awakens originally had an entirely different title during the early stages of the production. Here is what the Daisy Ridley-led film was initially going to be titled and why the franchise would have been better off sticking with it.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Was Originally Going to be Titled Shadow of...
The Force Awakens (2015) marked a new era for the Star Wars franchise (Credit: Lucasfilm).
However, all of that could have been potentially fixed with the first installment of the sequels retaining its tentative title. According to reports, The Force Awakens originally had an entirely different title during the early stages of the production. Here is what the Daisy Ridley-led film was initially going to be titled and why the franchise would have been better off sticking with it.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Was Originally Going to be Titled Shadow of...
- 6/5/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
The Star Wars universe is one of the biggest ever with a rich tapestry of characters, planets, and stories. Just like the MCU or DC universe, Star Wars too has expanded to include several new stories, comic books, novels, and more. While fans of the franchise have pretty much considered everything canon of their own accord, George Lucas has had other ideas.
The Star Wars franchise | PC: StarWars.com
Way back, the Star Wars creator himself stated none of the expanded universes is part of the official Star Wars saga, a deed that Disney did when it purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012.
George Lucas Does Not Consider Star Wars Expanded Universe Canon
George Lucas | PC: Nicolas Genin/Wikimedia Commons
The Expanded Universe of the space opera saga is actually all the additional stories that were created outside of the original Star Wars movies. Including everything from books, comics, video games, and...
The Star Wars franchise | PC: StarWars.com
Way back, the Star Wars creator himself stated none of the expanded universes is part of the official Star Wars saga, a deed that Disney did when it purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012.
George Lucas Does Not Consider Star Wars Expanded Universe Canon
George Lucas | PC: Nicolas Genin/Wikimedia Commons
The Expanded Universe of the space opera saga is actually all the additional stories that were created outside of the original Star Wars movies. Including everything from books, comics, video games, and...
- 6/5/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
There will be spoilers for the first and second episodes of "Star Wars: The Acolyte," so beware.
In "Star Wars: The Acolyte", Mae (Amandla Stenberg), the mysterious dark side wielding assassin who is killing Jedi, confronts Master Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman) in a remote Jedi Outpost. Torbin, we learn, hasn't spoken to anyone in more than a decade and has taken the Barash Vow, so he floats in silent meditation, embracing nothing but the Force. Mae tries to attack him, but the bubble of the Force that keeps him levitating also keeps out her most vicious attacks, so Mae is forced to come up with another way to deal with her intended assassination of the Jedi she so desperately needs to complete.
Eventually, she's able to overcome his meditation -- not because she can penetrate his bubble of the Force, but because she offers him something he wants: absolution.
Torbin wakes up and apologizes to Mae,...
In "Star Wars: The Acolyte", Mae (Amandla Stenberg), the mysterious dark side wielding assassin who is killing Jedi, confronts Master Torbin (Dean-Charles Chapman) in a remote Jedi Outpost. Torbin, we learn, hasn't spoken to anyone in more than a decade and has taken the Barash Vow, so he floats in silent meditation, embracing nothing but the Force. Mae tries to attack him, but the bubble of the Force that keeps him levitating also keeps out her most vicious attacks, so Mae is forced to come up with another way to deal with her intended assassination of the Jedi she so desperately needs to complete.
Eventually, she's able to overcome his meditation -- not because she can penetrate his bubble of the Force, but because she offers him something he wants: absolution.
Torbin wakes up and apologizes to Mae,...
- 6/5/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Spoilers for "Star Wars: The Acolyte" Parts 1 and 2 follow.
"I do not believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing," Mace Windu told Qui-Gon Jinn during the events of "The Phantom Menace." "The Sith have been extinct for a millennium," Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi added.
As we all know that a millennium lasts a thousand years, it seemed unlikely that the Sith would be involved with "Star Wars: The Acolyte." Most of us assumed the Jedi would have had no interaction whatsoever with the secret line of Sith that led to Darth Sidious and his destruction of the Jedi until Darth Maul revealed himself to Qui-Gon on Tatooine.
But "The Acolyte" seems as though it could upend everything we knew about the involvement of the Sith and their quest against the Jedi in the time period the show takes place in, 100 years prior to the events of "The Phantom Menace.
"I do not believe the Sith could have returned without us knowing," Mace Windu told Qui-Gon Jinn during the events of "The Phantom Menace." "The Sith have been extinct for a millennium," Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi added.
As we all know that a millennium lasts a thousand years, it seemed unlikely that the Sith would be involved with "Star Wars: The Acolyte." Most of us assumed the Jedi would have had no interaction whatsoever with the secret line of Sith that led to Darth Sidious and his destruction of the Jedi until Darth Maul revealed himself to Qui-Gon on Tatooine.
But "The Acolyte" seems as though it could upend everything we knew about the involvement of the Sith and their quest against the Jedi in the time period the show takes place in, 100 years prior to the events of "The Phantom Menace.
- 6/5/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
It could be hard for us to imagine witnessing an alternate universe where Luke Skywalker’s path to Jedi knighthood is fraught with even greater trials. On that note, did you know that in a scrapped storyline from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Luke narrowly escaped a grim fate at the hands of Darth Vader? Mark Hamill starred as Luke Skywalker, and Harrison Ford assumed the role of Han Solo, among other notable cast members.
Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back | 20th Century-Fox
Insights from the saga reveal fascinating what-if scenarios, such as one in which Luke’s lightsaber contained a hidden crystal (with critical secrets) that failed to see the light of day. But perhaps most shocking is the notion that Darth Vader, sensing Luke’s growing command of the Force, nearly ended our hero’s journey prematurely with a telepathic choke—thwarted only...
Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back | 20th Century-Fox
Insights from the saga reveal fascinating what-if scenarios, such as one in which Luke’s lightsaber contained a hidden crystal (with critical secrets) that failed to see the light of day. But perhaps most shocking is the notion that Darth Vader, sensing Luke’s growing command of the Force, nearly ended our hero’s journey prematurely with a telepathic choke—thwarted only...
- 6/4/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
George Lucas’ Star Wars saga is a trilogy of trilogies; The Return of The Jedi is the perfect film that honors the ending of the classic trilogy, and some even argue that the ending could not be any more perfect. Episode VI ended on a high note that honored the film’s epic story, ending Emperor Palpatine’s reign of terror and Darth Vader’s redemption with some old Force ghosts present at the celebration scene.
Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Episode VI. Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
However, the film’s epic conclusion was nailed down by a plethora of drafts because Lucas could not decide on a script that ended the story on a high note. Moreover, in several drafts, the ending varied from the one we have seen in the final version of the film because it did not have enough dramatic effect.
George Lucas Could Not Decide...
Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Episode VI. Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
However, the film’s epic conclusion was nailed down by a plethora of drafts because Lucas could not decide on a script that ended the story on a high note. Moreover, in several drafts, the ending varied from the one we have seen in the final version of the film because it did not have enough dramatic effect.
George Lucas Could Not Decide...
- 6/3/2024
- by Tushar Auddy
- FandomWire
Ahsoka included plenty of surprises for Star Wars fans, including Hayden Christensen's return as Anakin Skywalker. He appeared in the World Between Worlds (where we learned the Jedi was as conflicted as ever), as one of his former Padawan's training holograms later in the series, and eventually in the form of a Force Ghost.
In the show's final few minutes, the idea seemed to be that Anakin will serve as Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren's guide on Peridea when the show returns. Theories have since swirled about his and Ahsoka Tano's ties to the Mortis Gods.
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, a rumour shared by @MyTimeToShineH claims to confirm plans for Anakin to appear in Ahsoka season 2, albeit in a much larger role this time. This news is bound to be welcomed, particularly as Star Wars fans have embraced Christensen since he reprised his role as Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
In the show's final few minutes, the idea seemed to be that Anakin will serve as Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren's guide on Peridea when the show returns. Theories have since swirled about his and Ahsoka Tano's ties to the Mortis Gods.
As we first reported on SFFGazette.com, a rumour shared by @MyTimeToShineH claims to confirm plans for Anakin to appear in Ahsoka season 2, albeit in a much larger role this time. This news is bound to be welcomed, particularly as Star Wars fans have embraced Christensen since he reprised his role as Darth Vader in Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- 6/3/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
With the upcoming premiere of The Acolyte, Star Wars fans have been given a brand new narrative that sheds light on the other side of the epic franchise. Set to delve into the rise of The Sith order, the series’ events take place more than a century before those of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and is only one of the multiple exciting new projects that Lucasverse has on offer.
Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka. | Lucasfilm Ltd.
However, even decades after Darth Vader was first unmasked to reveal that it was Anakin Skywalker all along, the prequel series’ protagonist continues to be one of the most popular and widely loved in the series. Fans have long clamored for a standalone film that may delve into the transformation of the powerful Jedi into the Sith lord, and one of them has simply gone a few steps further.
A fan-made trailer...
Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka. | Lucasfilm Ltd.
However, even decades after Darth Vader was first unmasked to reveal that it was Anakin Skywalker all along, the prequel series’ protagonist continues to be one of the most popular and widely loved in the series. Fans have long clamored for a standalone film that may delve into the transformation of the powerful Jedi into the Sith lord, and one of them has simply gone a few steps further.
A fan-made trailer...
- 6/3/2024
- by Rishabh Bhatnagar
- FandomWire
If there is anyone that is synonymous with Star Wars apart from George Lucas, it is Mark Hamill. The actor brought Luke Skywalker to life in the franchise, a character that served as his breakout role in the industry and how. Apart from the iconic role, Mark Hamill also voiced a character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Darth Bane.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Disney+
The actor had a cameo role in the sixth season of the series and was only seen in the last episode titled Sacrifice. Despite what little time he spent working on the show, he was nominated for an Emmy. While the actor lost out on the award, he was not upset at all. Instead, he was actually pretty glad that he went home empty-handed and the noble reason behind this will make you respect him even more.
Mark Hamill On Not Winning an Emmy...
Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Disney+
The actor had a cameo role in the sixth season of the series and was only seen in the last episode titled Sacrifice. Despite what little time he spent working on the show, he was nominated for an Emmy. While the actor lost out on the award, he was not upset at all. Instead, he was actually pretty glad that he went home empty-handed and the noble reason behind this will make you respect him even more.
Mark Hamill On Not Winning an Emmy...
- 6/3/2024
- by Mishkaat Khan
- FandomWire
One of the most memorable traits of the roguish Han Solo is just how lucky he is. Depending on which version of "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" you watched, this guy somehow managed to avoid getting shot by a bounty hunter despite being mere feet away from the guy either before or after they yelled "Maclunkey!" at him. He also spent years fleeing from the evil space gangster Jabba the Hutt -- and when Jabba did finally catch him, Han had already made friends with a powerful young Jedi who could rescue him not long after.
Even on a meta level, Han's a lucky guy. Harrison Ford thought Han should've died in "Return of the Jedi" to lend some "gravitas and emotional weight" to the third film, and I don't think he was wrong: "Return of the Jedi" was a little too cutesy of a follow-up to...
Even on a meta level, Han's a lucky guy. Harrison Ford thought Han should've died in "Return of the Jedi" to lend some "gravitas and emotional weight" to the third film, and I don't think he was wrong: "Return of the Jedi" was a little too cutesy of a follow-up to...
- 6/3/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Sam Witwer’s journey into the Star Wars universe began with his portrayal of Starkiller. Starkiller was the secret apprentice of Darth Vader in the 2008 video game “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.” His deep-rooted passion and knowledge of the franchise significantly contributed to his successful audition.
A self-proclaimed Star Wars geek, Witwer’s knowledge of the franchise is more than just trivia—it’s an intrinsic part of who he is. His performances as Starkiller, Darth Maul, and the Son of Mortis have left lasting impressions on fans and the franchise alike.
Sam’s Unique Take on Starkiller During His Audition Sam Witwer talks about his audition for Starkiller | via Michael Rosenbaum on YouTube
During his audition for Starkiller, Witwer was given a scene where the character meditates and assembles his lightsaber using the Force. Instead of portraying a serene meditation, Witwer opted for a more intense approach, emphasizing Starkiller’s struggle and aggression.
A self-proclaimed Star Wars geek, Witwer’s knowledge of the franchise is more than just trivia—it’s an intrinsic part of who he is. His performances as Starkiller, Darth Maul, and the Son of Mortis have left lasting impressions on fans and the franchise alike.
Sam’s Unique Take on Starkiller During His Audition Sam Witwer talks about his audition for Starkiller | via Michael Rosenbaum on YouTube
During his audition for Starkiller, Witwer was given a scene where the character meditates and assembles his lightsaber using the Force. Instead of portraying a serene meditation, Witwer opted for a more intense approach, emphasizing Starkiller’s struggle and aggression.
- 6/2/2024
- by Daniel Royte
- FandomWire
Geroge Lucas’ Star Wars franchise took the world by storm in the late 70s and 80s and continues to expand even today. Despite having three distinct trilogies and countless spin-off media, the one twist that changed the face of the galaxy far, far away came in the second installment The Empire Strikes.
The Empire Strikes Back has one of the best Star Wars twists (Credit: Lucasfilm).
The game-changing twist in the film presented the protagonist Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, with a new challenge. Therefore, it might surprise some fans to learn that the twist was kept a secret from Hamill until the last possible moment. Here is what George Lucas had to say about keeping the twist a secret from Mark Hamill.
Geroge Lucas Explains Why He Kept Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Twist Secret From Mark Hamill
George Lucas kept The Empire Strikes Back twist a...
The Empire Strikes Back has one of the best Star Wars twists (Credit: Lucasfilm).
The game-changing twist in the film presented the protagonist Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, with a new challenge. Therefore, it might surprise some fans to learn that the twist was kept a secret from Hamill until the last possible moment. Here is what George Lucas had to say about keeping the twist a secret from Mark Hamill.
Geroge Lucas Explains Why He Kept Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Twist Secret From Mark Hamill
George Lucas kept The Empire Strikes Back twist a...
- 6/1/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Star Wars: A New Hope opened with Darth Vader confronting the ever-crafty Leia Organa about Death Star plans that were smuggled to the rebellion. Not knowing how the rebel spies found the data at the time, the scene was genuinely terrifying, given the context. However, thanks to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the opening scene of A New Hope has not only lost some of its tension but has become infinitely funnier.
Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: A New Hope | Lucasfilm Ltd.
The end of Rogue One sees Leia personally receiving the files that reveal the secret weakness of the Empire’s Death Star. However, the opening of A New Hope, which is set perhaps five minutes afterward, has Leia lying through her teeth about the files, her mission, and her association with the rebels. And the fact that she is doing it with all the Skywalker sass she could muster,...
Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: A New Hope | Lucasfilm Ltd.
The end of Rogue One sees Leia personally receiving the files that reveal the secret weakness of the Empire’s Death Star. However, the opening of A New Hope, which is set perhaps five minutes afterward, has Leia lying through her teeth about the files, her mission, and her association with the rebels. And the fact that she is doing it with all the Skywalker sass she could muster,...
- 6/1/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
Starting with A New Hope, George Lucas crafted the iconic space opera Star Wars, which continues to captivate millions for decades. While the filmmaker remains the mastermind behind the galactic saga, the cast has also occasionally contributed to its development, with actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Harrison Ford suggesting enhancements to improve the final product on screen.
George Lucas’ Star Wars (1977) | Credits: Lucasfilm
Mark Hamill, who took on the iconic role of Luke Skywalker in the saga, also stepped in to defy the wishes of the crew and suggested an alternate approach, which proved to be a game-changing decision and saved a crucial scene from the brinks of the failure in The Empire Strikes Back.
Mark Hamill’s Suggestion Prevented a Major Star Wars Blunder
The iconic Dark Side Cave scene from The Empire Strikes Back where Luke Skywalker has a vision of being attacked by Darth Vader, portrayed by David Prowse.
George Lucas’ Star Wars (1977) | Credits: Lucasfilm
Mark Hamill, who took on the iconic role of Luke Skywalker in the saga, also stepped in to defy the wishes of the crew and suggested an alternate approach, which proved to be a game-changing decision and saved a crucial scene from the brinks of the failure in The Empire Strikes Back.
Mark Hamill’s Suggestion Prevented a Major Star Wars Blunder
The iconic Dark Side Cave scene from The Empire Strikes Back where Luke Skywalker has a vision of being attacked by Darth Vader, portrayed by David Prowse.
- 5/28/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
Anakin Skywalker’s descent into the dark side is the most tragic aspect of the original and prequel trilogy, as George Lucas deemed the first six movies as the Tragedy of Darth Vader. While the prequel trilogy was seen as a letdown compared to its predecessors, the time has been kind to these features, especially for its exploration of the complexity of Vader as a character.
Although several aspects contributed to Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader in the original trilogy, this could’ve been avoided had Mace Windu trained him instead of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Mastering Vaapad Could’ve Prevented Anakin’s Descent Into the Dark Side
Anakin Skywalker | Star Wars (via 20th Century Fox)
Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s failings as a teacher played a major part in Anakin’s fall into the dark side, as the Jedi Master struggled between his duties to the council and respecting Qui-Gon’s last wish.
Although several aspects contributed to Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader in the original trilogy, this could’ve been avoided had Mace Windu trained him instead of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Mastering Vaapad Could’ve Prevented Anakin’s Descent Into the Dark Side
Anakin Skywalker | Star Wars (via 20th Century Fox)
Obi-Wan Kenobi‘s failings as a teacher played a major part in Anakin’s fall into the dark side, as the Jedi Master struggled between his duties to the council and respecting Qui-Gon’s last wish.
- 5/27/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy introduced fans to Darth Vader and the character continues to provide fascinating avenues for storytelling even today. However, Lucas chose to finally tell Vader’s complete origin story in the Star Wars prequels, focusing on a young Anakin Skywalker before he fell to the dark side of the Force.
Darth Vader is arguably the most popular character in Star Wars (Image Credit: Lucasfilm).
However, Vader’s origin story did not turn out to be what fans were expecting from the epic space opera saga. During an interview, Lucas addressed what fans were demanding for Vader’s origins in the prequels and why he did not pay any heed to fan demand. Instead, Lucas crafted a different and more nuanced tale that ended up polarizing fans. Here is what George Lucas had to say about Vader’s origin story.
George Lucas Explains Why He Never...
Darth Vader is arguably the most popular character in Star Wars (Image Credit: Lucasfilm).
However, Vader’s origin story did not turn out to be what fans were expecting from the epic space opera saga. During an interview, Lucas addressed what fans were demanding for Vader’s origins in the prequels and why he did not pay any heed to fan demand. Instead, Lucas crafted a different and more nuanced tale that ended up polarizing fans. Here is what George Lucas had to say about Vader’s origin story.
George Lucas Explains Why He Never...
- 5/27/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Created by George Lucas, the Star Wars franchise is one of the most epic sagas ever told. From the fall of Anakin Skywalker to Luke Skywalker’s eventual defeat of the Emperor, it is a classic tale of good vs evil. As a result, it is obvious that the saga required a compelling antagonist and the Sith Lord Palpatine might just be one of the best villains in the franchise.
Ian McDiarmid’s Palpatine is arguably the greatest villain in Star Wars (Image Credits: Lucasfilm).
Despite his cunning personality, Vader’s master failed to hold on to power and eventually faced defeat. As a result, fans of the franchise got together to discuss the various mistakes the Emperor made in his quest for total domination over the galaxy far, far away. In the process, the fan debate proved how Palpatine’s blunders were responsible for his downfall, and here is...
Ian McDiarmid’s Palpatine is arguably the greatest villain in Star Wars (Image Credits: Lucasfilm).
Despite his cunning personality, Vader’s master failed to hold on to power and eventually faced defeat. As a result, fans of the franchise got together to discuss the various mistakes the Emperor made in his quest for total domination over the galaxy far, far away. In the process, the fan debate proved how Palpatine’s blunders were responsible for his downfall, and here is...
- 5/26/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Darth Vader remains one of the most recognizable villains in the history of cinema, given how influential the character has been ever since his first appearance. Perhaps one of the most, if not the most, popular characters to come out of the Star Wars franchise, his history and lore have been heavily expanded on across multiple mediums, such as books, comics, television shows, and video games.
James Earl Jones voiced Darth Vader in a still from the movie. | Lucasfilm
However, Vader did not come easily as a villain to George Lucas, and there was one key struggle that the creator of Star Wars had with the concept of the character. Given the rich amount of backstory that we have about the character, Vader commands a lot of respect in the fandom. However, when the character first appeared, George Lucas had the burden of making the character scary and feel like a threat,...
James Earl Jones voiced Darth Vader in a still from the movie. | Lucasfilm
However, Vader did not come easily as a villain to George Lucas, and there was one key struggle that the creator of Star Wars had with the concept of the character. Given the rich amount of backstory that we have about the character, Vader commands a lot of respect in the fandom. However, when the character first appeared, George Lucas had the burden of making the character scary and feel like a threat,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
Even though his character's backstory has been explored to death through a myriad of books, prequels, TV shows, animated series, and more, Darth Vader remains one of the best movie villains of all time, especially if you're only looking at the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Not only is he a scary, menacing, deadly presence in that original trilogy, but he also has a tragic arc, eventually redeeming himself despite a lifetime of terrible deeds.
The redemption would come later, though. For the first film, originally titled "Star Wars" but commonly thought of now as "A New Hope" (since there are so many other movies with "Star Wars" in the title), writer-director George Lucas had one main goal: make his big bad villain scary. Darth Vader had to be an ominous presence from the jump. The audience had to take one look at the guy and immediately know he was bad news.
The redemption would come later, though. For the first film, originally titled "Star Wars" but commonly thought of now as "A New Hope" (since there are so many other movies with "Star Wars" in the title), writer-director George Lucas had one main goal: make his big bad villain scary. Darth Vader had to be an ominous presence from the jump. The audience had to take one look at the guy and immediately know he was bad news.
- 5/23/2024
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The Star Wars franchise has been around for over four decades and continues to enjoy an iconic status in pop culture. However, despite grossing over $10 billion, the franchise has recently experienced a slump, especially due to the mixed reception of its recent entries, both on the big screen and streaming.
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise with the 1977 film (Image via Lucasfilm).
Meanwhile, director Matthew Vaughn, known for his work on the Kingsman franchise, has suggested a complete reboot of the Star Wars universe. Vaughn cited the Spider-Man series a template for his proposed reboot of the space opera franchise created by George Lucas. Here is what Vaughn had to say about the rebooting of Star Wars and why it makes sense.
Kingsman Director Matthew Vaughn Reveals His Condition to Make a Star Wars Movie
Matthew Vaughn wants to reboot the Star Wars franchise. (Image via Happy Sad Confused...
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise with the 1977 film (Image via Lucasfilm).
Meanwhile, director Matthew Vaughn, known for his work on the Kingsman franchise, has suggested a complete reboot of the Star Wars universe. Vaughn cited the Spider-Man series a template for his proposed reboot of the space opera franchise created by George Lucas. Here is what Vaughn had to say about the rebooting of Star Wars and why it makes sense.
Kingsman Director Matthew Vaughn Reveals His Condition to Make a Star Wars Movie
Matthew Vaughn wants to reboot the Star Wars franchise. (Image via Happy Sad Confused...
- 5/22/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Han Solo as a character looks like he was built to deliver one-liners. Harrison Ford brought the character to life with his signature charm, which didn’t miss a beat when he returned to play the character in The Force Awakens. The actor’s handling of the role, along with lines that he improvised, has not only become important for Star Wars history but have become important moments in cinema history too.
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford from Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
One of the most iconic scenes from Empire Strikes Back has Princess Leia Organa confessing her love for Han Solo, to which the character simply responds with ‘I know’. Held in pretty high regard by cinema enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike, this particular line of dialogue was improvised by Harrison Ford on the set of the film.
Suggested“That might be the...
Billy Dee Williams and Harrison Ford from Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back | Lucasfilm
One of the most iconic scenes from Empire Strikes Back has Princess Leia Organa confessing her love for Han Solo, to which the character simply responds with ‘I know’. Held in pretty high regard by cinema enthusiasts and Star Wars fans alike, this particular line of dialogue was improvised by Harrison Ford on the set of the film.
Suggested“That might be the...
- 5/22/2024
- by Anuraag Chatterjee
- FandomWire
The Star Wars franchise is one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time and has spawned multiple films, shows, animated series, and comic books. The Galaxies created by George Lucas changed pop culture as well as blockbuster filmmaking since the first film was released in 1977. The film earned $775 million against a budget of $11 million.
While Lucas directed the first film in the original trilogy, he wanted to take more of a creative producer role in subsequent films of the original trilogy. The Empire Strikes Back was helmed by Irvin Kershner while Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand. However, Lucas reportedly first had David Lynch in mind for the latter.
David Lynch Rejected The Opportunity To Direct A Star Wars Movie George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Full Bodied Productions
George Lucas’ Star Wars was and still is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and many filmmakers would give...
While Lucas directed the first film in the original trilogy, he wanted to take more of a creative producer role in subsequent films of the original trilogy. The Empire Strikes Back was helmed by Irvin Kershner while Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand. However, Lucas reportedly first had David Lynch in mind for the latter.
David Lynch Rejected The Opportunity To Direct A Star Wars Movie George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Full Bodied Productions
George Lucas’ Star Wars was and still is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and many filmmakers would give...
- 5/20/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Star Wars has become much more than a franchise ever since the first film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope premiered in 1977. Starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and, Carrie Fisher as the lead trio, the film introduced veteran actor David Prowse as Darth Vader.
David Prowse as Darth Vader in a still from the Star Wars franchise | Production: Lucasfilm
Although Prowse acted as Darth Vader, the voice of the character was superimposed by legendary actor James Earl Jones. Being known around the world for being the voice of Darth Vader, millions of fans love him for it. However, the actor revealed that he doesn’t consider the role of voicing Darth Vader as true acting!
Darth Vader From Star Wars Isn’t Real. Never Was
We mean, he is real in the hearts of countless fans of the franchise. However, the role of Darth Vader was nothing more...
David Prowse as Darth Vader in a still from the Star Wars franchise | Production: Lucasfilm
Although Prowse acted as Darth Vader, the voice of the character was superimposed by legendary actor James Earl Jones. Being known around the world for being the voice of Darth Vader, millions of fans love him for it. However, the actor revealed that he doesn’t consider the role of voicing Darth Vader as true acting!
Darth Vader From Star Wars Isn’t Real. Never Was
We mean, he is real in the hearts of countless fans of the franchise. However, the role of Darth Vader was nothing more...
- 5/17/2024
- by Visarg Acharya
- FandomWire
On May 4th, as part of the 2024 Podathan charity streaming event benefiting the Make-a-Wish Foundation, members of Lucasfilm's "Star Wars" story team Pablo Hidalgo and Matt Martin spoke to the hosts of the Full of Sith podcast. The show has been producing almost weekly episodes since 2013 and has covered plenty of "Star Wars" news, and Hidalgo and Martin, among others, have been frequent guests on the podcast over the years.
Hidalgo spoke to my co-host Holly Frey ("Stuff You Missed in History Class") in a wide-ranging interview about his work with Lucasfilm and on "Star Wars". As someone who is intimately involved with the storytelling process at Lucasfilm, Hidalgo elaborated on how that works and what he really does. He's been working at Lucasfilm for over 20 years and was on set for most of the prequels and was even in charge of the revolutionary web-cam that was on set for "Attack of the Clones.
Hidalgo spoke to my co-host Holly Frey ("Stuff You Missed in History Class") in a wide-ranging interview about his work with Lucasfilm and on "Star Wars". As someone who is intimately involved with the storytelling process at Lucasfilm, Hidalgo elaborated on how that works and what he really does. He's been working at Lucasfilm for over 20 years and was on set for most of the prequels and was even in charge of the revolutionary web-cam that was on set for "Attack of the Clones.
- 5/13/2024
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
"Star Wars" has one of the biggest worlds in fiction, a vast universe with extensive mythology, a sense of history, locations that feel tangible, and characters that come across as real, living beings.
This last bit is important, because "Star Wars" has given plenty of memorable characters, where even small players can turn out to have galaxy-changing importance. Then there are the villains, of which "Star Wars" has plenty, including some of the most memorable villains in cinema history, with their own stories worth exploring.
But while we all know the menacing man-turned-machine Darth Vader or the devil-looking Maul, are they really the worst villains in the franchise? As "Star Wars" has evolved and grown over the years, its villains have become less flashy and more, well, evil. That's why we're ranking the most evil and villainous characters in George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. As a note, this list...
This last bit is important, because "Star Wars" has given plenty of memorable characters, where even small players can turn out to have galaxy-changing importance. Then there are the villains, of which "Star Wars" has plenty, including some of the most memorable villains in cinema history, with their own stories worth exploring.
But while we all know the menacing man-turned-machine Darth Vader or the devil-looking Maul, are they really the worst villains in the franchise? As "Star Wars" has evolved and grown over the years, its villains have become less flashy and more, well, evil. That's why we're ranking the most evil and villainous characters in George Lucas' galaxy far, far away. As a note, this list...
- 5/12/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Darth Vader Wasn’t the Only Star Wars Character That Was Inspired by One of the Best Marvel Villains
Apart from real-life events and people, it is no secret that the huge world of fictional characters and stories often ends up being the inspiration behind other fictional worlds and characters. Whether the creators acknowledge it or not, several similarities can be found among different fictional characters from different fantasy worlds.
While the similarities do not diminish the fame and love for the characters, the similarities, whether intentional or not, establish a special connection between them.
Doctor Doom (Image: Marvel Comics)
And Marvel supervillain Doctor Doom seems to be a popular inspiration as far as George Lucas’ Star Wars mythos is concerned. Apart from being the alleged inspiration behind the iconic Darth Vader, there is another Star Wars character that seems like a rip-off of Doom.
Star Wars Character Inspired By Marvel’s Doctor Doom Commander Doom in a still from Clone Wars
The Star Wars universe may be huge,...
While the similarities do not diminish the fame and love for the characters, the similarities, whether intentional or not, establish a special connection between them.
Doctor Doom (Image: Marvel Comics)
And Marvel supervillain Doctor Doom seems to be a popular inspiration as far as George Lucas’ Star Wars mythos is concerned. Apart from being the alleged inspiration behind the iconic Darth Vader, there is another Star Wars character that seems like a rip-off of Doom.
Star Wars Character Inspired By Marvel’s Doctor Doom Commander Doom in a still from Clone Wars
The Star Wars universe may be huge,...
- 5/12/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" lives up to its title by placing a lot of focus on the clone troopers themselves. Some of the characters, like Commander Cody and Commander Bly, were inherited from the "Star Wars" prequel films. The show used the idea that clones had nicknames (instead of only serial numbers) and ran with it, creating many other clones -- including Captain Rex -- with custom names and armor to convey individuality.
One of the more striking clone looks is Commander Doom, who appears only briefly in the "Clone Wars" season 6 premiere "The Unknown." That name isn't an accident; the "Star Wars" website confirms that the creators named Doom after Marvel Comics villain Doctor Victor Von Doom. While Commander Doom gets too little screen time to see if he has the ego of his namesake, the creators used Doctor Doom's design to color his armor.
Lucasfilm
Doctor...
One of the more striking clone looks is Commander Doom, who appears only briefly in the "Clone Wars" season 6 premiere "The Unknown." That name isn't an accident; the "Star Wars" website confirms that the creators named Doom after Marvel Comics villain Doctor Victor Von Doom. While Commander Doom gets too little screen time to see if he has the ego of his namesake, the creators used Doctor Doom's design to color his armor.
Lucasfilm
Doctor...
- 5/11/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Since selling Lucasfilm to Disney for a massive $4 billion, George Lucas has left the House of Mouse to do what it will with Star Wars. Sure, he's visited the set of The Mandalorian and offered a few thoughts on the sequels, but he hasn't been creatively involved.
Disney has returned to many of his greatest creations in recent years, whether it's with a "Baby Yoda," The Clone Wars' Ahsoka Tano, or by filling in the gaps between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope by enlisting Ewan McGregor for Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi.
During an interview with the Full of Sith podcast (via SFFGazette.com), Pablo Hidalgo - a Lucasfilm executive tasked with maintaining the canon of the franchise - confirmed that Lucas was a big fan of the latter series.
"Early on there was a conversation had with George [Lucas] over what his thoughts were, and whether or not,...
Disney has returned to many of his greatest creations in recent years, whether it's with a "Baby Yoda," The Clone Wars' Ahsoka Tano, or by filling in the gaps between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope by enlisting Ewan McGregor for Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi.
During an interview with the Full of Sith podcast (via SFFGazette.com), Pablo Hidalgo - a Lucasfilm executive tasked with maintaining the canon of the franchise - confirmed that Lucas was a big fan of the latter series.
"Early on there was a conversation had with George [Lucas] over what his thoughts were, and whether or not,...
- 5/11/2024
- ComicBookMovie.com
Darth Maul is one of the most fearsome and interesting villains to be introduced in George Lucas’ epic space-opera saga Star Wars. Maul was first introduced as a Sith apprentice of Darth Sidious in The Phantom Menace. However, the character has since found new life in spin-off media where his story has been fleshed out.
Darth Maul was first introduced in 1999’s The Phantom Menace
As a result, many fans will be surprised to learn that some of the earlier concepts and designs for the character were entirely different from the final version. Moreover, Lucas’ initial brief to his concept designer resulted in a freighting creation that the filmmaker deemed too scary to use. Here is how Darth Maul was originally designed and how his appearance changed.
George Lucas Described Darth Maul as the Worst Nightmare
George Lucas returned to the galaxy far, far away with 1999’s The Phantom Menace,...
Darth Maul was first introduced in 1999’s The Phantom Menace
As a result, many fans will be surprised to learn that some of the earlier concepts and designs for the character were entirely different from the final version. Moreover, Lucas’ initial brief to his concept designer resulted in a freighting creation that the filmmaker deemed too scary to use. Here is how Darth Maul was originally designed and how his appearance changed.
George Lucas Described Darth Maul as the Worst Nightmare
George Lucas returned to the galaxy far, far away with 1999’s The Phantom Menace,...
- 5/7/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Prior to his work on "Star Wars" in 1977, actor and bodybuilder David Prowse had made a career playing goons, creatures, and bodyguards in high-profile movies. Prowse played Frankenstien's monster in the Hammer film "The Horror of Frankenstein," a role he had already played briefly in the 1967 version of "Casino Royale." He played a comedic torturer in "Carry On, Henry," the 21st "Carry On" movie. Most visibly, Prowse played the muscular bodyguard for the injured old Frank (Patrick Magee) in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange." He was the one who got to cradle Malcolm McDowell like a baby. This was easy for Prowse, who stood six-foot-six.
The actor also played Darth Vader "Star Wars," "The Star Wars Holiday Special," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi" ... but only in the scenes wherein Darth Vader wore a mask. In "Jedi," when Vader finally revealed his face, Prowse was replaced by actor Sebastian Shaw.
The actor also played Darth Vader "Star Wars," "The Star Wars Holiday Special," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi" ... but only in the scenes wherein Darth Vader wore a mask. In "Jedi," when Vader finally revealed his face, Prowse was replaced by actor Sebastian Shaw.
- 5/7/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
May the Fourth be with you, folks! Today, we’re taking a step back from the usual celebratory stories to discuss something far more sinister. Few people know about this story, so listen close. Back in the day, Darth Vader, everyone’s favorite murderous papa, extended his reach into our world from behind the screen and wreaked some havoc — including very real and very gruesome deaths.
How Did Darth Vader Syndrome Come to Be?
While the name makes it sound like a South Park joke, the so-called Darth Vader Syndrome aka the Monster Syndrome was an actual problem in the 1980’s America. In the decade that saw the release of George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy, every kid and their younger sibling watched the iconic franchise and knew its characters.
Darth Vader was a particularly terrifying character for children: a menacing dark figure in a scary inhumane mask with a...
How Did Darth Vader Syndrome Come to Be?
While the name makes it sound like a South Park joke, the so-called Darth Vader Syndrome aka the Monster Syndrome was an actual problem in the 1980’s America. In the decade that saw the release of George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy, every kid and their younger sibling watched the iconic franchise and knew its characters.
Darth Vader was a particularly terrifying character for children: a menacing dark figure in a scary inhumane mask with a...
- 5/4/2024
- by dean-black@startefacts.com (Dean Black)
- STartefacts.com
Streaming on: Disney+
Episodes viewed: 6 of 6
“Size matters not,” Yoda once told us. And so, while Tales Of The Empire — the second anthology of canonical Star Wars animated shorts, following the 2022 collection Tales Of The Jedi — consists of just six bite-sized instalments, running between 10 and 15 minutes each, it’s not to be overlooked. This is short, powerful, punchy storytelling in the Star Wars galaxy, hooking onto under-explored characters and offering narrative morsels that thread together decades of disparate threads.
Last time, the focus was on the fall of Count Dooku and pivotal moments in the life of Ahsoka Tano. Here, the first three episodes are devoted to Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) — the Beskar-spear-swinging Magistrate first introduced in The Mandalorian Season 2, later revealed as a former Dathomir witch intent on heralding the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka – as she loses everything, and finds new purpose in the embrace of the Empire.
Episodes viewed: 6 of 6
“Size matters not,” Yoda once told us. And so, while Tales Of The Empire — the second anthology of canonical Star Wars animated shorts, following the 2022 collection Tales Of The Jedi — consists of just six bite-sized instalments, running between 10 and 15 minutes each, it’s not to be overlooked. This is short, powerful, punchy storytelling in the Star Wars galaxy, hooking onto under-explored characters and offering narrative morsels that thread together decades of disparate threads.
Last time, the focus was on the fall of Count Dooku and pivotal moments in the life of Ahsoka Tano. Here, the first three episodes are devoted to Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) — the Beskar-spear-swinging Magistrate first introduced in The Mandalorian Season 2, later revealed as a former Dathomir witch intent on heralding the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Ahsoka – as she loses everything, and finds new purpose in the embrace of the Empire.
- 5/3/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - TV
George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise has been popular for well over four decades and continues to enjoy plenty of fanfare. After completing the original trilogy of films, Lucas returned to the franchise for the prequels, which explore Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side and transformation into the nefarious Darth Vader.
Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
However, for Vader’s backstory to work, Lucas had to kill off a fan-favorite character in the final installment of the prequels. Nonetheless, Lucas’ original plans for the prequels did not involve the death of Vader’s love, Padmé. Here is everything you need to know about Lucas’ original plans for Padmé and her fate.
George Lucas’ Original Star Wars Prequels Plan Avoided Padmé’s Untimely Death
Natalie Portman‘s Padmé Amidala serves as the primary love interest for Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
However, for Vader’s backstory to work, Lucas had to kill off a fan-favorite character in the final installment of the prequels. Nonetheless, Lucas’ original plans for the prequels did not involve the death of Vader’s love, Padmé. Here is everything you need to know about Lucas’ original plans for Padmé and her fate.
George Lucas’ Original Star Wars Prequels Plan Avoided Padmé’s Untimely Death
Natalie Portman‘s Padmé Amidala serves as the primary love interest for Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.
- 4/26/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
George Lucas Nearly Cast a Different Actor as Darth Vader Changing the Flow of the Franchise Forever
Darth Vader is undeniably one of the most iconic fictional characters, known for his menacing black suit and distinctive voice. Many other works of fiction and art make reference to the character, making it a familiar presence.
But, did you know that the role of Vader nearly went to a different actor? One who, at the time, might have been even more preferred than James Earl Jones given the circumstances?
During the late 1970s, while filming ‘A New Hope’ in London, David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader physically, delivered all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, the mask muffled his speech, necessitating dubbing in post-production. Prowse initially expected to dub his own lines, but logistical issues and concerns about his accent prompted George Lucas to seek another voice. Lucas sought a deep, distinguished voice befitting the enigmatic Darth Vader. Ultimately, James Earl Jones, then a relatively unknown actor,...
But, did you know that the role of Vader nearly went to a different actor? One who, at the time, might have been even more preferred than James Earl Jones given the circumstances?
During the late 1970s, while filming ‘A New Hope’ in London, David Prowse, who portrayed Darth Vader physically, delivered all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, the mask muffled his speech, necessitating dubbing in post-production. Prowse initially expected to dub his own lines, but logistical issues and concerns about his accent prompted George Lucas to seek another voice. Lucas sought a deep, distinguished voice befitting the enigmatic Darth Vader. Ultimately, James Earl Jones, then a relatively unknown actor,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Darth Vader is without a doubt one of the most iconic fictional characters, recognized by his ominous black suit and his voice. Plenty of other works of fiction and art reference the character, and it’s one of those references we can always easily spot.
But, did you know that the iconic role almost went to a completely different actor? The one that at the time would be perhaps even favored above James Earl Jones under the circumstances?
While filming ‘A New Hope’ in London during the late 1970s, David Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader’s physical performance, spoke all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, due to the mask muffling his speech, his lines had to be dubbed over in post-production. Prowse assumed he would do the dubbing himself, but logistical and accent concerns led George Lucas to search for another voice. Lucas sought a deep,...
But, did you know that the iconic role almost went to a completely different actor? The one that at the time would be perhaps even favored above James Earl Jones under the circumstances?
While filming ‘A New Hope’ in London during the late 1970s, David Prowse, the actor behind Darth Vader’s physical performance, spoke all of Vader’s lines from behind the mask. However, due to the mask muffling his speech, his lines had to be dubbed over in post-production. Prowse assumed he would do the dubbing himself, but logistical and accent concerns led George Lucas to search for another voice. Lucas sought a deep,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
A second season of Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi was first announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, and fans have since been eager to see which characters this season’s installments would be about. Would we see more stories from Ahsoka and Count Dooku, or different characters entirely? Nearly a year after it was first announced, we have a first look at the new season, now named Tales of the Empire.
Tales of the Empire will focus on the stories of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka’s Lady Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) and, to the delight of many, former Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger), who was last seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
What a day for me https://t.co/BHZ3B5FOnt
— MaceAhWindu...
Tales of the Empire will focus on the stories of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka’s Lady Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) and, to the delight of many, former Jedi Padawan Barriss Offee (Meredith Salenger), who was last seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
What a day for me https://t.co/BHZ3B5FOnt
— MaceAhWindu...
- 4/4/2024
- by Brynnaarens
- Den of Geek
It’s long been a part of the Star Wars mythos, but something rarely depicted in live-action: go back before Order 66 and the events of the prequels, and the galaxy was once flooded with Jedi. The sight of lightsaber-wielders moving en masse was a major moment at the end of Episode II – Attack Of The Clones – but given that Palpatine and a nascent Vader bumped all the other Jedi off shortly after, it’s rarely been seen again. The Acolyte, though, is set to deliver exactly that – the new Star Wars series, from an original idea by Russian Doll creator Leslye Headland, is set 100 years before The Phantom Menace, at the end of the largely-peaceful High Republic era. And it’s a time simply stacked with Jedi.
Which in itself begs a bigger, overarching Star Wars question: if the Jedi were once flourishing and all-powerful, how did they let it...
Which in itself begs a bigger, overarching Star Wars question: if the Jedi were once flourishing and all-powerful, how did they let it...
- 4/4/2024
- by Ben Travis
- Empire - TV
The beloved soap opera, introduced in 1977, has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. With a stellar ensemble cast featuring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and James Earl Jones, the franchise has consistently delighted audiences with its rich content. Surprisingly, despite its global success, the two cast members didn’t cross paths until their joint appearance on the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
A still from Star Wars
While Princess Leia and Darth Vader share a few moments in the original film, it’s noteworthy that the late actor David Prowse portrayed Vader on-screen, with Jones providing his iconic voice during post-production. The two actors would finally meet during the filming of an unforgettable episode of The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory Episode Brought James Earl Jones And Carrie Fisher Together
Episode 14 of The Big Bang Theory Season 7, The Convention Conundrum, follows the lead group of friends...
A still from Star Wars
While Princess Leia and Darth Vader share a few moments in the original film, it’s noteworthy that the late actor David Prowse portrayed Vader on-screen, with Jones providing his iconic voice during post-production. The two actors would finally meet during the filming of an unforgettable episode of The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory Episode Brought James Earl Jones And Carrie Fisher Together
Episode 14 of The Big Bang Theory Season 7, The Convention Conundrum, follows the lead group of friends...
- 3/31/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
After a triumphant time in the 2010s, things are uncertain at the Walt Disney Company right now. With audience interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe fading and "Star Wars" having become a primarily streaming franchise, there's a feeling that the company may have carelessly set fire to its money trees.
Disney's changing leadership suggests it won't be staying the course. In 2022, former Disney CEO Bob Iger resumed his post from Bob Chapek, a simultaneous vote of no confidence in his successor yet a stamp of approval for Iger's own tenure (he first served as Disney CEO from 2005 to 2020). Since his return, Iger has implicitly criticized Chapek's decision to go all-in on Disney+ originals, spreading the company's main offerings (Marvel and Pixar especially) too thin.
Another shake-up happened in February 2024, when Sean Bailey stepped down as president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production. His successor, David Greenbaum (formerly of Searchlight Pictures...
Disney's changing leadership suggests it won't be staying the course. In 2022, former Disney CEO Bob Iger resumed his post from Bob Chapek, a simultaneous vote of no confidence in his successor yet a stamp of approval for Iger's own tenure (he first served as Disney CEO from 2005 to 2020). Since his return, Iger has implicitly criticized Chapek's decision to go all-in on Disney+ originals, spreading the company's main offerings (Marvel and Pixar especially) too thin.
Another shake-up happened in February 2024, when Sean Bailey stepped down as president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production. His successor, David Greenbaum (formerly of Searchlight Pictures...
- 3/26/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ has been in development for a while, and this week brought several announcements, including the release of the first public trailer. While details about the plot remain scarce, many fans are thrilled by its setting in the High Republic Era, a new territory for live-action storytelling.
Despite this unique backdrop, ‘The Acolyte’ is only the second show to explore this era, following the recently concluded ‘Young Jedi Adventures.’ Based on Headland’s remarks, ‘Acolyte’ promises to be different from expectations. She initially pitched it as a blend of ‘Frozen’ and ‘Kill Bill,’ drawing inspiration from samurai and Wuxia films.
As a devoted Star Wars fan since her teenage years, it’s understandable that she drew references and inspiration from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. One notable character was even taken from the High Republic series of books. Additionally, Headland surprised many by revealing that one of...
Despite this unique backdrop, ‘The Acolyte’ is only the second show to explore this era, following the recently concluded ‘Young Jedi Adventures.’ Based on Headland’s remarks, ‘Acolyte’ promises to be different from expectations. She initially pitched it as a blend of ‘Frozen’ and ‘Kill Bill,’ drawing inspiration from samurai and Wuxia films.
As a devoted Star Wars fan since her teenage years, it’s understandable that she drew references and inspiration from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. One notable character was even taken from the High Republic series of books. Additionally, Headland surprised many by revealing that one of...
- 3/21/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’ has been in the making for a long time, but this week plenty of announcements have been made with the show’s first public trailer being released. Little is known about the plot of the show, but most fans are excited by the fact that ‘The Acolyte’ will be taking place during the High Republic Era, something previously unseen in live action.
Despite the unique setting, ‘The Acolyte’ is the second show overall that takes place during that time frame, the first being ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ that recently ended its run. Judging by Headland’s own words so far, ‘Acolyte’ will be something entirely different than what we’re expecting. She originally pitched the show as ‘Frozen meets Kill Bill’ and described samurai movies & Wuxia films as one of her main inspirations.
Being a huge geek for Star Wars ever since she was a teen, it...
Despite the unique setting, ‘The Acolyte’ is the second show overall that takes place during that time frame, the first being ‘Young Jedi Adventures’ that recently ended its run. Judging by Headland’s own words so far, ‘Acolyte’ will be something entirely different than what we’re expecting. She originally pitched the show as ‘Frozen meets Kill Bill’ and described samurai movies & Wuxia films as one of her main inspirations.
Being a huge geek for Star Wars ever since she was a teen, it...
- 3/21/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
A trailer for Lord Vader: A Star Wars Story has been uploaded online, but there may be a disturbance in the Force with this potential new movie.
Darth Vader is one of the Star Wars franchise’s most legendary and enduring characters.
From the glint of his frightening all-black armor to the ominous sound of his mechanically-assisted breathing, there are so many things that make Vader such a standout villain. (Read about the character’s entire chronological journey here).
Read full article on The Direct.
Darth Vader is one of the Star Wars franchise’s most legendary and enduring characters.
From the glint of his frightening all-black armor to the ominous sound of his mechanically-assisted breathing, there are so many things that make Vader such a standout villain. (Read about the character’s entire chronological journey here).
Read full article on The Direct.
- 3/20/2024
- by Jennifer McDonough
- The Direct
Alaskan Bush People star Noah Brown welcomed a new member of the family, but he turned to Discovery Channel fans for a name. After he shared a photo and invited the participation of his followers, he got plenty of suggestions. Possibly, he might need to think hard because some of them seem very good.
Abp Noah Brown Shares Photos Of His Family Members
Alaskan Bush People fans know that Rhain and her husband raise Eli, 5, and his younger brother, Adam. However, their family also includes non-human kids like Triss the six-year-old ferret. Actually, Triss is so cute that many Discovery Channel fans would love to spend time with him. Now, it looks like Triss will have a friend.
Triss The Ferret – Noah Brown – Instagram
Noah Brown inherited a love for animals from his dad, Billy. On the show, if he’s not being the family technician, he’s been seen working with the horses.
Abp Noah Brown Shares Photos Of His Family Members
Alaskan Bush People fans know that Rhain and her husband raise Eli, 5, and his younger brother, Adam. However, their family also includes non-human kids like Triss the six-year-old ferret. Actually, Triss is so cute that many Discovery Channel fans would love to spend time with him. Now, it looks like Triss will have a friend.
Triss The Ferret – Noah Brown – Instagram
Noah Brown inherited a love for animals from his dad, Billy. On the show, if he’s not being the family technician, he’s been seen working with the horses.
- 3/14/2024
- by James Michael
- TV Shows Ace
Star Wars actor Michael Culver has died at the age of 85.
According to a statement from Culver’s agency, he passed away on February 27th. No cause of death has been revealed.
“We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver,” Alliance Agents shared in a statement also noting his “career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise.
Culver played a small role as Captain Needa in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In the 1980 film, the character goes to Darth Vader to take responsibility for failing to capture the rebels. After the scene cuts, Culver is seen falling to the floor after Vader uses the Force to choke the life out of him. “Apology accepted, Captain Needa,” Vader quips.
Born in London on June 16th,...
According to a statement from Culver’s agency, he passed away on February 27th. No cause of death has been revealed.
“We are very sad to confirm the passing of our friend and client Michael Culver,” Alliance Agents shared in a statement also noting his “career spanning over 50 years with notable roles in Sherlock Holmes, A Passage to India, Secret Army and of course one of the most memorable death scenes in the Star Wars franchise.
Culver played a small role as Captain Needa in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In the 1980 film, the character goes to Darth Vader to take responsibility for failing to capture the rebels. After the scene cuts, Culver is seen falling to the floor after Vader uses the Force to choke the life out of him. “Apology accepted, Captain Needa,” Vader quips.
Born in London on June 16th,...
- 3/13/2024
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
If the original "Star Wars" established Darth Vader as one of the most fearsome and instantly iconic villains of all time, then "The Empire Strikes Back" was the one tasked with showing us why he was worthy to continue wearing that crown moving forward -- and that wouldn't have been possible without one hapless supporting character who, despite a minimum of screen time, ended up taking on a life of his own among the passionate fanbase.
Actor Michael Culver sadly passed away at the age of 85 this past February (as only recently reported by Independent), leaving behind a legacy that spanned years of theater work, a significant role in the "Return of Sherlock Holmes" drama series, his memorable performance in David Lean's Oscar-winning "A Passage to India," and, of course, one of the most famous character deaths in all of fiction. As the doomed Imperial Captain Lorth Needa, Culver portrayed...
Actor Michael Culver sadly passed away at the age of 85 this past February (as only recently reported by Independent), leaving behind a legacy that spanned years of theater work, a significant role in the "Return of Sherlock Holmes" drama series, his memorable performance in David Lean's Oscar-winning "A Passage to India," and, of course, one of the most famous character deaths in all of fiction. As the doomed Imperial Captain Lorth Needa, Culver portrayed...
- 3/13/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
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