Overview of A Vader-Centric Prequel Trilogy

STAR WARS PREQUEL REVISION OVERVIEW

My Prequel Vision:

Episode I: Attack Of The Clones

Episode II: The Phantom Menace

Episode III: The Shadow of the Empire

PREFACE:

I’m a big fan of Darth Vader, and the idea of Darth Vader’s arc. I’ve always been a little bitter at the way his story was handled in the prequels. I know there are people that would prefer the Prequels be more encompassing and not fixate as much on Anakin, but for me the main films are the story of the Skywalker family at or near their core.

DELETING Episode I: The Phantom Menace

I know there are good aspects of the Phantom Menace. I like Darth Maul well enough. But as a story in the overall narrative it serves almost no purpose except to set up pieces on the board. Baby Anakin is annoying and lacks any Gravitas, and I don’t know that any combo of screenwriter/actor/director could solve this. It’s just a crap concept. Anakin meeting Padme as a child is kind of creepy, but more importantly it removes all tension from their tryst in Episode II. If Anakin always had a crush on her, he was always corrupted by his own feelings of loss and never fully embraced being a Jedi. It creates a much more interesting story if he devotes himself fully, becomes a Jedi and finds his home there, thinks everything is great, and then…well, you can read about it below.

Episode I: Attack of the Clones

POLITICS: Preserve the Separatists, merge them with the Trade Federation. There is the Republic & the Separatists. There are Rogue Planets unaffiliated with either (Tatooine) for the time being.

I know most people dislike the half-assed political plot lines as they are (with good reason) but for me, the conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists would provide a nice springboard for Palpatine to work his way to the head of the Republic without being too obvious. I won’t say too much about the Yuuzhan Vong, except that I like the idea that there is an unspoken reason that Palpatine is amassing power beyond it simply being the Sith way. Obviously he wants the power and being in charge of the Republic/Empire would be one of the greatest achievements in that regard, but I also think that the Sith are more interesting when they’re not overt boogeymen but rather extremists who actually have a rationale for amassing power. He is gaining power in order to strengthen the Galaxy in the face of an impending invasion that was prophesied by the Sith, a prophecy that the Jedi also had but interpreted differently.

• The film begins with a teenage Anakin in a Separatist slave camp (NOT ON TATOOINE, lets just put a planet in here and call it SLAVIS). He is in a room in shackles, a slaveholder comes in and mocks him, bringing up his mother “You’re pretty fast. Not fast enough to save your mother, but fast enough to make us some credits” we see Anakin’s anger. He is forced to fight in a demolition derby style arena battle with speeders and physical weapons (no blasters).

• The opening sequence is one such battle, and as Anakin is one of two combatants left, his speeder is damaged. He’s frantically trying to rig something up, and just as Sebulba (or whoever) is lining up for the death charge BOOM in bust the Republic Troops with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to save the day, eliminate the Slavers and take control of the Planet for the Republic.

• As they secure the scene Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan both encounter Anakin, and sense the strength of the Force in him. There is a dialogue between Anakin and Obi-Wan where Anakin says something cheeky like “I was about to win,” and Obi-Wan takes a shine to the boy.

TIME SKIP (I know, Star Wars isn’t really the place for Time Skips but it worked well enough in Rogue One).

• The first assassination attempt on Senator Padme Amidala from Alderaan (not Queen, No Naboo) plays out as usual. Separatists, not Trade Federation.

• The Jedi Council assigns Obi-Wan Kenobi (now a Knight) and his Padawan Anakin to bodyguard duty while Qui-Gon investigates the assassination attempt.

• We see the relationship between Anakin and Padme begin to take shape.

• Zam Wessel assassination attempt. Scene plays out as usual, except Obi-Wan hands the saber dart over to Qui-Gon Jinn.

• Anakin is smitten with Padme Amidala. Her strength and spirit reminds him of his mother’s. Padme sees something noble in Anakin, admires his belief in using power to protect the innocent and there’s a bit of “two worlds” attraction for her in his upbringing as a slave and his forbidden nature as a Jedi contrasting with her aristocratic upbringing.

• It comes to light in their interactions that he was a slave child, his mother was separated from him and supposedly died at the hands of slavers when he was much younger and he never knew his father (no mention of immaculate conception at this point).

• Qui-Gon is investigating the Assassination attempt. He goes to Kamino, where he witnesses the Clone Army in production. He informs the order, and they inform Palpatine.

• Jango Fett attack scene plays out per usual, except Qui-Gon isn’t able to follow him due to his fighter being damaged in the battle. Qui-Gon manages to attach a tracker to Slave I and puts out a distress signal to the Jedi Order (Mace Windu is the acting head of the council, not Yoda) for assistance.

• Anakin has premonitions in his dreams but they are more vague than in the existing film. Flashes of Tatooine, his mother in danger, a dark presence, and Padme.

• Lo and Behold, Senator Amidala is tasked with a diplomatic mission to Geonosis to establish a Republic foothold. Her Jedi consort goes with her. On the way, The Jedi Order relays Qui-Gon’s distress signal to Obi-Wan Kenobi as he is the closest (en route to Geonosis with Padme and Anakin). He takes a fighter to go to Qui-Gon, leaving Anakin alone with the Senator.

• Anakin is still haunted by visions of Tatooine. He realizes that his mother is still alive there, somehow, and calling out to him through the force without realizing it.

• Anakin persuades Amidala that they must stop at Tatooine. This is out of character for a Jedi, but not for Anakin. He is giving in to his fear, his emotions. Arriving in Mos Eisley, he uses the information from his visions and the Force to track down Cliegg Lars (and Owen and Beru). Anakin explains that he is looking for his mother, Cliegg fills him in that he had purchased/rescued her from her former master after the operation on Slavis was busted up buy the Republic and he was desperate to get some credits and get the hell away. He freed her, married her, and they settled in on his once profitable moisture farm on Tatooine. Then she done got took by Tuskens.

• The following scenes play out much as before with the slaughter of Tusken Raiders.

• Completely cut out “I slaughtered them like animals,” monologue and replace it with a brief exchange where Anakin says something along the lines of “The powerful take everything from the powerless. This seems to be the way of the galaxy,” to demonstrate the embitterment and anger he is struggling to suppress.

• Padme and Anakin arrive on Geonosis at the designated coordinates only to find there’s nothing there…

IT’S A TRAP! (couldn’t help myself)

• Geonosis is a Separatist Droid Army Stronghold and Amidala is taken Captive along with Anakin.

• Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan track Slave I to Geonosis and witness a massive Separatist Weapons manufacturing facility. They send word to the Jedi, and find Amidala’s ship empty.

• Darth Tyrannus (we shall never mention the name “Dooku” again) is there, overseeing the Separatist meeting for the Emperor. This is the first real instance of the Sith we see. There is a scene of him communicating with the Emperor where he informs them that Padme has been captured along with a Jedi Padawan. The Emperor orders Tyrannus to execute Padme, but is clearly interested in Anakin, and indicated that he is not to be killed unless it is absolutely necessary.

• Tyrannus has a short dialogue with Anakin, in chains. Anakin chides him for betraying the Jedi Order and shows anger at Tyrannus’ admission that he ordered the assassination attempt on Padme, which tips Tyrannus off to Anakin’s potential to be turned. Tyrannus appeals to the anger, “I was once like you. Talented, but naive. The Jedi want you controlled. They want your power restrained so that it cannot threaten their own selfish claim. Cast off your true shackles, and you can become more powerful than you could ever imagine. You can even save the ones you love.” He is alluding to Padme, clearly, but doesn’t know that he has just rubbed salt in a fresh wound (Shmi).

• Anakin remembers the slaveholder from his childhood and finds the symmetry in his current situation. He rebukes Tyrannus angrily. “Very well.” Tyrannus orders a public, arena style execution for both prisoners.

• Arena combat that mirrors the pits we saw Anakin in in the beginning. He sees Padme in chains next to him for the execution. He is drawn back to his own past of being forced to fight for the amusement of others. He looks up to see the pleased look on Tyrannus’ face. He is filled with rage. He begins to break his chains off with the power of the force.

• BOOM. Clone Army bust in. Jedi. All together now. Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon and Mace Windu are leading the charge. The Droids and Clones and Jedi battle in the arena. The Clone troops and other Jedi spread out across the planet to take out the manufacturing facilities.

• Tyrannus attempts to flee the Arena. Through the battle haze, Anakin sees him go into a corridor. Anakin manages to head him off. Qui-Gon sees him from across the arena and follows. Anakin and Tyrannus have a final, brief verbal confrontation. Tyrannus makes a final appeal “You could be free, like me.” Anakin says something along these lines “Men like you took everything that was precious to me, men like you will never stop until someone ends you.” (I’m not a screenwriter, clearly). An intense battle ensues.

• Tyrannus is clearly gaining the upper hand despite Anakin’s rage. Qui-Gon arrives in time to bear witness to Tyrannus cutting off Anakin’s forearm. Qui-Gon protects a seemingly incapacitated Anakin from the killing blow. As they fight, Anakin’s visions and anger come back in full force. He takes his anger and his pain and lashes out at both of them, essentially doing the mother of all force chokes and ends up killing Tyrannus and mortally wounding Qui-Gon. Obi-Wan and many of the other Jedi sense something terrible has happened but are not sure exactly what.

• Anakin emerges from the corridor to find the battle in the Arena concluding and Obi-Wan and Padme see him, his lack of arm, and rush to his aid. Obi-Wan is horrified to see his master struck down. With his dying breaths Qui-Gon assures Obi-Wan that “There is good in him. The prophecy…”

• Obi-Wan watches Anakin and Padme leave on an evac ship with concern in his face. The ship flies over the planets’ surface where we see the droid manufacture facilities ablaze.

• Obi-Wan recommends Anakin for Knighthood, but there is something reserved about his tone, as though a heavy burden weighs on his heart. When pressed about it, he merely says something to the effect of “He has learned all he can from me, he must now look to the Force for guidance.”

• Cut to Anakin and Padme in Padme’s quarters as Anakin says his goodbyes. I’m not good at dialogue so I won’t even try here. They kiss.

• By way of epilogue we would see something from Palpatine talking about how the tide has turned, the Separatists’ days are numbered, that this is the beginning of a new era for the Galaxy.

Episode II: The Phantom Menace

This film would take place in the penultimate year of the Clone Wars, which leaves room for the animated series to cover much of the preceding war. 

The Film would center around a conspiracy that sees members of the Senate accused of working for the Separatists against the Republic. This is Palpatine working to eliminate problematic (for him) elements in the Senate by falsifying evidence of their Separatist involvement. Additionally, Palpatine is ordering direct assassinations meant to seem like Separatist actions using Darth Maul as his assassin. Palpatine is also covertly using the Clones to capture scientists to develop advanced weaponry (earliest hints at the Death Star, but leave it at that).

• The opening scene sees Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi arriving just too late to thwart an assassination of a Senator, where they encounter Darth Maul for the first time. There is a brief battle and while Darth Maul can hold his own against two battle-trained Jedi Knights, he cannot best them and so escapes and retreats to contact the Emperor.

• Anakin and Obi-Wan have an exchange where they fully recognize that Tyrannus was not the only Sith, and the possibility that the Sith are resurgent. They take their concerns to the Jedi Council, who are skeptical.

• Anakin initially fears that Padme is going to be killed as the result of the conspiracy. He is struggling to balance his commitment to the Jedi with his own desires and emotions.

• In this iteration Master Yoda spends much of his time in isolated meditation inside the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and serves primarily as a wise elder consult rather than a constantly active member of the Jedi Council. Almost like a pope but with fewer responsibilities.

• Anakin consults the wise master Yoda, they have a dialogue about the Force similar to their conversation in the original Episode III, the Dark Side and the “Dark times ahead”. Yoda senses great power and warns Anakin not to be taken in by fear. Fear leads to anger…

• The reason Yoda doesn’t put a stop to Anakin’s progress despite his fear is his belief in the power of prophecy. Not necessarily that one must obey prophecy, because Yoda recognizes that prophecy is often about interpretation, but rather that one must act in accordance with what one believes to be the will of the force, as fighting against the will of the force is prideful and demonstrates fear, which leads to anger…

• The second act is where I mostly have ideas for how the story would go but less concrete scene ideas.

• Anakin and Obi-Wan continue to follow the trail of the Assassinations.

• This would involve a scene where they accompany a Clone troop to arrest a Senator, and first begin to have doubts about his/her guilt. They suspect that someone in the Senate is a Sith or Sith conspirator.

• Anakin Consults his friend, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, who is able to mask his true identity through his adeptness in the force. He feigns concern over the conspiracy, and tells Anakin he will be very wary and inform him of anything suspicious or peculiar, possibly going as far to send him on a wild goose chase for answers from a suspect on a different planet.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin track down different leads by themselves.

• Anakin goes to a planet seeking answers from a Senator as recommended by Palpatine, but encounters a Separatist Hit Squad. One of the separatists is in possession of a holocron tying Padme Amidala to the Separatists. Knowing that the evidence is false, Anakin realizes that the Sith have been falsifying evidence against the Senators but cannot prove it without compromising himself.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi follows the energy signature of Darth Maul’s ship to a desolate world where he finds Maul in a Sith Temple talking to the Emperor. He overhears the Emperor ordering Maul to assassinate Padme Amidala, the order intermixed with subtle references to a fracture in the Jedi order and a new ally. Maul senses Obi-Wan. They have an incredibly intense battle where Obi-Wan Kenobi is injured and left for dead, while Maul sets out to Assassinate Padme in Anakin’s absence.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi sends a distress signal to the Jedi Order (and Anakin) warning of the threat to Senator Amidala.

• This is where it would need a punch-up and something to believably get Obi-Wan to Alderaan (where Amidala is) to fight alongside Anakin so that Obi-Wan can be the one to cut Maul in half, preserving that aspect of LEGENDS (because it’s one of my favorites).

• They win, but recognize that the Sith threat may run deeper than they had previously thought.

• Padme reveals to Anakin that she is pregnant.

• The major reveal at the end of this version of Episode II (in a conversation between Palpatine and another Apprentice along the lines of Asajj Ventress but not her because of story conflicts with the Clone Wars) is that Anakin is a direct product of Palpatine’s earliest efforts at the creation of life using the methods he learned from Darth Plagueis in combination with Kamino Cloning technology. Yes, Palpatine is Anakin’s “father”. Feel free to hate me for speaking such blasphemy.

Episode III: Shadow of The Empire

• Yes, I know. The title…it’s not what most of you would choose, and I struggled with it myself. But here’s the thing--It signals that the Prequel trilogy concludes with a darkness hanging over the Galaxy, that the Empire is looming but has yet to become its fully realized self. It also contrasts with “A New Hope”.

• The Final Months of the Clone Wars. The opening sequence plays out as it does in the original, however with Maul and Tyrannus slain at this point, I would have to retroactively invoke a character from The Clone Wars (likely the apprentice I referenced at the end of this version of Episode II) be written into the plot line as the reigning Sith apprentice to the Emperor (that’s lazy and sloppy of me, but whatever, a smarter person could make it work).

• Padme is about halfway through her pregnancy at the beginning

• The rest of the story plays out essentially the same way, with some pacing modifications and scenes cut to balance it out. So from here:

• Anakin becomes a Sith about 30% of the way through the film.

• Mustafar happens about 75% into the film. The final 25% shows Anakin transforming into Darth Vader then follows him for one final Jedi Execution (similar in tone to An’ya Kuro’s fate but with a different character for timeline reasons, but still a Jedi in exile). The last thing the Jedi says to Vader before he delivers the killing blow is “There is still good in you.”

• The closing scene is the same sequence one we see at the end of the original episode III with the Death Star under construction, and a truncated version of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda going into hiding.

Overall, we get to see a more potent characterization of Darth Vader and we eliminate a lot of unnecessary meandering from the plot (at the cost of relying on quite a bit of suspension of disbelief for convenience).

It’s not perfect and not that great (I slammed this out last night and this morning and haven’t seen any of the prequels for over a year now), but, thoughts?

POST:

I just read through u/sigmaecho's rewrite. Didn’t agree with all of their points, but they helped me get my head around the changes I wanted to make.

Thanks to this https://www.reddit.com/r/fixingmovies/comments/4g5kot/fixing_the_star_wars_prequels/

This is entirely my opinion and based on my own preferences, and I know a lot of you are going to think “I hate that” or “You totally deleted [x]!? How could you?”

I look forward to talking about it in the comments.