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A somewhat long time ago in a galaxy not so far away, Liam Neeson took a lightsaber to the gut.

The Oscar nominee recently expressed dissatisfaction with his Jedi Master character Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, noting that he was “supposed to be a Master Jedi” but got duped during a lightsaber duel.

“I thought my death was a bit namby-pamby. I’m supposed to be a Master Jedi,” he told GQ. “My character fell for that. ‘Oh, I’m going for your face! No, I’m not, I’m going for your stomach.’ ‘Oh, you got me!’ Like, oh please. Hardly a Master Jedi.”

“But still, it was great,” noted Neeson of the filming experience.

More than 20 years later, he reprised the role for a reunion with Ewan McGregor in his Disney+ spin-off series Obi-Wan Kenobi. “I kinda liked that. It was just one line.

One of the most epic plotlines developed in the Star Wars universe is that of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, the two lovers who suffered at the hands of their tragic fates. While their love story in the prequel film series really served as an interesting arc, things were originally supposed to go differently than the final canon version.

Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. | Credits: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith / 20th Century Studios.

As it turns out, while the final turn of events was supposed to unfold the same way as it did in the final cut of the third prequel flick, i.e. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, the events preceding it could have been slightly different, nearly meeting the same tragic end as Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen’s romance from Game of Thrones did.

Star Wars: Episode III almost had...

Natalie Portman’s depiction of Padmé in Star Wars awed the audience on more than one occasion. Her most notable performance, though, possibly was during her last time bringing the character to life on screen in the Revenge of the Sith.

Natalie Portman as Queen Padmé Amidala in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace | Credits: Lucasfilm

The movie delved deep into Anakin Skywalker’s mind and portrayed his journey of becoming Darth Vader in gruesome detail. Interestingly, there have been reports of the movie initially expected to go on an even darker path than what made the final cuts.

As a concept artist from the movie revealed, there were ideas floating around of the final confrontation of Anakin and Padmé taking on a very Game of Thrones-ish tone for the climax. Natalie Portman, too, once commented on the same, but her statement seems to have left fans even more confused than before.

Quick Links Padmé Planned to Kill Anakin on Mustafar The Concept Art Revealed Drastically Different Characterization for Padmé

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith showcased Anakin Skywalker's fall to the Dark Side and transformation into Darth Vader. He became disillusioned with the Grand Republic, he felt that the other Jedi did not respect him, and Chancellor Palpatine led him to believe that the Dark Side could give him the power to prevent his wife, Padmé Amidala, from dying. After aiding in the execution of the Jedi, Anakin went to Mustafar to slaughter the Separatists, thus tying up any loose ends from Palpatine's manipulated war. Padmé flew to Mustafar to try reasoning with Anakin, and unbeknownst to her, Obi-Wan Kenobi came with her. Padmé begged Anakin to change his ways, but it was no use -- he had chosen his path.

When Obi-Wan appeared, Anakin believed that Padmé had betrayed him.

As if George Lucas‘ 1999 Star Wars prequel wasn’t divisive enough, The Phantom Menace nearly ended on a complicated twist.

Marking the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig recently revealed an exchange between Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his mentor Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) that Lucas ultimately cut at the last minute.

“It’s interesting how things evolve. For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon,” McCaig told StarWars.com. “It was very poignant that at the end, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays with his Master as he passes away, he not only takes on his Master’s quest, but he takes on his name. Qui-Gon becomes Obi-Wan.”

He continued, “That’s why when you see Alec Guinness in A New Hope, he puts his hood down and goes,...

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker controversially ended with Rey Skywalker claiming the last name Skywalker for her own, but, despite the controversy, this moment connected to the original plan for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. The Skywalkers are easily the most important family in Star Wars movies and TV shows, and the Skywalker family tree has dominated the franchise from the very beginning. Perhaps for that reason, many bristled (to say the least) when Rey chose the name for herself.

Star Wars worked to make it clear that, in-universe, the Skywalkers themselves approved, as the Force ghosts of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa smiled down at Rey when she announced her new last name, but that did little to resolve the backlash. In part, this was due to the generally negative perception of the sequel trilogy, which many still perceive as some of Star Wars' worst movies.

While Lucasfilm has been criticised for not having a proper plan in place for its divisive Star Wars sequels, it's no secret that George Lucas essentially made up the original trilogy as he went along.

The same was also the case for his prequels, three movies that continuously evolved as they were being developed. Ultimately, The Phantom Menace introduced us to younger versions of many characters, including an Obi-Wan Kenobi who was still a Jedi Padawan to his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

In a StarWars.com feature about the 1999 movie, Star Wars concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig revealed (via SFFGazette.com) that Lucas once had a bombshell twist in mind for Episode I.

"For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon," McCaig explained. "It was very poignant that at the end, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays with...

Ready to get your mind blown on this Friday? Think back to 1999, when Star Wars: The Phantom Menace landed in theaters. This was the big return to the Star Wars universe after 16 years away, and it was a big deal. The movie famously received a lot of backlash from fans, but there were things people liked about it, including the casting of Liam Neeson as seasoned Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn and Ewan McGregor as his padawan learner Obi-Wan Kenobi.

At the end of The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon is killed fighting against the wicked Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan Kenobi continues as a fully fledged Jedi, eventually becoming the old man we remember from the original Star Wars trilogy, played by Alec Guinness. Now, a quarter century later, concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig is here to blow up everything we thought we knew about this story. Apparently, director George Lucas had...

The Star Wars saga is now brimming with controversial and divisive storytelling decisions, but this latest revelation may be the most divisive of them all. Regarding Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi, longtime Star Wars concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig has revealed that the beloved character was almost given a - frankly baffling - twist by George Lucas in the already exceedingly divisive prequel Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

Speaking with StarWars.com, McCaig revealed that Lucas initial idea for Obi-Wan in the prequel was to have the character played by Ewan McGregor (and Alec Guiness in the original trilogy) not be Obi-Wan at all, but rather Qui-Gon Jinn. If that leaves you confused, what follows wont help. It seems that Lucas actually wanted Liam Neesons older Jedi Knight to be Obi-Wan, with McGregors younger Qui-Gon taking the identity of his master after hes killed by the villainous Darth Maul.

In an interview celebrating the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig revealed that George Lucas almost made a major change to the mythology of the Jedi.

In The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is the apprentice of Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), but during the development of the film, Lucas had those names switched around. Neeson’s character was named Obi-Wan, and McGregor’s was named Qui-Gon. When Obi-Wan was killed by Darth Maul, Qui-Gon would have taken his name as a tribute.

“It’s interesting how things evolve,” McCaig said. “For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon. It was very poignant that at the end, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays with his Master as he passes away, he not only takes on his Master’s quest,...

Love it or hate it, “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” is at least widely beloved for its casting of Ewan McGregor as young Obi-Wan Kenobi. A recent interview with “Star Wars” concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig (via StarWars.com) to mark “The Phantom Menace’s” 25th anniversary reveals that George Lucas was originally planning a bombshell twist for the movie. McGregor’s Obi-Wan and Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon were originally swapped, meaning Neeson was playing the real Obi-Wan and thus the real Obi-Wan died.

“For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the younger Jedi was named Qui-Gon,” McCaig said. “It was very poignant that at the end, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays with his Master as he passes away, he not only takes on his Master’s quest, but he takes on his name. Qui-Gon becomes Obi-Wan.”

“That...

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the most beloved figure in Star Wars history, but his origin was not always so cut and dry. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom Menace, Star Wars artist Iain McCaig revealed George Lucas original intentions for the character. Debuting for audiences in Star Wars: A New Hope, Alec Guinness played the character reluctantly before Ewan McGregor took up the mantle in the Star Wars prequels. McGregors portrayal of the young padawan who follows his Master Qui-Gon Jinns (Liam Neeson) directive to care for young Anakin (later played by Hayden Christensen) is a high point of the series. His duel with Darth Maul (Ray Park) in the first prequel is iconic and McGregor has gone on to reprise the character many times over. But this familiar story of Obi-Wan taking Anakin under his wing could have been much different, as McCaig told StarWars.com.

Star Wars is one of the biggest and most popular franchises in entertainment history, and it’s brought us some of the most iconic characters ever. Jedi and Sith names like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are widely recognized, even by people who don’t follow the series closely. These characters have become symbols of the Jedi Order and everything it stands for.

Iain McCaig, a well-known concept artist and designer, especially for his work on the Star Wars prequels, recently shared an interesting detail about how Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were originally created.

The artist revealed that George Lucas originally planned for Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon to swap names. In an early concept for The Phantom Menace, the older Jedi we know as Qui-Gon was to be called “Obi-Wan,” while the younger Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi, would have been named “Qui-Gon.”

The idea was that the young Jedi would take on his master’s name,...

Star Wars, as one of the biggest and most popular franchises in the history of entertainment also gave us some of the most iconic characters. Both the Jedi and Sith have names that even people not particularly well-versed in the canon recognize, as such Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are practically synonyms for the Jedi order and everything it represents.

Iain McCaig, a renowned concept artist, illustrator, and character designer most notable for his work on the prequel trilogy recently revealed one interesting thing about the creation of both Obi-Wan and Quin-Gon.

According to the artist, the two were supposed to have swapped names. There was an early concept that George Lucas toyed with while developing ‘The Phantom Menace.’ In this version, the older Jedi, who we know as Qui-Gon Jinn, was originally meant to be called “Obi-Wan,” while the younger Jedi, who we know as Obi-Wan Kenobi, would have been named “Qui-Gon.

A new interview sheds light on the proposed alternate ending to Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), and it is quite difficult to imagine how the entire franchise would have turned out had George Lucas pushed through with this narrative. Names are significant to the story, and even one slight change would alter everything.

Credits: Ewan McGregor and Liam Neeson in The Phantom Menace / Lucasfilm

Apparently, two of the most prominent Jedi figures in Star Wars almost switched names: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn. Fans know that the latter is the master of the former, but at one point, Lucas considered making Qui-Gon the younger Jedi.

George Lucas Initially Had a Different Twist to The Phantom Menace’s Ending

This surprising revelation was shared by concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig for The Phantom Menace’s 25th anniversary. As early as 1995, George Lucas and his team of creatives...

Concept artist Iain McCaig explains what led to the inspiration for Darth Maul's iconic look. The iconic menacing villain was first introduced in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the first installment in the prequel trilogy. Over the years, Darth Maul remained one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe, with one reason being the character's menacing appearance. This includes his bright gold eyes and his red skin with black circuit tattoos, alongside one of the few Star Wars characters with a double-bladed lightsaber.

While speaking with StarWars.com, McCaig shared that the only description he received from George Lucas was that Darth Maul was "our new Sith Lord." While initially stressed about the lack of direction, he realized Lucas chose him because the director wanted to see what the artist could ideate for Darth Maul on his own. Read his comments below:

"George [Lucas] just came up and said,...

Star Wars has revealed an alternate ending to Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace that came very close to making it into the final version of the movie, and it would have changed the past and future of the franchise. The Star Wars prequel trilogy had major shoes to fill following on the heels of the original Star Wars trilogy movies, which many still consider to be Star Wars' best movies. Although the prequels had a bit of a rocky reception at first, as there were many complaints about the Star Wars prequel trilogy, they are now generally beloved.

It seems the first of the three Star Wars prequel trilogy movies, The Phantom Menace, nearly had a very different ending, though, which would have had interesting implications for its reception. Per starwars.com, Star Wars concept and storyboard artist Iain McCaig explained:

For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan,...

Darth Maul creator Iain McCaig has revealed his favorite Star Wars story, a recent addition to the Disney era that has caused the concept and storyboard artist to feel great hope for the franchise's future. McCaig has long since been a part of the franchise, thanks to his work on Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and the incredible contribution that is now the fantastic character of Darth Maul. Despite that, he's stated that he hadn't quite connected to the galaxy and its stories until recently, with one particular Star Wars story.

Speaking to StarWars.com, McCaig described what it was like to watch the TV show Andor for the first time, and how that story caused him to truly understand and become a part of the galaxy itself. "It was Andor that finally caught my heart and soul," McCaig revealed. "Gone were the superheroes and for the...

Within the "Star Wars" galaxy, few alien races are cooler than Zabraks. From their intricate facial tattoos to their cranial horns, there's really no species that looks quite so visually distinct. They don't pop up often in the "Star Wars" saga, but when they do, they make a genuine impression. Take Darth Maul, played by Ray Park in "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace." Though he's only appeared in live-action twice (the last time for a cameo in "Solo: A Star Wars Story" that never bore any fruit), he's become a fan favorite since. His popularity has a lot to do with his character design, which is at once utterly terrifying and totally unforgettable. He's a decisive highlight of the "Star Wars" prequels, and he ultimately became the blueprint for Zabraks and their subspecies.

As important as he's become to the franchise now, though, Maul's origins weren't auspicious.

Star Wars Insider is the go-to magazine for everything going on in a galaxy far, far away. For the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, the publisher is releasing a special edition issue out on October 29!

According to the official press release, "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The 25th Anniversary Special Edition recounts the behind-the-scenes story of the first chapter in the prequel trilogy from the unique vantage point of Star Wars Insider, as it followed the movie’s progress firsthand from pre-production to premiere.

With prequel updates from producer Rick McCallum, insights from writer and director George Lucas, and in-depth looks at the movie’s spectacular concept designs and visual effects, this official special edition takes you back in time to explore the making of the movie –as it happened.

Also included in this anniversary edition are on-set interviews with cast members Liam Neeson,...

Ray Park played the role of the Sith apprentice Darth Maul in 1999’s The Phantom Menace. Directed by George Lucas, the film serves as the first entry in the prequel trilogy of the Star Wars franchise. In the film, Maul proves to be a menacing threat that Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi eventually defeats.

Actor Ray Park played Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace (Credit: Lucasfilm).

However, the impact of Maul’s look on selling him as a real threat cannot be stated enough. Park made one addition to the character’s appearance, completing his monstrous look and truly making Maul one of the most fearsome villains in the galaxy far, far away. Here is how one detail added by Ray Park made Darth Maul even more menacing.

Ray Park Added One Detail That Made Star Wars Villain Darth Maul Look Like a Monster

The Phantom Menace introduced the villainous Darth...

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,...

Here’s the thing about Emperor Palpatine: somehow, he always returns. First, Ian McDiarmid donned old-age makeup to play the role of Star Wars’ arch-villain in 1983’s Return Of The Jedi. Then, he returned 16 years later to play Palpatine again in the prequel trilogy – this time as the politician who would become the Emperor. And in 2019’s The Rise Of Skywalker, he came back one last time as the rotting, reincarnated ruler, ready to emerge from the shadows and execute his plan once and for all. Palpatine’s resurrection in Episode IX was a controversial point for some fans – not just since Luke and Vader vanquished the Emperor together at the end of the original trilogy, but because the galaxy’s age-old enemy hadn’t featured in the other sequel trilogy films.

But to McDiarmid himself, it makes sense. Speaking to Empire in a major new interview – celebrating 25 years of...

Ever since he first popped up in Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Mace Windu has been one of the baddest motherfu- sorry, baddest Jedi Masters in the business. Quite literally, in fact – Samuel L. Jackson has the letters ‘Bmf’ etched into the hilt of the lightsaber he kept. And so, since we never actually saw him perish, there have long been rumours – and wishes from fans – that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t die in Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith. Sure, his hand was sliced off by Anakin, and he was seriously sizzled by Palpatine’s Force lightning before being flung from a window into the Coruscant sky. But in the Star Wars galaxy, is that really enough to kill the coolest Jedi?

Not according to Jackson. For the new issue of Empire – celebrating 25 years of the Star Wars prequels – we fired off a few questions about the galaxy far,...

With the arrival of Revenge Of The Sith, Hayden Christensen thought his time as Anakin Skywalker was over, having picked up the baton from Jake Lloyd and plunged the Jedi Knight into darkness. But as it turned out, he wasn’t done quite yet. In recent years, Christensen has returned to Star Wars on screen in Obi-Wan Kenobi and most recently in Ahsoka, once again portraying Anakin (and Vader) in fights, flashbacks, Force-fuelled visions and more. Most notably, in Ahsoka, he got to play a version of Anakin that he’d never played before: his Clone Wars incarnation, previously only seen in animated form (and voiced by Matt Lanter) in The Clone Wars series.

As Christensen tells Empire in a major new interview – for our Star Wars prequels 25th anniversary issue – getting to star in live-action opposite Anakin’s one-time Padawan Ahsoka Tano was a big deal. “The scenes that...

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is heading back to the big screen.

Per Empire, it has been announced that Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace will be released in theaters for a limited time, arriving on May 3, 2024, to kick off this year's May the Fourth weekend. Along with the announcement was the unveiling of a special poster created for the film's theatrical return, as designed by Matt Ferguson. It provides a peek at Padmé (Natalie Portman), Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as Darth Maul (Ray Park) watches on. The poster can be viewed below.

Related Gina Carano Sues Disney Over Star Wars Firing, Wants Mandalorian Role Back With the help of billionaire Elon Musk, Gina Carano is taking Disney and Lucasfilm to court over firing her from The Mandalorian.

The announcement comes as part of a 25th anniversary celebration for the...

The epic Darth Maul vs. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn duel. The thunderous Boonta Eve Podrace. The battle of Naboo. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is packed with moments best witnessed on the big screen, spooling back to the very beginning of the Skywalker Saga to depict Anakin Skywalker’s first encounter with the Jedi, the beginnings of the galactic civil war, and the menacing meddling of Palpatine. Well, good news: to mark 25 years since the film first hit cinemas in 1999, it’s coming back to cinemas later this year. Cue the fanfare!

This May the 4th weekend, The Phantom Menace will be re-released in cinemas for a limited time, meaning you can revisit all your favourite moments as large and loud as George Lucas intended. Not only that, but the release is accompanied by epic new poster art from Matt Ferguson – with Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon ready to head into battle,...

Talk about pressure. There are few villains in cinema as iconic as Darth Vader – recognisable from the briefest glimpse of his distinctive helmet, or the merest mechanical hiss of his respirator. So when Hayden Christensen signed on to play Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, he took on a formidable task: presenting the man behind the mask. Across Episode II – Attack Of The Clones and Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith, Christensen showed us how exactly how the galaxy’s brightest hope turned from the light and plunged into total darkness – and through that time, his own Star Wars experience was a mix of light and dark too. After weathering years of criticism, he’s now been wholeheartedly embraced by the fandom.

Speaking to Empire in a major new interview – and original photo shoot – for our 25th anniversary celebration of the prequel trilogy, Christensen opened up on his time in the galaxy far,...

Back in 1999, a brand new era in the galaxy far, far away came to life. George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels told an epic tale of fallen Jedi, forbidden romance, and the dismantling of democracy – assembling a whole new cast to inhabit his vast space-opera. The stars who entered that sandbox took a bold step, not only working at the frontier of digital filmmaking techniques, but conjuring a Star Wars saga that stood apart visually and tonally from the beloved originals. The likes of Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Liam Neeson and Ian McDiarmid became an entire generation’s set of Star Wars heroes (and villains) – and they all spoke to Empire for our epic new issue, celebrating 25 years of the trilogy.

For Ewan McGregor, the pressure of playing the young Obi-Wan Kenobi was eased by working alongside Liam Neeson – whose Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn suffers a noble end in...

The fall of Anakin Skywalker. The collapse of the Galactic Republic. The rise of Emperor Palpatine and creation of Darth Vader. It’s been 25 years since the Star Wars prequels changed everything – back in 1999, The Phantom Menace exploded into cinemas in an unprecedented cultural event. In its wake followed Attack Of The Clones and Revenge Of The Sith, unspooling George Lucas’ visionary, technically ambitious, and thematically-dense trilogy of tragedy. The reception at the time was unsteady; today, they’re hailed as a vital and beloved era of Star Wars history.

The new issue of Empire is an epic celebration of Episodes I, II, and III, revisiting the movies with the people who made them. Inside, we have brand new cast interviews, including major conversations – and exclusive photo shoots – with Anakin Skywalker himself, Hayden Christensen, and the one and only Emperor Palpatine, Ian McDiarmid; also speaking to Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman,...

The Nightsisters of Dathomir are the most important Force cult in the Star Wars galaxy, using dark side Force and dark magick, but not being Sith. The origins of the Nightsisters can be traced back to the 1994 Star Wars novel The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton. Katie Lucas, George Lucas' adopted daughter, played a significant role in expanding the Nightsister lore and bringing them to the screen in "The Clone Wars," making them more important than ever in the Star Wars franchise.

Ahsoka season 1 brought the Nightsisters of Dathomir to live-action, but their origins and their journey to Ahsoka shows that they are the most important Force cult in the Star Wars galaxy. The Nightsisters, also called the witches of Dathomir, were a group of female dark side Force users who resided on the planet Dathomir, a planet that has strong ties to the dark side. The Nightsisters...

It's fair to say that Padmé Amidala is one of the "Star Wars" saga's most underappreciated characters. She played something of a thankless role throughout the prequel trilogy; while she's probably known best as Anakin Skywalker's romantic foil, she was so much more in the grand scheme.

Much ink has been spilled on Padmé's importance to the Galactic Republic, especially in "Episode II — Attack of the Clones." It's her fierce independence and general aversion to authority that made her such a threat to then-chancellor Palpatine. Most of his dastardly plans include efforts to remove Padmé entirely from the equation, either through the invasion of Naboo in "The Phantom Menace," or through a handful of assassination attempts.

Fortunately, Padmé managed to stick around longer than anyone expected her to. Her presence was a welcome challenge to the tyranny of the fledgling Empire, but also to the prequels' overwhelmingly male ensemble.

Unearthed concept art for Star Wars: The Force Awakens reveals a stunning and unconventional version of Darth Vader that was never shown on screen. The concept art suggests a deeper connection between Darth Vader and Kylo Ren, with Vader's melted helmet symbolizing Ren's loyalty to the dark side. An alternate version of Anakin's ghost could have provided a more nuanced exploration of Kylo Ren's character and his fixation on becoming the next Vader, enhancing themes of legacy, redemption, and identity.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens has recently unveiled surprising details, sparking renewed interest among its audience. Unearthed concept art for the film has unveiled a stunning transformation of Darth Vader that was originally considered but never materialized on screen.

The recent Star Wars trilogy's concept art presents an unconventional look at Darth Vader. The idea, more intricate than what was eventually chosen, suggested a depiction of Vader's melted helmet.

Concept art reveals a scrapped idea of how Darth Vader could have appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, connecting his character to Kylo Ren's journey. The art depicts phases of Vader fading between Anakin and Vader, suggesting a deeper connection between the two characters. Anakin's Force ghost could have served as a guide for Kylo Ren's journey, reminding him of the cost of his obsession with becoming a new Vader.

Concept art from Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens reveals a new look at how Darth Vader could have appeared in the most recent Star Wars trilogy. The more complex idea was ultimately scrapped in favor of Darth Vader’s melted helmet, which Kylo Ren used to focus his feelings toward the dark side of the Force. The helmet was significant to Kylo Ren in a sentimental way, but Vader himself never really played a part...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Ahsoka episode 5, "Shadow Warrior."

Anakin Skywalker's return in Ahsoka brings a visually stunning portrayal of his dual identity as both Anakin and Darth Vader, with shifting shots and blended voices. The depiction of Anakin as a hybrid Force Ghost in Ahsoka is similar to unused concept art from The Force Awakens, showing his split nature between light and dark. The return of Anakin's character in Ahsoka opens up possibilities for future Star Wars projects, as there is both an appetite for more Hayden Christensen and a need to explore Anakin's legacy as both a hero and a villain.

Anakin Skywalker has returned in Ahsoka, but could Star Wars be going back to an older, bigger idea with Darth Vader? It had long been expected, and essentially an open secret, that Hayden Christensen would return as Anakin in Ahsoka, but few would’ve guessed exactly how it played out.

While Yoda may not be the main character in the Skywalker Saga, he's still one of the most recognizable characters in Star Wars. When he first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, he was a bit off-putting. His small stature and odd way of speaking weren't what Luke (or fans) expected from a legendary Jedi. Yet, he went on to make his mark on the fandom -- especially during the Prequels -- when he went toe-to-toe with Darth Sidious.

But even with the popularity surrounding the character, there was an air of mystery. George Lucas never revealed what species Yoda was, and fans will probably never get an answer to that question. Disney did introduce another of Yoda's kind, though. And since his debut on The Mandalorian, Grogu has become a hot topic, both in-universe and in the fandom. However, some causal Star Wars fans might forget that Star Wars...

You may be asking, what is Space Command?

It is a series of epic adventures set in a hopeful vision of the future. Thousands of fans funded our thrilling pilot, seen by fans around the world! Space Command’s cast is a Who’s Who of TV and film genre stars including: Doug Jones, Ethan McDowell, Bryan McClure, Mike Harney, Bruce Boxleitner, Bill Mumy, James Hong, Mira Furlan, Aaron Gaffey (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Katharine McEwan (Solitary) and John Hennigan. Post sound by David Bartlett (Speed), designs by Iain McCaig, edited by Dave Edison (Remember the Sultana). Music by David Raiklen and created by Star Trek writer Marc Scott Zicree. With special guests Joe Ochman (Star Wars Visions) and Ellen Dubin.

Space Command: Redemption, will have a panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 on Saturday July 22 at 11am and a screening at 3pm!

Space Command also set a record on Kickstarter and received worldwide press attention,...

If there's one thing the Naboo Queen-Senator Padmé Amidala has taught us in the "Star Wars" galaxy, you're not a true politician unless you're worthy of the fashion runway. Her iconic prequel trilogy wardrobe blazed a fashion trail for her fellow galactic politicians — and cosplayers at Star Wars Celebration.

"The Mandalorian" season 3 continues Padmé's fashionista legacy by introducing a regentess played by singer Lizzo (who herself graces the concert stage as a dancing and flute-playing fashion icon). In season 3, episode 6 "Guns for Hire," Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), his adorable foundling Grogu, and Lady Bo-Katan Kryze (Katee Sackhoff) venture to Plazir-15 where they are greeted by its lavish regents, the Duchess and Captain Bombardier (Jack Black). The Mandalorians — save for the enchanted Grogu — find themselves weirded out by the upper-crust atmosphere and out of place in their beskar armor.

If you were shocked by the "Star Wars" casting of Lizzo...

Tomorrow, "The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic (Volume One)" by Kristin Baver (with a foreword by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy) hits newsstands. "The High Republic" was unique among Disney's "Star Wars" publishing goals in that they brought in artists like Ian McCaig to do a blue sky development phase with a whole writing team. It's not something that's been done before, and this book documents a lot of the iteration and thought behind the visuals we've been seeing across the program. It was a useful tool to unite the writers and comic book artists into a single vision as they told their stories. It's also served to create a cohesion in design for readers, allowing us to have a unified view of what we were supposed to imagine in a universe as concerned with canon and accuracy as the entirety of "Star Wars."

For those who haven't read "The High Republic,...

As American Horror Stories, Marvel’s What…If?, and Star Wars: Visions have taught us, anthology shows can be a great format with which to experiment with storytelling styles or explore lesser visited corners of a popular universe. And after the success of its riveting anime anthology, the galaxy far, far away is back with more bitesize adventures. Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi promised to revisit the sometimes maligned Prequel Trilogy, and with the first six episodes out, it’s already proved to be a whistlestop of Lucas lore.

Whether it’s the adorable Baby Ahsoka or getting Liam Neeson back as Qui-Gon Jinn, Tales of the Jedi is a big win for this pseudo-prequel to The Clone Wars. And there’s one moment in particular that fans will be talking about long after they’ve finished these short films. The animated anthology brings back a forgotten prequels character…...

It's that time of the year when the most innocent corner of the house looks scary and if it does not, we go the extra mile to amp up the creepiness because it's finally Halloween. Adding to this buffet of scariness, the Star Wars franchise has unleashed its brand new cast of terrifying villains from its The High Republic multimedia initiative. All set to release in 2021, it will kickstart a storyline that'll take us to a beginning which is set even before the the Star Wars prequels and the Skywalker saga!

Star Wars: The High Republic will be released as a whole new line of adult novels, young adult novels, children's books and comics, which will narrate the story of the galaxy some 200 years ago before The Phantom Menace when everything was very different. The Sith Empire was defeated, The Jedi Order was thriving as the universal peacekeeping force, and...

Jedi Master Yoda, Star Wars’ favorite puppet and the character whose performance could have made or broken The Empire Strikes Back, has a long history. In the real world, he’s a pop culture legend. In the Star Wars saga, he’s a 900-year old font of wisdom, strongly devoted to the light side of the Force but sometimes short-sighted. He’s Star Wars incarnate–but does he need to be in every Star Wars story?

Now that the Skywalker Saga has come to an end on the big screen, the next big Star Wars story will take place on the page in the form of The High Republic, a new series set 200 years before the start of the film saga we know and love. The High Republic includes books and comics that follow Jedi who are at the height of their powers during a time of peace for the Republic.

This month on the Star Wars Blaster Canon podcast, we cover new Star Wars book announcements and discuss a lot of The High Republic‘s possible connections to the classic Expanded Universe. Plus, the return of The Clone Wars bears discussion as well.

Before we get into that, however, the beginning of the episode features a tribute to John Bierly, former Blaster Canon member, who passed away unexpectedly in late January. A passionate Star Wars fan, he made all of our podcasting journeys better.

News this month includes an announcement of The Rise of Skywalker comics adaptation and the 2020 toy line from Hasbro, Funko, and more. Paul has been to Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge and loved it. He gives us an inside look at the Rise of the Resistance ride, as well as some honest reviews of lightsabers and toys that may not be worth the money. In addition,...

A brand new era for Star Wars is on the horizon, and it may be bringing with it a brand new Baby Yoda. Recently, Lucasfilm dropped the veil of secrecy on what it had been calling "Project Luminous." We now know this to be The High Republic, a massive publishing initiative that will span multiple publishers and various mediums, telling stories approximately 200 years before the events of the prequel trilogy. And the trailer for the initiative includes what looks to be a different, young specimen from the same species as Yoda.

The Star Wars: High Republic trailer contains a wealth of information detailing what will be happening in The High Republic era. It's a lot to process, which means it's easy to miss things. At around the 2:32 mark, we see legendary Star Wars artist Iain McCaig, the man responsible for Darth Maul, showing off some of the sketches he's cooked up.

Lucasfilm has revealed a new trailer for Star Wars: The High Republic publishing campaign. This was revealed to be the mysterious Project Luminous we had been hearing about. What fans will be getting is a massive publishing initiative spread across various publishers, in various mediums, delivering brand new stories in uncharted territory in a galaxy far, far away. The trailer reveals just how massive this initiative is, and just how much thought and time went into making it a reality.

The trailer opens up with massive, sweeping shots of Coruscant and other parts of the galaxy. Things look prosperous. Shots from the prequels are mixed in, but this takes place about 200 years before the events of The Phantom Menace, so this is going pretty far back in the timeline to an area that hasn't been explored much. The Project Luminous trailer showcases the following text, setting up what's to come.

Lucasfilm finally unveiled Project Luminous yesterday as a publishing initiative called Star Wars: The High Republic, with all-new stories and characters in the galaxy set some 200 years before the events of the Prequel Trilogy.

After The Rise of Skywalker brought the saga to an end, be it an unsatisfying end that left much to be desired, fans were eager to know what was next for the world of a galaxy far, far away. The epic fictional universe that George Lucas created all the way back in the 80s is currently undergoing an overhaul, especially since Disney’s Sequel Trilogy didn’t do much to boost the franchise’s popularity. Now, the Mouse House has to reinvent the formula to keep the legacy alive.

As such, Lucasfilm brought together writers and creators of all kinds with a shared passion for Star Wars to create a new cohesive narrative. The High Republic,...

Ever since the Skywalker saga wrapped up in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019, there's been one question on every Star Wars fan's minds: where will Disney and Lucasfilm take the franchise next? Well, the wait is finally over, with the latter releasing a trailer for the publishing campaign, Star Wars: The High Republic, that put a lot of burning questions to rest.

The trailer begins with the words "hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga . . ." flashing on the screen. It instantly confirms that the next installment of the Star Wars canon will be completely different from what we've seen since Disney took over the franchise back in 2012. This, in itself, is huge news for true Star Wars devotees, as Disney's Star Wars has focussed solely on the Skywalker era, and The High Republic appears to stray toward canon outside of the nine episode films - and perhaps...

Megan Crouse Dec 18, 2019

A return to the Death Star has been in the works since the concept stage of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The trailers for The Rise of Skywalker reveal a lot and nothing at all. The central conflict is still a mystery, although we know Jedi trainee Rey will to go-to-toe with the evil Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, ending her story as it began: among the wreckage of the previous generation’s wars. As revealed in the movie's very first trailer, Rey, Finn, and Poe have to return to the ruins of the Death Star, which now floats over icy blue water on an undisclosed planet.

"It felt like going into the haunted house, the place that you have to go to," director J.J. Abrams told EW regarding the return of the Death Star. “This is a story of people having to grapple with the burden the...

Darth Maul has to be one of the best-designed creations in the whole Star Wars franchise. The character’s unique look is a large part of why he made such an impact on fans, despite being killed off in The Phantom Menace, with his popularity such that he later played a major role in The Clone Wars and Rebels animated series as well as having a surprise cameo in Solo. Who knows what would have happened if the original design for the villain had been used, though.

StarWars.com has shared an extensive oral history of the franchise, which includes comments from concept artist Iain McCaig. He recalled that Maul was described in the script for Episode I as “a vision from your worst nightmare” and McCaig drew from his own fears as he came up with how Maul should look. The result was something so disturbing that George Lucas was horror-stricken upon seeing it.

Though Episode IX will soon demand a marketing push of its own, Disney currently has all hands at the pump in anticipation of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the lavish theme park attraction that’s said to blast visitors into that famous galaxy far, far away for a full 28 minutes.

A late 2019 launch is on the cards, and while the Powers That Be are keeping things under wraps for the time being, a new post over on StarWars.com (h/t Cbm) offers some insight into the Galaxy’s Edge attraction, courtesy of writer Ethan Sacks.

He’s the brains behind the five-issue Galaxy’s Edge comic, which shares some connective tissue with the Disney ride in that it’s largely set in Black Spire Outpost, the planet’s largest settlement and “an infamous stop for traders, adventurers, and smugglers traveling around the Outer Rim and Wild Space.”

Alongside the interview,...