3 deleted scenes that would have changed the story of Darth Vader's creation
I think, they see something in you, they fear!
Anakin Skywalker’s switch to the dark side and his transformation into Darth Vader are probably the most decisive key moments in the entire Star Wars epic. The biggest factor is the loss he fears for his beloved, secretly married wife Padmé Amidala. Fuelled by his fears of loss, the young Jedi has recurring nightmares with a clear message: Padmé will die giving birth to their children! Anakin had recently lost his mother and was tormented by constant feelings of guilt that he had not been there enough for her. This time, the young Jedi wanted to do everything right. He did not want to lose his beloved wife, who was expecting his children. Palpatine capitalised on the young Skywalker’s fears of loss and drew him to the dark side of the Force with precisely these fears, subsequently making him his right-hand man.
The Emperor was very skilful and cunning in his plan to win Anakin, who had a glorious future ahead of him due to his gifts and talents, to the dark side. He insisted that Anakin would become his bodyguard and from this point onwards he began to exploit Anakin’s fear of loss and subsequently manipulate him to win him over to the dark side.
Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?
No.
I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. Darth Plagueis... was a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and so wise, he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians... to create... life. He had such a knowledge of the dark side, he could even keep the ones he cared about... from dying.
He could actually... save people from death?
The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities... some consider to be unnatural.
Wh– What happened to him?
He became so powerful, the only thing he was afraid of was... losing his power. Which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew. Then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. It's ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself.
Is it possible to learn this power?
Not from a Jedi.
This dialogue is the foundation that Palpatine laid in the film Star Wars Episode 3 to win Anakin over to the dark side.
The original script of the film Star Wars Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith shows excerpts in which Palpatine, who later proclaims himself Emperor, is said to have manipulated the young Anakin even more perfidiously. This should even have gone so far that Anakin should have killed Padmé in order to gain unrivalled power. But first things first. Let’s take a look at the archive of deleted scenes from Star Wars Episode 3 and discuss together which essential scenes were removed that would have drastically changed the transformation to Darth Vader.
Extended scene: personal assistant
The first scene that would have brought about a fundamental change in the transformation of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader is an extended scene where Chancellor Palpatine and the young Skywalker are in his office when Chancellor Palpatine says the following to Anakin:
Anakin, I've known you since you were a small boy. I have advised you over the years when I could ... I am very proud of your accomplishments. You have won many battles the Jedi Council thought were lost . . . and you saved my life. I hope you trust me, Anakin.
Palpatine took on a so-called father role for Anakin, who had grown up without a father and was proud of his son. By recognising and praising the young Skywalker’s accomplishments, the Chancellor did exactly the opposite of what the Jedi did. The Jedi condemned Anakin’s actions and questioned them again and again. The Chancellor, on the other hand, used this to his advantage and manipulated the young Skywalker by using this aspect to his advantage.
It is upsetting to me to see that the Council doesn't seem to fully appreciate your talents. Don't you wonder why they won't make you a Jedi Master?
I think my time will come. When I am older and I suppose whiser.
Age is not a good measure of ability, Anakin. I think, they see something in you they fear! They see your future. They know your power will be too strong to control. They see you as a thrett. I hope you trust me Anakin.
Of cause.
Everything the Chancellor says to Anakin in this conversation is the truth – and Anakin knows it. This makes the easily manipulated Jedi believe that Chancellor Palpatine is the only person the future Darth Vader can trust!
Deleted scene: Playing off against Padmé Amidala
The second scene I’ve picked out for you takes place directly after the scene where Anakin Skywalker and his master Obi Wan Kenobi say goodbye, as the Jedi Master Obi Wan goes in search of General Greves. (This scene, by the way, is the last time pupil and master see each other as good friends. In their next encounter on Mustava, the two of them face off as Sith versus Jedi!
But now let’s get back to the deleted scene:
Palpatine has just arrived back on Mustava when he orders his bodyguards to leave young Skywalker and himself alone so the two can discuss something ‘private’.
The Chancellor had actually foreseen that Anakin Skywalker would be sent out to fight General Greeves. The Jedi Council, however, decided to man the master of the talented Skywalker with the task of searching for General Greeves. This naturally caused frustration in Anakin, as on the one hand he felt frustrated at having to carry out the mission that was actually intended for him. On the other hand, the young Jedi was tormented by slight feelings of guilt, as in his eyes he should at least provide his master with support and help!
Here too, the later Emperor uses this moment of Anakin’s anger and confusion to bring the young Skywalker even closer to the dark side.
There are rumors in the Senate about Master Kenobi. Many believe he is not fit for this assignment.
With this statement, the Chancellor not only wants to weaken Anakin’s faith and goodwill towards his Master. He goes so far as to turn two friends, who are there for each other like brothers, against each other and set them against each other!
There are rumors in the Senate about Master Kenobi. Many believe he is not fit for this assignment.
Not fit? Why would anyone think that?
They say his mind has become fogged by the influence of a certain female Senator.
That's ridiculous. Who?!?
(slyly) No one knows who she is ... only that she is a Senator.
That's impossible. I would know!
Sometimes the closest are the ones who cannot see.
Anakin becomes worried.
(continuing) Idle Senate gossip is rarely true and never accurate. I'm sure your Master will do fine.
Of course, we all know that the future Emperor is alluding to Anakin’s secretly married wife Padmé Amidala. With this statement, Palpatine wants Anakin to believe that his master and friend is cheating on his beloved wife Padme or that he is making advances to her! Anakin rejects this wild accusation with a certain uncertainty but determination. But Palpatine only tells him that sometimes those we think are closest to us are the ones we don’t see.
The scene would have ended with the young Skywalker terrified, and his worst nightmare would have followed: He sees Padmé dying in front of him. And according to the script, this scene should have been followed by the scene where the future Lord Vader sits in Padmé’s private apartment and asks her: ‘Obi Wan’s been here, wasn’t he?’
This question about Obi Wan Kenobi would have given the deleted scene even more meaning. It would have made Anakin’s hatred of his master Obi Wan Kenobi at the end of the film even more understandable. In my opinion, the scene would also have increased the tension of the film enormously once again.
"You Must trust me, to do the right things!"
After Chancellor Palpatine took control of the Jedi Order, there should have been a separate subplot in the original version of the third part of the prequil triology <link>, in which some senators, including Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Padmé Amidala, would join forces to stop Chancellor Palpatine from dismantling democracy. They would have formed a secret organisation, which would later become the Rebel Alliance. The fact that Padmé Amidala would have been involved in the formation of the Rebel Alliance would have made the parallel with Laya Organa as its leader even more interesting in our eyes. It would also have bridged the gap between Prequil and Classic Tribology even more. The reason we list this scene is because in this deleted sequence from the third instalment of the Prequil Triology, Anakin has once again been manipulated by Chancellor Palpatine.
The scene begins with Padmé Amidala and other members of the Senate sitting in Chancellor Palpatine’s office and confronting the Chancellor. Anakin, Padmé’s husband and Chancellor Palpatine’s bodyguard, stands slightly apart in this scene and observes what is happening. In fact, the scene has parallels with the scene from Star Wars Episode 6 when Luke Skywalker attacks the Emperor in the final battle on the Death Star. Here Darth vader also stands at Palpatien’s right side.
Palpatine rebuffs the delegation by saying the following to Padmé Amidala:
You must trust me to do the right things, Senator. That is why I am here.
But surely . . .
The Chancellor turns on FANG ZAR.
I have said I will do what is right, that should be enough for your . . . committee
As Padmé and the others leave the Chancellor’s chambers, the future Emperor and the antagonist known in the future as Darth Vader have another conversation about how the previous interlocutors are not to be trusted. Especially Padmé Amidala!
These are unstable times for the Republic, Anakin. Some see instability as an opportunity. Senator Amidala is hiding something. I can see it in her eyes.
I'm sure you're mistaken.
I'm surprised your Jedi insights are not more sensitive to such things.
I simply don't sense betrayal in Senator Amidala.
Palpatine eyes Anakin attentively and gives him a sceptical look.
Yes, you do, but you don't seem to want to admit it. There is much conflict in you, Anakin
What the later Emperor planned with these statements in mind is unclear. As we see here again, this is part of the original script for Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith
The removed scenes involving Darth Vader would have made the final battle between Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker even more emotionally charged. In the original version of the script for the 3rd film of the Prequel Triology, Anakin assumed that his former friend and master Obi Wan Kenobi was having an affair with his wife during the final battle. This deleted subplot would have added even more emotion and tension to the final showdown between Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, as the creator of the Prequil lightsaber battles, Nick Gillan, said in an interview
"I didn´t write it like a hustbend and a wife having a fight. Anakin thinks Obi is having an affair at this point. So he is already gon tot he dark side!“
All of Palpatine’s lies and deceptions come together in this final showdown of the Prequil Triology as master and apprentice engage in a battle for life and death on Mustava. A battle between light and dark, friend versus foe, Jedi versus Sith! All of Palpatine’s deceptions are reflected in this battle. And with these 3 deleted scenes, the plot about the transformation from a sincere Jedi to a cold-blooded killing machine and the most iconic pop figure of the entire film and comic business would have changed even more drastically.
But what do you think of these scenes? Do you think they should have been in the film? How did you like the manipulation of Palpatine?
Let us know in the comments in the comments | !
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