10 Alternate Star Wars Movie Scenes We Almost Got To See

4. Luke Goes Full Vader - Return Of The Jedi

rise of skywalker rey
Lucasfilm

It's genuinely hard to imagine a world where Luke, Leia, Han, and the gang don't all succeed in bringing down the villainous Empire, ending the first set of Star Wars features on the mother of all high notes. But, believe or not, that world wasn't as far away as many like to assume.

Long before Luke took off his father's mask and fans witnessed the satisfying redemption of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader as Return of the Jedi drew to a close, George Lucas once pitched a twist so shocking that it made "I am your father" look like the reveal of who actually stole your sandwich from the fridge.

As Lucas' co-writer Lawrence Kasdan revealed years later, Lucas explained to him, "Luke takes his mask off. The mask is the very last thing - and then Luke puts it on and says, 'Now I am Vader'. Surprise! The ultimate twist. 'Now I will go and kill the Rebel fleet and I will rule the universe'."

Hilariously, Kasdan completely agreed that was the way to go too, but Lucas was quick to back up, reminding his colleague that the film was "for kids", after all.

To be a fly on the wall in that alternate universe...

 
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Lifts rubber and metal. Watches people flip in spandex and pretends to be other individuals from time to time...