10 Biggest Plot Twists In Star Wars History

Arguably the biggest plot twist in cinema history, the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father shook the foundations of the burgeoning franchise to its core, whilst cementing Star Wars' place in popular culture, where it still remains today.

The twist was so shocking, that both George Lucas and The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner agreed to keep the plot point completely hidden from everyone, including virtually every member of the film's cast and crew. In order to keep the reveal a secret, a false page was put into the script, which would have seen Darth Vader declaring that Obi-Wan had killed Luke's father.

However, the twist was quietly revealed to Mark Hamill during the shooting of the scene to ensure the actor could elicit an appropriate reaction to the revelation. In a 2017 interview with Graham Norton, Hamill stated that, "He [Kershner] handed me the piece of paper that said 'I am your father'. I was shocked, I said is that true? Oh my gosh, Dad Vader!"

Luckily, the revelation was kept a secret right up until The Empire Strikes Back's release in 1980, and so by the end of the film, the cast were just as stunned as audiences all over the world were.