Star Wars: 20 Things You Didn't Know About The Empire Strikes Back

14. Darth Vader Wasn't Originally Luke's Father

Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Darth Vader
Lucasfilm

Another vital Star Wars figure who doesn't get nearly enough credit is Leigh Brackett, who wrote the original draft for The Empire Strikes Back.

Though Lucas was actually disappointed with her draft, it nevertheless bore a strong resemblance to the final script, which was subsequently worked on by Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan after Brackett's untimely death from cancer.

But in Brackett's draft, Darth Vader wasn't in fact Luke's (Mark Hamill) father, with Anakin Skywalker instead being a Force spirit who would train Luke.

Only in later drafts were these attributes split between Yoda and Obi-Wan, and the shock parentage twist added.

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