Star Wars: The case for a Darth Vader Disney+ sequence

Lucasfilm’s Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ sequence has wrapped its six-episode run and put the titular Jedi Grasp on yet another collision course with the galactic horseman of the apocalypse that’s Darth Vader. Half VI of the sequence fittingly ended the sequence on a dramatic, emotional, and cathartic shut between the 2 earlier than their remaining bout in A New Hope. However, how well-orchestrated their final combat in Obi-Wan Kenobi was might be telling for a Star Wars present centered on the Sith Lord’s exploits.

How Disney was surprisingly keen to point out Vader’s unfiltered rage and the visceral momentum of the armor-clad villain in motion might be an incredible alternative for Lucasfilm to point out a solo sequence that reveals a aspect of the Power that hasn’t been explored too deeply on-screen.

The Nice Jedi Purge

There’s lots that Lucasfilm can do with the huge Star Wars timeline, and whereas creating a Darth Vader-led TV sequence would admittedly proceed beating the lifeless horse that’s the gaps between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, it will even be an thrilling option to embrace a bit extra of the Darkish Facet of the Power. Vader has lengthy since transcended popular culture media to turn out to be one of the iconic villains ever, and a present with him as an unconventional protagonist can be — in a manner — an thrilling “new” spin on what the studio sometimes develops with the IP.

With Obi-Wan Kenobi going down 10 years after the occasions of RotS and ANH going down one other 9 years after that, a hypothetical Darth Vader Star Wars sequence might place itself on both aspect of the present however have the ability to use the identical core premise. After the Empire established its galaxy-wide vice grip and enacted Order 66, it formally ushered within the age of the Nice Jedi Purge, with none aside from Vader main the hunt.

Whether or not it’s the 9 years earlier than or the 9 years after the freshly concluded sequence, there are many gritty exploits to jot down for the villain. Supplemental supplies within the Star Wars franchise have firmly established that there have been simply sufficient Jedi runaways following Order 66 to generate compelling storylines, making it not that farfetched to have the ability to try this once more inside the context of a TV sequence.

One of many stunning issues about Darth Vader’s position in Obi-Wan Kenobi was how far Disney was keen to point out the Sith Lord fairly actually stroll down the road killing individuals in essentially the most brutal methods. Whereas a complete present couldn’t — or shouldn’t — be pure violence for the sake of shock worth, it did present audiences that Lucasfilm may need extra artistic wiggle room in depicting an outright villain than we’d suppose.

Equally, gone are the times of the stiff expertise required for Vader’s swimsuit on set, as Hayden Christensen did an distinctive job portraying how bodily and kinetic the villain is in fight. Kudos particularly go to Christensen and the motion choreographers within the climactic combat in Half VI, which showcased the fallen Jedi in all his horrible glory.

On a extra nuanced stage, and significantly in scenes with Obi-Wan, Darth Vader’s darker psychology was fleshed out extra in live-action because the authentic trilogy. In Obi-Wan Kenobi, Vader was maybe essentially the most vengeful and emotionally susceptible we’ve ever seen him, and it might make for compelling serialized storytelling to provide audiences a better take a look at the cracks that will ultimately result in his break and redemption in Return of the Jedi.

Vader’s remaining scene in Obi-Wan Kenobi with Emperor Palpatine prompt this much more clearly, with the previous exhibiting his feelings turn out to be more and more extra unstable even by Sith requirements, whereas the latter outright suggests he is perhaps unfit for obligation due to this. It’s a small signal, however it will develop 19 years later when he lastly destroyed the Emperor (or so we thought) and redeemed himself in his son’s eyes.

Marvel’s Darth Vader comedian books

Coincidentally sufficient, comedian books are one other viable supply of reference materials for a way efficient a narrative like this might be. Completed business writers like Kieron Gillen (The Depraved + The Divine, Uncanny X-Males), Greg Pak (X-Males, Planet Hulk), and Charles Soule (Daredevil, Star Wars: Gentle of the Jedi) have lent their abilities to runs on Marvel Comics’ Darth Vader comedian books, with every offering one thing attention-grabbing to say psychologically in regards to the character together with compelling story arcs and conflicts.

And with Soule specifically, he not too long ago revealed that he’s now formally a Inventive Advisor for Lucasfilm. If not being put instantly in a writers’ room for a Darth Vader Disney+ sequence, his artistic steerage, given his hands-on expertise writing the character in comics, might show precious in translating this success from the web page to the display screen.

After all, an admitted problem to this might be to not be by-product of what Soule, Gillen, and extra’s comics already instructed. The aforementioned gaps each earlier than and after Obi-Wan Kenobi might maybe give room for an authentic story, however another choice might be (partially) adapting the comedian e-book supply materials.

Marvel’s present line of Star Wars comics since Disney acquired George Lucas’ IP are firmly canon to the primary timeline, so whereas breaking canon would moderately be out of the query, weaving authentic tales with diversifications of moments from the comics might concurrently justify a Vader sequence whereas respecting the varied comedian e-book writers’ printed work.

Dave Filoni spearheading animation

One different or compromise over live-action — and one which may show simpler to get greenlit — is to make an animated Darth Vader sequence. Most people expectedly thinks of Star Wars as a primarily live-action and theatrical franchise, however the likes of Dave Filoni planted their flag on the sci-fi fantasy epic with beloved reveals like The Clone Wars and Rebels.

These reveals have been credited with retroactively offering the prequel trilogy with much-needed context and complementary tales which have helped contribute to the flicks’ resurgence in recognition. Darth Vader himself featured in Rebels and was simply as imposing a determine as followers would anticipate from him in live-action.

Filoni’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed, as he’s since taken up the next position inside Lucasfilm and had artistic route in Disney+’s acclaimed The Mandalorian and can have a hand alongside Jon Favreau in 2023’s Ahsoka sequence.

So far as the voice behind the masks goes, as nice as it will be to have Christensen proceed his comeback and get extra of these transient but gripping scenes exterior the helmet, actor Matt Lanter has greater than confirmed his mettle within the recording studio and has turn out to be a fan-favorite for Anakin Skywalker’s portrayal in The Clone Wars.

Sooner or later, rising previous the Skywalker legacy shall be in Lucasfilm’s finest curiosity to take Star Wars ahead. Nevertheless, within the meantime, embracing the Darkish Facet of the Power with Darth Vader is perhaps yet another option to make the saga value revisiting.

All six episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi can be found to stream now on Disney+. To search out out about extra content material to look at on the app, take a  take a look at our listing of what’s new on Disney+.

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