• Home
  • Mail
  • News
  • Finance
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Search
  • Mobile
  • More
Yahoo
    • Skip to Navigation
    • Skip to Main Content
    • Skip to Related Content
    • Mail
    Entertainment Home
    Follow Us
    • The It List
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Celebrity
    • Music
    • Live Celeb Chats
    • Videos

    Lucasfilm expert Phil Szostak debunks long-standing 'Star Wars' myths

    Tom Butler
    Senior Editor
    Yahoo Movies UKAugust 13, 2019
    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share
    British actors Anthony Daniels, Alec Guinness and American Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
    View photos
    Anthony Daniels, Alec Guinness and Mark Hamill on the set of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope written, directed and produced by Georges Lucas. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

    When it comes to the original Star Wars trilogy, it can often feel like there’s very little left to learn about the production of the three films masterminded by George Lucas.

    There are countless books and documentaries - some official, many unofficial - on the genesis of 1977’s A New Hope, 1980’s Empire Strikes Back, and 1983’s Return of the Jedi, that cover every aspect of the productions in exhaustive detail.

    However, as Lucasfilm creative art manager Phil Szostak has been proving on his Twitter account, many Star Wars details that we take as “facts” are actually untrue: many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

    As master Yoda advises: sometimes we must unlearn what we have learned.

    For example: There’s an oft-repeated story that the name Darth Vader was chosen by George Lucas because it means “Dark Father” in German (or sometimes Dutch), foreshadowing the revelations on Bespin in Episode V.

    As the author of The Art of Star Wars book series explains below, this “fact” is actually total nonsense.

    Star Wars Mythbusters
    Darth Vader is from the German (or Dutch) for “Dark Father”
    1. “General Vader/Imperial Commander” appears on an early-1974 list of potential character names by George Lucas
    (screenshots from @jwrinzler’s essential Making of #StarWars book series) pic.twitter.com/G1ohdTQLjI

    — Phil Szostak (@PhilSzostak) August 3, 2019

    2. “Darth Vader, a tall, grim-looking general” appears in the May 1974 The #StarWars rough draft
    3. Darth Vader is not Luke Skywalker’s father until the April 1, 1978 second draft of #EmpireStrikesBack
    4. “Darth” doesn’t mean anything in Dutch or German
    MYTH BUSTED pic.twitter.com/UaxMKKMwtK

    — Phil Szostak (@PhilSzostak) August 3, 2019

    Since 3 August, Szostak has been updating a Twitter thread of linked messages on the shared theme of “Star Wars Mythbusters”, covering a wide range of long-standing misconceptions about the original trilogy.

    Read more: George Lucas reveals favourite Star Wars character

    The author, whose next book The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will be released on 20 December, has tackled a wide range of topics including the origin of Chewbacca’s name (it’s not Russian), the reason for Mark Hamill’s facial scarring in Empire Strikes Back (it really was written in following the actor’s car crash), and he’s cleared up whether the Millennium Falcon was designed to look like a half-eaten burger (it wasn’t).

    British actor Alec Guinness with American director, screenwriter and producer George Lucas on the set of his movie Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
    View photos
    Alec Guinness with director, screenwriter and producer George Lucas on the set of his movie Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

    However our favourite revelation confirms that George Lucas really was making up the original trilogy as he went along, and the idea that the filmmaker had the arc of the three films (or even nine) mapped out in detail, just isn’t true. The whole Vader is Luke’s father plot point was never part of the original story.

    In 1977’s Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alec Guinness) tells Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) that Darth Vader “betrayed and murdered” his father Anakin. However, in 1980’s Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader reveals to Luke that he is Anakin.

    Star Wars Mythbusters
    At the time of #StarWars’ release in 1977, Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t lying to Luke Skywalker about his father because Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader were different people pic.twitter.com/K2Y1guLEg4

    — Phil Szostak (@PhilSzostak) August 12, 2019

    In 1983’s Return of the Jedi Obi-Wan’s Force ghost retcons the original lie telling Luke: “Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man who was your father was destroyed. So what I told you was true, from a certain point of view.”

    Read more: Everything we know about Star Wars 9

    But, according to Szostak, despite Guinness’ measured performance that suggests a hint of hesitation before Obi-Wan tells the “lie”, when that scene on Tatooine was filmed in 1976, Anakin Skywalker really HAD been murdered by Darth Vader, because they were two different people at the time.

    1. In the August 1975 third draft of “The #StarWars”, Kenobi explains to Luke Starkiller that his father Annikin was killed at the “Battle of Condawn”.
    2. The backstory to Lucas’ January 1978 fourth draft is “about Ben & Luke’s father & Vader, when they are young Jedi Knights”. pic.twitter.com/cMWwESZsxY

    — Phil Szostak (@PhilSzostak) August 12, 2019

    3. In August 1977, after the release of #StarWars, Lucas stated that Vader massacred the Jedi but Kenobi and Luke’s father Annikin survived.
    4. Darth Vader wasn’t Luke’s father until the second draft of #EmpireStrikesBack in April 1978.
    MYTH CONFIRMED pic.twitter.com/kerSMZFgTG

    — Phil Szostak (@PhilSzostak) August 12, 2019

    As Szostak explains, it was only in April 1978 - a year after the first film’s release - while Lucas was writing the second draft of the script that would eventually become Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, that Vader and Anakin became the same person.

    So what Obi-Wan told Luke about his father on Tatooine was objectively true... until the certain point of view was changed later on.

    "Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view" - Obi-Wan was right all along.

    Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the culmination of the nine-film Skywalker saga, hits U.K. cinemas on 19 December.

    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share

    What to Read Next

    • Olivia Culpo Does Lingerie & That Totally Useless See-Through Layer: See The Sexy Snaps

      TheBlast
    • Leonardo DiCaprio, 45, Parties 'Til 6 A.M.' With 24-Year-Old Kendall Jenner

      TheBlast
    • Simon Cowell Lawyers Up From Abroad as ‘America’s Got Talent’ Investigation Begins (EXCLUSIVE)

      Variety
    • Paris Hilton says she wouldn't be shamed for her sex tape in #MeToo era

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Abandoned 5-Year-Old Carries Toddler in Extreme Cold After Adult Allegedly Left Them in Home

      People
    • Nick Cannon Responds To Eminem's Mariah Carey Diss: 'Let’s Wild Out Marshal!'

      TheBlast
    • 'SNL': Jimmy Fallon, Paul Rudd & James Corden Come Together to Mock Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump

      Entertainment Tonight
    • Harrowing Video Shows 16-Year-Old Boy's Last Moments Before Dying from the Flu While in Custody

      People
    • Owen Wilson Is Paying Child Support For A Child He Has Never Laid Eyes On! Find Out How Much

      TheBlast
    • Miss Universe's First Openly Gay Contestant Came Out Days Ago: 'I Just Started a New Chapter'

      People
    • 'Counting On' Star Jinger Duggar Loses Partnership With Los Angeles Donut Company: 'We Made a Mistake'

      TheBlast
    • Saturday Night Live recap: Jennifer Lopez is seeing green in that iconic Versace dress for third hosting gig

      Entertainment Weekly
    • Julia Louis-Dreyfus Looks Back on Her ‘Miserable’ Time at ‘SNL’ in the 1980s: ‘I Was Unbelievably Naive’

      The Wrap
    • ‘Saturday Night Live’ Offers Prayers for Trump (Watch)

      Variety
    • Ashley Graham Talks Sex While Pregnant: 'This Has to Be a Normal Conversation Among Mothers'

      People
    • Trump Health Official Wanted Taxpayers to Reimburse Her For Stolen Jewelry, Including an Ivanka Trump-Brand Pendant

      Rolling Stone

    Trump impeachment: More than 600 law academics conclude there is 'overwhelming evidence' for president's removal

    P: 600 law professionals say the evidence is overwhelming, yet Trump supporters believe they know more, while still struggling with the correct use of their, they're, and there.

    Join the Conversation
    1 / 5

    732

    • 'Meet Me in St. Louis' star Margaret O'Brien reveals how she was targeted in bizarre murder plot on set of Judy Garland holiday classic

      Yahoo Movies
    • Jillian Michaels warns of 'glamorizing' obesity: 'We’re politically correct to the point of endangering people'

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Justin Timberlake Spotted In Public For First Time Since His Apology To Jessica Biel

      TheBlast
    • When You Can't Find Work, Reach Out to Friends, Right? Not Exactly: Will Smith Reacts to Mena Massoud Comments

      TheBlast
    • Kelly Clarkson admits she thought 'From Justin to Kelly' would ruin her career

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Terrifying rumors about white vans are circulating Facebook. What’s behind them?

      Yahoo Movies
    • Alex Trebek shades terribly boring ‘Jeopardy!’ game: ‘Not a big winner’

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Kim Kardashian Goes Next-Level With Dinosaur-Themed Birthday Party for Saint: See the Pics

      Entertainment Tonight
    • Victoria Beckham shows off figure in workout photo

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • John Oliver says Trump is 'just absolutely right' about paper ballots

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Mario Lopez: It's 'dangerous' for parents to support transgender kids

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • Barack Michelle Obama Just Bought a $11.75M, 7-Bedroom Martha's Vineyard Estate: Reports

      People
    • Trans teen Jazz Jennings rocks one-piece swimsuit for first time after gender confirmation surgery

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • 'The Mandalorian' (and Baby Yoda) revisits iconic 'Star Wars' planet and Twitter is loving it

      Yahoo TV
    • Snooki says drama, death threats are behind her 'retiring' from 'Jersey Shore'

      Yahoo TV
    • 'Shark Tank' star Kevin O'Leary involved in fatal boat crash

      Yahoo Entertainment