Though the time period prequel is comparatively new, the idea has existed in tales lengthy earlier than filmmaker George Lucas made 1999’s “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” In essence, the concept of a sequel to a movie that was made after the actual fact however takes place earlier than the film it is a sequel to is inherently recontextualizing. Utilizing “Star Wars” for instance: when the unique trilogy was launched from 1977 to 1983, everybody who noticed them would inform you that Luke Skywalker was the protagonist of the saga. As soon as Lucas had completed his prequel trilogy after 2005, one might’ve argued that your entire sequence was really about Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader, together with his son Luke merely taking up the hero duties within the latter three movies. Now, after the shut of the sequel trilogy of “Star Wars” movies from 2015 to 2019, the movies have been collectively rebranded “The Skywalker Saga,” as every trilogy focuses on a distinct character bearing the title of Skywalker.

Despite the fact that critics of the movies complain that the films are far too centered on a bloodline, it behooves me to level out that Rey is a Skywalker by selection, not by beginning. This notion of a serious character selecting to tackle the legacy of a reputation identified all through the galaxy is, because it seems, not a brand new one for the sequence. Lengthy earlier than J.J. Abrams made “Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker,” Lucas had been pondering a name-swap switcheroo whereas making “The Phantom Menace.” As was initially conceived, the movie’s youthful Jedi (performed by Ewan McGregor) would’ve been named Qui-Gon Jinn, and the older Jedi (performed by Liam Neeson) would’ve been known as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Basically, the film would’ve been an identical to the movie we ended up getting, but this wild twist would’ve had giant ripples all through the following two films and, by implication, the unique trilogy, too, emphasizing one of many saga’s main themes of the highway to the Darkish Facet being paved with good intentions.

Throughout a current interview with Lucasfilm storyboard and idea artist Ian McCaig (by way of Selection), discussing the twenty fifth anniversary of “The Phantom Menace,” McCaig mentioned how Lucas’ authentic idea for the Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan switcheroo was to happen, in addition to what line of dialogue from the unique “Star Wars” (wherein Obi-Wan was performed by Alec Guinness) would’ve been instantly impacted on account of the twist:

“For a time, the older Jedi was named Obi-Wan and the youthful Jedi was named Qui-Gon. It was very poignant that on the finish, as Obi-Wan dies and Qui-Gon defeats Darth Maul and stays together with his Grasp as he passes away, he not solely takes on his Grasp’s quest, however he takes on his title. Qui-Gon turns into Obi-Wan. That is why if you see Alec Guinness in ‘A New Hope,’ he places his hood down and goes, ‘Obi-Wan? Now that is a reputation I’ve not heard …’ As a result of he isn’t Obi-Wan, he is Qui-Gon. And proper on the finish, George modified it.”

It is easy to grasp why Lucas modified his thoughts about this, as ditching the title change streamlines and simplifies the story; the filmmaker has lengthy maintained that the “Star Wars” films are meant for youngsters. Maybe Lucas was feeling some strain (both internally or externally) to fulfill expectations with the movie, and realizing that the “I’m your father” twist from “The Empire Strikes Again” had helped make that film such a phenomenon, he thought a giant twist wanted to be included. Dropping this twist would additionally permit Lucas to incorporate extra of his concepts throughout the subsequent two films, fairly than be targeted on this new Obi-Wan’s secret identification. Who is aware of — maybe he already had the concept for what finally grew to become the large twist second of the Prequels, Order 66 from “Revenge of the Sith.”

Whereas the Prequels actually work advantageous with out the wild twist, it is a disgrace Lucas did not stick with his preliminary instincts, as protecting the title swap would’ve added a really intriguing dimension to the character of Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan as McCaig described. It additionally would’ve additional highlighted one of many main concepts throughout the Prequels, which is that the Jedi have been doomed lengthy earlier than Order 66 was executed. All through the movies, the Order makes one unhealthy determination after one other, sticking too near their antiquated methods of perception and regulation whereas ignoring issues which might be taking place round them till it is too late, and a Qui-Gon-as-Obi-Wan lurking of their midst might’ve been a cool instance of their short-sightedness. Given Lucas’ penchant for revising his movies after the actual fact, nevertheless, who is aware of — possibly we’ll see a “Phantom Menace Particular Version” at some point, the place ADR makes that title switcheroo occur in spite of everything.