This one change inStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the SithsavedObi-Wan Kenobi’scharacter from being so much darker.Revenge of the Sithis not only one ofStar Wars’best moviesbut also one of the most important points intheStar Warstimeline. Among the most compelling aspects ofRevenge of the Sithis the relationship between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, especially in the time leading up to Anakin’s fall. Anakin and Obi-Wan were truly brothers and made up one ofStar Wars’best duos, which made the outcome of their friendship much more painful.
Yet, one deleted moment fromRevenge of the Sithreveals how much more brutal this plot could have been. The 2005 bookThe Making of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, written by J.W. Rinzler, reveals that, originally,as Anakin was lying injured on Mustafar, he was going to say,“Help me, Master,“and Obi-Wan was going to deny him. This was ultimately removed from the final cut ofRevenge of the Sith, but, had it been left in, it would have completely changed the dynamic between these two characters during their encounter on Mustafar.
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What Anakin’s Cry For Help Would’ve Meant For The Mustafar Duel
This Would Have Completely Changed How Sympathetic Each Character Was
HadRevenge of the Sithleft this cry for help in,it would have made Anakin so much more sympathetic and Obi-Wan Kenobi so much less. In the final cut of the movie, by the time Anakin/Darth Vader is lying half-dead on Mustafar, he feels quite nearly irredeemable (even knowing how his story ends). He has slaughtered younglings, massacred the Neimoidians, and Force choked his pregnant wife. In his fight with Obi-Wan, he also came across as heartless and just a shell of the man and the Jedi Anakin had once been.
Anakin/Vader pleading for Obi-Wan’s help would have changed things. This would have made Anakin seem much more like the young, scared boy he had once been on Tatooine and reinforced that Anakin felt lost and abandoned. This also would have fit in well with the clear sadness he displayed, particularly the tears he shed about Order 66. On the other end, Obi-Wan would have gone from a heartbroken man who had done all he could to someone seemingly much colder who could watch Anakin burn and not give him the help he was begging for.
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The Making of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sithalso reveals thatit would have been after Obi-Wan’s refusal that Anakin’s eyes would have changed from blue to yellow,the color of Sith eyes. This would have added a fascinating and devastating layer to the moment by suggesting it was ultimately Obi-Wan’s rejection that fully turned Anakin. Of course, he had already committed egregious acts at that point, but it still would be uncharacteristically brutal for Obi-Wan to see and hear his former Padawan in so much pain and simply watch, take his lightsaber, and walk away.
Our Take On What This Change Meant For Star Wars
I Am So Relieved This Change Was Made
I’m personally very gratefulRevenge of the Sithdidn’t keep this dialogue in. I am already crushed by Anakin’s fall and his betrayal of everyone he knows and loves every time I watch the movie, andwitnessing him reach out for Obi-Wan’s help and be denied would simply be too much. Yes, I’m aware that the things Anakin did throughoutRevenge of the Sith(and even before then) are absolutely horrifying, but to see Obi-Wan bear witness to Anakin’s suffering and actively reject his cry for help would have made this so much worse.
It also would have done damage to Obi-Wan’s character that just wasn’t necessary. Obi-Wan certainly wasn’t without his flaws, but seeing Anakin suffering to this degree and hearing him beg for help only to deny him would contradict the compassion and kindness Obi-Wan has shown time and again inStar Wars—not to mention the clear grief he had over Anakin and the fact that he still had a soft spot for him, even inObi-Wan Kenobi. ThisStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sithmoment truly would have changed Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I’m so glad it was cut.
Source:The Making of Star Wars, Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Cast
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith details the fall of the Jedi Order and Anakin Skywalker’s transformation under the influence of Darth Sidious. Released in 2005, the film explores Anakin’s internal conflict and the shifting political landscape, leading to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
