Original Phantom Menace Script

"Writing the script was much more enjoyable this time around because I wasn't constrained by anything. You can't write one of these movies without knowing how you're going to accomplish it. With CG at my disposal, I knew I could do whatever I wanted".

 —George Lucas

 It’s odd to think that fans might have seen Star Wars episode VII in the mid-80’s if not for George Lucas’ divorce. But the divorce did happen and Lucas’ interest in Star Wars films grew thin. It was only with the success of books such as the Thrawn Trilogy & Shadows of the Empire that Lucas recognized that fans were still interested. CGI films such as Jurassic Park & Terminator 2 inspired him and by 1993 he had announced that he was going to make new Star Wars films: the Prequels.

Lucas knew that the prequels would focus on Anakin, Obi-wan, & Palpatine, but his his first order of business was to come up with new characters for the three to interact with. Anakin needed a mother, Obi-wan needed a partner, and Palpatine needed an apprentice.

Darth Maul has feathers on his head in
this concept sketch, but it was later
interpreted as horns.

Though relatively void of character, it can be argued that Maul is one of the high points of Episode I. Artist, Lain McCaig, was put in charge of designing the Sith Lord and came up with dozens of drawings, essentially playing a hot-cold game with Lucas. At one point McCaig became frustrated and started covering earlier drawings with tape. The result was a Rorschach effect. Lucas liked it and Maul was born.

           



In the final film Darth Maul had few lines, but in the original script Maul’s character was more vocal. Consider this exchange:

OBI-WAN: Your style of fighting is old, but I understand it now.

MAUL: You learn fast.

An early concept sketch of a Sith apprentice

OBI-WAN: You don't bother to learn.

MAUL: I don't have to.

Before Maul can act, Kenobi lashes out and cuts the Sith warrior in half. He studies his fallen enemy and says: "Learn not...live not, my master always says."

In the first Episode I script there was no Qui-Gon Jin. Therefore, Obi-Wan’s only companion was a Gungan called Jar Jar Binks (whose name was thought of by Lucas’ 5-year-old son, Jett) Interestingly enough, Jar Jar and the other Gungans did not speak baby-talk in the first drafts of the script. Jar Jar is actually a little more mature and less clumsy.

Consider this passage:

Before the Gungans and Naboo part ways before the final battle, Jar Jar and Anakin say their goodbyes. 

"I will miss you," says Jar Jar. "You're a wonder, and most amusing."

Governor Nass then promotes Jar Jar to General, and gives him command of the "fifth barrage." 

When Jar Jar protests, Nass tells him, "I understand from the Jedi you're a great warrior, Binks. I know you will do your position proud."

Obi-Wan Sketch

None-the-less Lucas felt as if Obi-wan needed another companion. Lucas’ initial plan was to have Obi-Wan be the older Jedi and master to Qui-Gon Jin. In this scenario it would be Obi-Wan who chose to take Anakin on as his apprentice. I think that this plot point would have gone better for Obi-Wan’s overall character arc. It would make Anakin’s fall so much more tragic. Yet, at some point the roles were reversed and Liam Neeson was cast as Jin.

Anakin is 12 in the original script

When writing “Episode I” Lucas had to deal with the question of Anakin’s father. Who was he? Was he a Jedi? A Sith? Lucas could not figure it out, so he decided that Anakin would have no father… just like Jesus. Pretty lazy writing if you ask me. 

In Lucas’ original vision for the film Anakin would have been around twelve in Episode I. His character would have been a little darker, already tipping over the edge. Eventually Lucas felt that Anakin should be younger so that he would have to deal with being torn apart from his mother (and so that he could say things like "Wizard!")

Another interesting change is Anakin & Padme’s role in the final battle. In the original script Anakin doesn’t sneak into a ship and accidentally fly into battle. Instead Padme deliberately takes Anakin into battle, in a two-man starfighter:

"Meanwhile, Anakin and Padme spot on heavily-armed battleship, and believe it to be the command ship. They prepare to attack the pilot's tower, but the tower's deflector shields prove incredibly strong. Padme orders two pilots, Teeter and Potts, to attack the ship's shield generator. They are successful in damaging the shields. Then, while Anakin pilots the ship, Padme serves as gunner. Despite the heavy flak surrounding them, Padme remains focused on her objective. As the deflector shield fluctuates, she fires several missiles, which destroy the control tower and cause the chain reaction that obliterates the command ship."

In the original script Anakin has net yet built speech
capabilities for C-3PO, so he is mute.

While reading the original script it is obvious that it is intended for a more mature audience. Jar Jar is tolerable, Anakin is older, and there is no dialogue along the lines of “Now this is Podracing”. In fact, reading the original script is a little sad because you think that it could have been a much better movie. It was actually close to being a good movie. 

You can only speculate why Lucas decided to make Episode I into something only a five-year-old can truly appreciate. In the end you just have to chalk it up to one of those unfortunate things of history and no one can go back and change it. If mankind invents a time-machine, perhaps that would be the first order of business.

In an alternate universe are Gungans cool?