What Could Have Been: The Phantom Menace

Taking a look back at how The Phantom Menace might have ended up if not for these changes. ​​George Lucas’ original script for The Phantom Menace was very different, featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi as the primary protagonist for most of the film with Qui-Gon Jinn only appearing later as a supporting character. Find out what could have been for this iconic film and how it could have shaped the Star Wars franchise. Thanks for watching What Could Have Been!

⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 Intro
0:40 Absence of Qui-Gon Jinn
1:00 Starring Obi-Wan Kenobi
2:15 An Older Anakin Skywalker
2:54 Anakin Uses The Force
3:49 Flying With Padme Amidala
4:27 Jar Jar Binks is Not An Idiot
4:40 Gungan Discrimination
5:32 The Duel of the Fates
6:25 Victory Parade
6:53 Lawrence Kasdan's Absence Explained

​​#starwars

[TheLiamster]

I definitely think that the change of Anakin to be a teenager instead of a child should he’s been kept. It would make the character much better and also explain why he was “too old” to be trained as a Jedi

[StudioMod]

I always thought that having Anakin be this older kid, like 17 or so, would have made a great opportunity for romance between him and Padme, as he's this rugged, down to Earth, charming young mechanic who prefers living life in the moment. It also would have given his moonlighting as a racer a much stronger AKIRA-type vibe that would have really made him stand out as a lovable, roguish character. If he took care of his mother instead of her taking care of him, it would have cast his character in a much more interesting light come time for her to die. He would blame himself much more for leaving her to fend for herself and his rage would be more relatable later on...

[dmind]

What makes Darth Maul almost running Anakin over with the speeder so sinister is that you get the impression that he is so hateful that he simply does not care who the boy is, and that he is simply in his path, and that he is with his foe and therefore why not run him down.

[bl]

Things I like about this previous draft...
1. Making Anakin older
2. Jar Jar
3. Anakin and Padme spending more time together
4. Anakin's actions being more deliberate

Things I prefer about what we got...
1. The prophecy: I know it's a cliche, but the reason I think it works is that the Jedi's misinterpretation leads to their downfall. I like the complexity of the good guys being just as responsible for the Galaxy's fate as the bad guys.
2. The Gungun/Naboo relationship: I think it was smart of Lucas to keep that part of the story simpler as it is not supposed to be the focus. Also, this would have made Padme less likable which would make it difficult to relate to the love story (which ended up a problem anyways because of the age gap).
3. Maul: I get people wanting Maul to be more like the Clone Wars version, but I think what we got works best. The reason he is more talkative and developed in The Clone Wars is because he has spent so much time with nothing to think about but revenge.
4. Qui Gon: the more of this character, the better. It makes more sense for Obi Wan and Anakin to have the relationship we got given how it ties to Vader's resentment of Obi Wan.

[ThatGuyErazo]

I appreciate Qui Gon having more screen time and story around him, as well as Obi Wan being more of a reluctant older brother figure to Anakin. But the age gap between Padme and Anakin really is just too much, and a teenage Anakin would've been much more fitting. It also would've made the thought of him being too old to be a Padawan much more plausible.

[nicklarocco]

I think Maul having so few lines is part of his mystique. Like Boba Fett what made Maul so fascinating to viewers were the mysteries surrounding him. The original draft does sound a bit like a soft-reboot of A New Hope honestly. I'm glad Qui-Gon became a more major character, but the original space battle sounded way cooler.

[brendancurtis]

An older version of anakin pulling off that hyperspace stunt would’ve been cool asf. Hearing how much cool shit got cut genuinely annoys me.

[TheChadTI]

Qui Gons part was expanded when Liam Neisan expressed interest. George rewrote it for him.

[omorales]

I’m so gratified to hear someone else talk about Anakin’s age. I’ve been screaming about it for 25 years: the romance with Padme doesn’t work in TPM. It works if he’s 13-15, a rebel without a cause, a risk taking grease monkey and thrill seeker… with elegant Padme as his counterbalance.

[TheMonkeyThatDoesYourJobBetter]

Even with this alternative script, this wasn't really the story I envisioned back in the day. It was said that Obi-Wan was trained by Yoda, and that Obi-Wan and Anakin were both war buddies. When Obi-Wan described Anakin as, "the best star pilot in the galaxy", I wasn't envisioning a dorky little kid who was a former pod racer. I was envisioning a very prestigious pilot who happened to meet Obi-Wan in the middle of this crazy war. Obi-Wan senses that he's strong in the force, and took it upon himself to train him in the Jedi arts. Then in some form or fashion Anakin becomes drunk with power, and logically turns evil. Also every time I watch the original trilogy versus the prequels... I see Darth Vader from the original trilogy and Anakin Skywalker from the prequels as two completely different characters. Literally the actors Jake Llyod, or Hayden Christensen doesn't come into my mind when I'm watching Darth Vader in the original trilogy.

[nathonso_edits]

Does sound a little better, but tbh I like that Obi Wan is more of a brother figure and kind of has training Anakin forced on him, makes it so that Qui Gon was the mentor Anakin needed but didn't get, it also makes the end of revenge of sith more painful with the 'you were like a brother Anakin, I loved you' the bond between brothers I would argue is stronger than father/son relationships

[ImCptnAwesome]

2:54 Anakin uses the Force to podrace, he just doesn't know it. Qui-Gonn said something like "he appears to have good reflexes because he can see things before they happen through the Force." I like that, it's subtle.

[oldmate]

Making Anakin older is the main thing that needed to happen and making Jar Jar purposefully capable instead of poor comedic relief.

[CyBromancer]

I like a lot of what was going on here. I would definitely keep Qui-Gon In a bunch of the film, making his death more impactful, and the lessons he taught obi-wan and pass down to anakin. It would have been nice to see more chemistry between anakin and padme, who I think should have been more closely aged together, and interactions between anakin and obi-wan. Also, more Darth Maul lines would have been great, as in the clone wars and other media he doesn't act like this silent assassin. Also, Jar Jar binks being a funny but not annoying charfacter with real traits of seriousness and courage when needed would obviously have been a well-liked character by me. As for the medi-chlorians and backstory of the force, I am mixed about that, I wouldn't care if they made it more scientific or mystical overall, though I guess the latter if a jedi was describing it. Anakin being a more confident character during the battle scenes and who can prove his force powers in other ways would also show people his potential and not just an annoying kid.

[ethanmagdaleno]

Minus making obi wan older and taking qui gon out, that first draft sounds pretty great

[VividEevee]

-9 year old accidentally blows up an entire control center-
15 y/o blows up control center with the help of Padme and squadron during a well coordinated attack.

[ImCptnAwesome]

I like the Phantom Menace we got better. Fun fact: Benicio del Toro was cast as Maul, but dropped out when Lucas cut most of Maul's dialogue. But I love how Ray Park did the character, just this demon who barely speaks and moves like a ninja. The duel with Maul is fantastic.

[Allbrx]

Anakin being older/more refined and JarJar less a clown would have been a welcome addition. Everything else I really have 0 issues with.

[codyflynn]

Its hard for me to admit this because The Phantom Menace is so near and dear to my heart...but I agree. Especially about The bit about Anakin being older. Makes sense. I love Qui Gon (favorite jedi) that would be my only complaint about seeing less of him in the concept film.

[donwyoming]

Jedi Knight Obi-Wan & teenage Anakin was what many of us expected. There had to been a love triangle for the plot to actually work, whether it be Obi-Wan or Bail Organa.