I’ve heard several stories about how the reason for the Death Star II in ROTJ is because Lucas originally wanted to save the Death Star for last, but didn’t think he’d be able to make more then one movie.
That just leaves me to wonder: what would it even be like if he had stuck with that plan, saving the Death Star for the 3rd film in the trilogy, and thus ANH was without the Death Star? A huge chunk of the plot revolves around it. It almost seems impossible to imagine the film without it. In that case, what was he thinking the movie would be about?
Some possibilities:
- We’d have seen an incomplete Death Star (possibly resembling the Death Star II).
- Instead of being obliterated by the Death Star, Alderaan would’ve been nuked from orbit by the Devastator.
- Leia’s imprisonment/rescue would’ve been staged on the Devastator instead of the Death Star.
- The movie would’ve been shorter, ending an a cliffhanger with the Falcon’s escape.
Presumably the events of TESB could’ve happened sooner, days or weeks after SW, with Vader remaining subordinate to Tarkin, who would’ve survived to the end of the trilogy.