Episode III now. I'd prefer to name this one "The Fall of the Republic" or similar, and move "Revenge of the Sith" to Episode VIII, following "Episode VII -- The Phantom Menace". Also, I forgot to mention in my general Prequel Trilogy revision overview that I'm putting Jedi Knight Anakin in the "Jedi uniform" of coffee-brown turtleneck, cream inner robes, and medium-brown outer robes -- what Anakin was wearing as a ghost at the end of ROTJ. No "eV1L bL4kC L3AthuR" outfit.
Also also, forgot in the write-ups for Episodes I and II, Obi-Wan is being called Ben. This may go back to an assumed name he took on on Tatooine in Episode I that Anakin still calls him as a joke. Thinking here of "I haven't been called Obi-Wan since... oh, before you were born." Only Anakin, as a joke, in Episode I. Most people around him calling him Ben by the end of Episode II.
This has been the trickiest one to rewrite, and that challenge has made it the most fun. Challenge: Have Anakin go over to the Dark Side and become Vader, including having Obi-Wan fight him and leave him for dead, without the audience knowing Anakin is Vader. As much as the scene with Anakin getting sealed in his helmet moves me, we need to preserve the Big Reveal in Empire.
Okay, to the points:
• Some years have passed. Clones are now well-established as Republic troops. Some Jedi volunteer to serve as Generals, some see that as stepping out of their peacekeeper role -- Master Yoda mentioned here.
• Republic ships in service by this point: Acclamators, Venators, Victorys, Z-95s, Y-Wings, ARC-170s (no s-foils) and ROTS Jedi starfighters (fixed s-foils) as Clone fighters, AOTC Jedi starfighters for the Jedi (Anakin's heavily modified), LAAT/i dropships
•Other Generals and Admirals besides Jedi; also, non-clone Republic Military represented.
• Regardless of what happens with Asajj and Maul in prior two movies, intel on another Sith Lord called "Darth Vader". Jedi shaken, as the title hasn't been used by any Sith in over a thousand years -- even before they were thought to have been wiped out. They assume this means Vader is the mastermind behind the Separatist movement.
• Boba Fett returns on side of Republic, determined to avenge his brother and eradicate the Death Watch to atone for his mistake in joining them -- accompanied by Tobbi Dala and Fenn Shysa (all three Mandalorian Protectors*).
TIMELINE:
• ACT I -- Starts with the tail-end of a big battle -- mopping up resistance, landing fighters, etc. Anakin has parked his fighter and is reporting victory to Obi-Wan over comm. Commentary that it would be nice if all the battles were going to the Republic. Obi-Wan is returning to Coruscant from his own war-zone to replace lost materièl and personnel, and report in. Debate in the Senate over whether it's immoral to be using slave troops, whether cloning should even be legal, urging diplomacy, etc. Jedi on-hand lament the direction things have gone. Stuff about Vader and Sith here. Intel indicates Vader is going to be in the Mustafar system. A message is sent to Anakin to intercept him. Obi-Wan says he'll meet him on-location. Padmé sees Obi-Wan off, tell him she is pregnant, and asks him not to tell Anakin, so as to not distract him. She'll tell him later. Obi-Wan worries about the toll the wars have taken on Anakin.
• ACT II -- No word from Anakin after he acknowledges his assignment and departs in his fighter. Obi-Wan arrives on Mustafar and confronts a mysterious hooded figure. All we see are the Eyes of the Sith, red lightsaber when they fight, no full-face. Comments like "what have you done?!" from Obi-Wan "Anakin was weak -- I had to destroy him" from Vader. Close and intense duel ends with a wounded Obi-Wan Force-shoving Vader back into a stanchion and breaking his neck. Obi-Wan leaves him for dead. After he departs to return to Coruscant, Palpatine steps out of the shadows and retrieves Vader's body. Obi-Wan arrives back at Coruscant in bad shape, tells other Jedi and Padmé that Anakin is dead.
• ACT III -- Republic forces are still losing ground against Separatists. Chancellor Palpatine declares himself Emperor, opposition is violently put down. Mace goes to arrest Palpatine, who reveals his true colours as the Sith mastermind (no butt-head transformation, though -- just the Eyes). Mace ends up getting blasted out the window, no Anakin involved. I like the deleted Rebel leaders scene approximately here. Bail Organa helps a convalescing Obi-Wan escape, Padmé going with. Palpatine makes a less melodramatic statement to the Senate declaring the Jedi traitors and orders them to be killed on sight. When Palpatine's advisors wonder aloud how the heck they're gonna do that, Vader shows up and announces he's leading the Purge.
CODA -- Something similar to the montage of Jedi getting killed by their Clonetroopers. I like the idea of adding masked Vader to the Jedi Temple bit. I also like the idea of the final scene being an approach to a sprawling expanse of shipyards building Star Destroyers (and launching them). Other scenes of Palpatine consolidating his rule, dissidents being stomped by Imperial troops, and other indicators of the passage of time. Mixed in for the last little bit are scenes of Padmé in labour, and then finish with Obi-Wan giving Luke to Owen and Beru and riding off into the desert.
--Jonah
* I have an essay I can post up explaining how the Protectors and Supercommandos work, what the colours signify, etc. If anyone's interested in the background tapestry that is on-screen, but not spoken about...