This is a thread for my personal fan-edits of episodes 1-6, my Star Wars saga.
My saga is called the Vader Edition because my main goal with the Prequels was to fit better with OT Darth Vader. This subtitle carries over to the OT edits to indicate that they are part of the same continuity.

My edits are admittedly a combination of others ideas and my own. All other editors are credited.
Prequel Trilogy
My own radical re-edits of the Prequels, mostly in service of fitting with my interpretation of OT Darth Vader.
The Phantom Menace (on hold)
This edit is on hold until some other edits which have interesting ideas, and as such, I wish to see the execution of them before attempting a similar thing, if I think it works.
- Faster paced opening that reorients the Jediās goal from negotiating with the Federation to saving the Queen.
- Neimodians and Gungans all redubbed in an alien language, characterizations changed.
- More emphasis on Maul hunting the Jedi on Tatooine.
- Anakin is more reserved. He shouldnāt be too happy or joyous, heās a slave. He has no friends.
- Watto and Anakin alien dialogue resubtitled to imply a more abusive relationship.
- Deleted scene of Anakin beating up Rodian kid readded (heās not Greedo though).
- Deleted scene of Qui-Gon destroying probe droid readded.
- Restructuring of the final battle from āCloak of Deceptionā used.
- A lot more.
Attack of the Clones (on hold)
Primarily focusing on ROTS for now.
- Anakin is more like Darth Vader from the OT. Heās colder, bolder, more calculating and reserved. He represses his remorse for the death of the Tuskins (he doesnāt kill the women and children) and is more convicted to his path to power.
- Anakin and Obi-Wan training scene from Obi-Wan Kenobi added.
- Cut a lot of Anakin and Obi-Wan arguing to make the lighter scenes between them shine more (including the opening training scene).
- Anakin and Padme romance reedited, using deleted scenes and cutting material to appear more realistic and tolerable.
- Deleted scenes with Padmeās family readded.
- Deleted scene of Mace and Obi-Wan used instead of hallway scene with Yoda.
- Cut Jocasta-Nu scene to speed up Obi-Wanās investigation. Yoda/Youngling scene tells us all we need to know and is more important.
- Hal9000ās version of the droid factory scene.
- Readded deleted scene of Padme and Dooku discussing politics.
- None of the nonsense with the droids in the final act.
- A lot more.
Revenge of the Sith (in-progress)
- Once again, more Darth Vader-like Anakin. He shows less remorse towards the death of Dooku, nor any doubt in his convictions towards Palpatine and against the Jedi.
- Deleted Shaak-Ti/Grievous scene from the opening act readded.
- Took cues from Hal9000 āLabyrinth of Evilā to emphasize Anakinās political siding with Palpatine. The Palpatine-Council subplot is moved before the nightmare.
- Emphasize Anakinās general lust for power and feeling that the Jedi are holding him back, once again to make Anakin more in tune with the power-hungry Lord Vader from the OT.
- Anakin wants the power of immortality for himself, not just to save Padme, and this will be Palpatineās main pitch to Anakin that gets him to turn to the dark side.
- In the end, wanting to save Padme is more the straw that broke the camelās back. If weāre comparing to Michael Corleoneās arc in The Godfather, it functions less like the assassination attempt on Vito and more like Apolloniaās death.
- Padme political subplot readded.
- No Chewbacca.
- No youngling killing.
- No, āFrom my point of view, the Jedi are evil!ā. Vader isnāt making excuses for his actions.
- Padme dies because of Anakinās force choke.
- More badass suited Vader scene that emphasizes that heās moved past Padme in his pursuit of the power of the dark side.
- And more.
Original Trilogy
These edits are more minor and entirely aesthetic choices as opposed to the more larger narrative changes of the Prequels. As such, theyāll also be worked on more sporadically.
To make my stance clear: the theatrical cuts of the OT are masterpieces, and my favorite films of all-time.
However, for the sake of connecting them to my version of the larger saga, both my edits of the Prequels and the Canon Vader comics (which are canon to my edits), Iām making alternate versions, but not in an irritating SE way. It will also make adjustments that, while donāt make or break the movies, tickle my fancy a bit more.
However, my intent is that any additions must fit the aesthetic of the theatrical cuts; I refrain including effects obviously from decades later. Any additions with new special effects are ones that I want to look like they reasonably couldāve been done when the film was made.
The bases are oohteedeeās D+77, D+80, and D+83.
Change ideas in italics are things that could happen, but could also not, either due to me changing my mind, or it being beyond my capabilities.
A New Hope (in-progress)
- Use Hal9000ās version of the SE opening crawl that adds āEpisode IV: A New Hopeā, but edited to match the theatrical timing and match with the score.
- Integrate āThe Imperial March (Darth Vaderās Theme)ā as Darth Vaderās character theme, in keeping with the rest of the saga. I mostly rely on alternate, unused versions to prevent repetition. ANH Imperial theme kept as the theme for the Empire in general, primarily the stormtroopers.
- Use SE version of Vaderās voice with the electronic flange effect, more in line with ESB and ROTJ.
- Perhaps deepen Vaderās voice slightly to also make it a bit more in-line with ESB and ROTJ.
- Perhaps Vaderās stormtrooper battalion is marked red or black.
- Trim Vaderās conversation with the Imperial commander to give him the same authoritative control over the conversation he has in ESB in ROTJ; heās not questioned so much.
- Integrate āThe Droidsā musical motif.
- Use SE Tatooine sunset matte as R2-D2 explores.
- Use SE mattes of the Sandcrawler at night.
- Use SE Sandcrawler daytime shot, but trimmed down to the same length as the original.
- Add SE C-3PO line, āWeāve stopped.ā
- Use SE version of Beruās line, āTell your Uncleā.
- Fix reused shot of R2 next to R5 when the latter is supposed to have already been bought.
- Cut Luke calling Leia beautiful when seeing part of her message.
- Use SE version of Beruās line, āHe has too much of his father in himā, that sounds concerned.
- Use SE version of Binary Sunset without the mountain (consistent with the wide shot).
- Use SE version of Obi-Wanās hut matte.
- Altered Kenobiās line to Luke introducing the lightsaber. āI wanted you to have this when you were old enough,ā rather then, "Your father wanted youā¦ā. (Hal9000)
- Reshuffling of shots used to make the Imperial officers more visibly frightened by Darth Vader, as in ESB and ROTJ.
- Vader chokes Motti sooner. He doesnāt tolerate being insulted so long.
- Tarkin does not command Vader to release Motti. Tarkin doesnāt have command over Vader; theyāre equals who respect one another.
- Perhaps add alien Imperials throughout the film.
- Perhaps replace the guards throughout the film with royal guards, Vaderās own unique guards, or Death Troopers.
- Perhaps Darth Vader actually kills Motti. Would require removing him from the rest of the film, which could prove difficult. Alternatively, have the officer that Vader chokes and kills be an alien.
- Perhaps integrate Mustafar and Vaderās fortress at some point in the film.
- Perhaps have the Death Star orbiting Coruscant, using McQuarrie concept art of Had Abaddon planet view.
- Perhaps add brief shots of Coruscant to the film, but wholly new shots to replicate the Gothic look of McQuarrieās concept art for Had Abaddon.
- The Cantina band can be heard softly outside as they enter. (Hal9000)
- Redesign orbital view of Alderaan so it doesnāt look so Earth-like.
- Leia doesnāt say Tarkin āholds Vaderās leashā.
- As in the shooting script, Tarkin gives the order to āfire when readyā, but Vader gives the order to ācommence primary ignitionā to destroy Alderaan, rather then a random officer.
- Perhaps change the Death Starās green laser to crimson.
- New hyperspace visual when the Millennium Falcon arrives at Alderaan.
- Changed green Death Star schematics on the monitor to red; consistent with the Empireās overall aesthetic, as seen in similar computer schematics in ESB.
- Use SE Aurebesh text on the Death Star tractor beam display.
- Very carefully integrated a heavily re-edited FXItInPost SC 38 Reimaginedās Darth Vader vs. Ben Kenobi duel. Alternate version will retain the original duel, but reedited with more āspiceā.
** The audio is completely redone. The unused Vader vs. Luke theme from ESB is used instead of ROTS music, and OT sound effects are used.
** Intercut with original scene to remove bad Obi-Wan face compositing and create greater coherency.
** Dimmed the lightning and regraded the entire scene to both make the CG backgrounds less noticeable and make the scene scarier.
** Remove modern visual flare (lens flares, glowing wall lights, etc.).
- Perhaps integrate Vader saying, āAnakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed himā during his duel with Kenobi.
- Use SE shot of Vader with his lightsaber correctly colored red as the doors close in front of him (included with D+77).
- Falcon interior accurately depicts our heroes going through hyperspace after Death Star escape.
- Perhaps lightly integrate some notes of āHan Solo and the Princessā musical motif during their conversation.
- Luke and Hanās conversation about Leia in the Falcon recut to remove Lukeās crush on Leia, but keeping the humorous exchange, āPrincess and a guy like me?..ā āNo.ā
- Added scene between Vader and Sidious after he kills Obi-Wan.
- Perhaps redesign Yavin IV (moon) with new mattes to be less Earth-like.
- Perhaps make Yavin (gas giant) a different color for the sake of an idea I have for ROTJ.
- Use SE Rebel base matte.
- Perhaps add alien Rebels throughout the film.
- Like the schematics on the Death Star, the plans during the briefing are recolored red.
- Add SE Biggs and Luke reunion scene.
- Attempt some compositing clean-up for shots from the theatrical Battle of Yavin.
- Lukeās, āBlast it, Biggs, where are you,ā changed to, āBlast it, Wedgeā¦". (Hal9000)
- Fix Vaderās helmet in some shots of him in is cockpit during the Battle of Yavin.
- Audio from radio drama and different shot of Luke to give him a more appropriate reaction to Biggsā death.
- Use SE Death Star explosion.
- Use SE throne room with blue-screened actors instead of painted ones.
- Use SE credit to James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader (included with D+77).
Empire Strikes Back (in-progress)
- Perhaps edit the title crawl to refer to Darth Vader as āthe evil Sith lordā as opposed to āthe evil lordā.
- Use SE Wampa scene.
- Obi-Wan refers to Yoda as āa Jedi Master who instructed meā instead of āthe Jedi Masterā¦ā (Hal9000ās Custom SE).
- Add SE Luke line, āThanks 3POā.
- Cut Leia kissing Luke to make Han jealous, but retain the humor of the original scene as best as possible.
- Perhaps add alien Imperials and Rebels throughout the film.
- Perhaps Vaderās stormtrooper battalion is marked red or black.
- Perhaps replace the guards throughout the film with royal guards, Vaderās own unique guards, or Death Troopers.
- Perhaps integrate Mustafar and Vaderās fortress at some point in the film.
- Replace instances of non-Vader Imperial March usage with the Imperial motif from ANH. The Imperial March will be Darth Vaderās character theme.
- Add SE Luke line, āThis is it!ā.
- Add SE C-3PO line, āThereās nowhere to go.ā
- Adywan Revisited version of wide shot of Dagobah with added white spider creature (from Ralph McQuarrieās concept art).
- AR version of the Emperorās hologram that uses the ROTJ look and recreation of theatrical dialogue.
- AR version of the reptile creatures in the dark side cave, made to look more alien.
- Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett (Hal9000ās improved versions that use lines from Battlefront). Alternate version keeps Jason Wingreenās original lines.
- Final Cut version of Darth Vader, āI am your fatherā shot, which addresses the way the shot is clearly reversed at the end, giving it a sort of ābobbleā.
- Darth Vader says, āLuke, we can destroy the Emperorā, rather then āyouā.
- Cut Leia briefly kissing Luke on the lips in the back of the Falcon.
- AR version of Vader on the Executor during the escape from Bespin, addressing continuity issues.
- Use SE credit to James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader (included with D+80).
- Credit Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor.
Return of the Jedi (in-progress)
- Redesign orbital view of Endor moon to make it look less Earth-like. (inspired by previous version of IlFanEditoreās edit)
- Perhaps incorporate Death Star musical motif from ANH, or a variation of it.
- Perhaps have Darth Vaderās shuttle depart from The Executor as opposed to a normal Star Destroyer.
- Perhaps give Vaderās shuttle a more individualized appearance.
- Perhaps add alien Imperials and Rebels throughout the film.
- Fix close-up shots of Darth Vader out of focus.
- Add SE Oola falling into the Rancor pit.
- Perhaps integrate a subplot in which Vader hires Boba to capture Luke.
- Perhaps integrate Mustafar and Vaderās fortress at some point in the film.
- Perhaps add brief shots of Coruscant to the film, but wholly new mattes to replicate the Gothic look of McQuarrieās concept art for Had Abaddon.
- Cut Boba Fett comically missing his shot at Luke by a mile in the Sail Barge scene.
- Perhaps Boba is knocked into the Sarlacc by Luke (inspired by Possessedās edit).
- Add SE rope around Hanās feet when heās reaching for Lando.
- Perhaps Boba escapes the Sarlacc, but heās killed by Vader for his failure (closing the subplot).
- Replace instances of non-Vader Imperial March usage with the Imperial motif from ANH. The Imperial March will be Darth Vaderās character theme. The Emperorās theme will also be reserved for Palpatine.
- Perhaps give the Emperorās shuttle a more individualized appearance.
- Perhaps make some of the Emperorās advisors into aliens.
- Perhaps give Shuttle Tydirium a different design that looks more appropriate for holding cargo.
- Vader sensing Luke now has a crossfade, like their telepathy scene at the end of ESB.
- Perhaps make Endor moon appear more alien with new flora and/or bioluminescence, but still retaining most of the original filmmaking. (inspired by previous version of IlFanEditoreās edit)
- Perhaps Endor is the moon of a red gas giant like the original Yavin. As such, a red tint is added to scenes with the villains on the DSII, primarily the climax.
- Add a re-edited deleted scene; Vader force chokes and kills Jerjerrod when he tries to stop him from seeing the Emperor. He sardonically responds to āIt is the Emperorās commandā, with āMy apologiesā (from Rogue One), before snapping his neck. This adds more tension between Vader and the Emperor.
- Perhaps replace Jerjerrod in the above scene with an alien officer so as to not create continuity issues, as Jerjerrod is later seen ordering the DSII to fire.
- Perhaps have Vader say, āYour mother once thought as you doā rather then Obi-Wan.
- Trim Vaderās, āI must obey my masterā, to emphasize his own addiction to the dark side and scheme to turn Luke and kill the Emperor. Yes, the latter was intended, as confirmed in āThe Making of ROTJā, itās just not as explicit as ESB.
- Perhaps the Emperorās legion of his best troopers on Endor are marked purple, red, or black.
- Trim Ewoks slapstick during the Battle of Endor, but donāt cut all of it; comic relief is cool.
- Perhaps replace Jerjerrod when he orders the DSII to fire with an alien officer, if heās not replaced when Vader forces his way into the Emperorās throne room.
- Use SE version of the matte of the Emperor falling to his death.
- Use SE version of Anakinās death with no eyebrows.
- Use SE version of Death Star II explosion.
- Add SE Planets Victory Celebration montage, but no Tatooine or āWesa free!ā from the Gungans. Tatooineās inclusion was always weird to me; this is a hive of scum and villainy on the outskirts of the galaxy.
- Victory Celebration on Endor is a mix of the theatrical and SE. Mostly theatrical, using extended shots of Luke and his friends, as well as Luke winking at the Force ghosts. However, some SE additions are included.
- Final Cut version of Anakinās force ghost which ages up Christensen to his 40s (his age at death), an ideal compromise between the two versions.