Disney adapted the famed Marvel Comics series What If…? to present alternate realities within the Marvel Universe. Now, why hasn’t the company done this with the Star Wars franchise? It’s the perfect playing field for what could have been in a galaxy where Anakin Skywalker never turned to the dark side, where Luke Skywalker joined Darth Vader, or where the Empire triumphed at Endor
With its vast lore, beloved characters, and pivotal moments, Star Wars is practically begging for an anthology series exploring alternate destinies. Marvel fans got to see Peggy Carter become Captain Carter — why not a world where Leia Organa is the Jedi instead of Luke? Or a timeline where Darth Maul defeated Obi-Wan Kenobi and took over the Sith?
The possibilities are endless, and let’s be honest, most Star Wars fans would eat it up.
Some alternate realities that should happen are:
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What if Obi-Wan dies instead of Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, leading to Qui-Gon training Anakin? Would Anakin grow up differently? Would he be more level-headed without acting first and thinking later? Would this lead to Maul surviving and taking a leadership role in the Empire?
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What if Anakin did kill Sheev Palpatine? Would he have his happy ending with Padmé Amidala, or at least be granted the rank of Master?
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Or, Anakin still joins Palpatine, but Padmé survives his force choke that happens on Mustafar, creating a path for her to lead the Resistance. What would happen if they then met face-to-face 19 years later? How would this lovers-to-enemies arc end?
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What if in The Empire Strikes Back Luke decides to join his father? Would this lead to mass destruction, wiping out the entire Resistance with no hope for peace?
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What if Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor failed their mission on Scarif and didn’t infiltrate the base storing the Death Star plans? Would there be a chance for the Resistance to blow up the Death Star, or would there be no need for a second one to be built?
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Years later, what if Rey joins Kylo Ren and destroys the Resistance? Or what if Supreme Leader Snoke survives the attack from Rey and Kylo, leading to a larger villain role?
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Diving into Star Wars Rebels, what if Ezra Bridger isn’t on the Chimaera Imperial Star Destroyer with Grand Admiral Thrawn when it’s pulled into the hyperspace ring? Would Thrawn have gotten off and changed the course of the Empire falling?
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Or, what if Kanan Jarrus survived his heroic sacrifice? How would his continued guidance shape Ezra’s path, and could he play a role in preventing the rise of the Empire’s remnants?
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On Mortis, what if The Father doesn’t wipe Anakin’s memory of his future and Anakin uses this knowledge to either prevent it from happening or embrace it? How would Ahsoka Tano and Obi-Wan react to this?
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What would happen if Ahsoka loses a fight with Maul – who would try to prevent Thrawn from bringing the Empire back? Or what if Maul never came back from the dead; who would cause Ahsoka trouble?
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What if Ahsoka had stayed with the Jedi Order instead of leaving? Would she have been able to prevent Anakin’s fall to the dark side, or would she have been on Mustafar fighting Anakin with Obi-Wan?
Combining the original trilogy, prequels, and sequels with the Clone Wars, Rebels, and other shows, it’s impossible to keep the question “What If…?” to just these bullet points. There’s actually an endless number of possibilities that could take place.
An anthology series exploring these alternate realities would be an exciting way to revisit each story’s legacy. Since fans are most likely never going to get more seasons of Star Wars Rebels, The Clone Wars, and other storylines, a What If…? series is perfect to bring these characters back. Any chance to revisit these characters and plots is one that should be taken.
