The originalStar Warstrilogy would have been very different if Emperor Palpatine discovered Luke Skywalker before Darth Vader did . According to the Disney - era canyon , Darth Vader first describe Luke Skywalker ’s identity shortly after the end of the first Death Star . The bounty huntsman Boba Fett bring him the name of the Rebel pilot who raise the fatal shot , and Vader realize at once that his son had been hidden from him . This storey is told in Kieron Gillen’sDarth Vaderrun , adjust shortly after the firstStar Warsfilm . This naturally plunge the event ofThe Empire Strikes Back , with Darth Vader hunting down his son .

But it ’s fascinating to imagine how unlike the enfranchisement would have been had Palpatine get Luke first . Obi - Wan protect Luke on Tatooinethroughout the Dark Times , mostly keeping him shield from foe eye until he came of age . Still , there were spate of opportunities for Palpatine to have regain Luke originally - especially give the Dark Lord of the Sith strove to watch over all his opposition through the Force . Had he done so , he would have changed the chronicle of the galaxy .

link : Who Would ’ve Been Palpatine ’s Replacement For Darth Vader ( Before Luke ) ?

Din Djarin and Ahsoka-1

Palpatine Would Have Trained Luke To Replace Darth Vader

It ’s reasonable to take on this scenario need Palpatine regain Luke long before the Battle of Yavin ; give the Emperor was not present on the Death Star , he would n’t have find him during those effect . If this did happen , Palpatine would likely have repeated chronicle with Anakin Skywalker ’s son , grooming Luke as an prentice . Palpatine was shown continually replacing his apprentices during the prequel trilogy;Palpatine broadly follow the Sith Rule of Two , supercede Maul with Tyranus , and Dooku with Vader . Comics have confirmed he considered ways to replace Vader after his injuries on Mustafar as well .

In the master timeline , Return of the Jediconfirms Palpatine did indeed count Luke as a new apprentice . That would have been much wanton had Palpatine found Luke when he was just a boy . He ’d have been able to switch apprentices in purchase order to hold his mogul as captain , his distinctive approach with the Rule of Two .

Luke Would Likely Have Fallen To The Dark Side

One of the heart differences in thisStar Warstimeline is just that it would have been one in which Luke would have actually lessen to the dark side . Luke rejected the black side inReturn of the Jedi , influenced by his upbringing by the Lars , his grooming in the light side , and his connector to the likes of Obi - Wan Kenobi , Yoda , Leia , and Han . Young Luke did not know Obi - Wan , and even dream of join the Empire . He would have been unprotected from Palpatine ’s influence .

This means Palpatine would have been able-bodied to easily corrupt him , training Luke in the way of the Sith . A young Luke would in all likelihood become Palpatine ’s apprentice , replace Darth Vader as Vader had replaced Dooku years prior . Luke Skywalker would have never become the torpedo of the Rebellion and drop to the dark side long before he ever had the luck to become the fabled Jedi .

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Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2

Luke’s Sith Power Could Have Rivaled Darth Vader’s

Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One , and his power was peerless - but Luke , as his son , was also extremely strong in the Force . This was not picture to the full in the original trilogy ’s first two films , his potential is visible inReturn of the Jedi , The Mandalorian , and the subsequence trilogy . Luke is tremendously powerful ; once he had complete his training under Palpatine , he would have unfeignedly rivaled Darth Vader . The Sith covet power , strength , and authorization over knowledge , intend Luke ’s Force connexion could have made him a more herculean Sith than he ever was as a Jedi .

Leia Could Have Been Trained As A Jedi

In this scenario , Luke was taken from Tatooine too soon and trained by Palpatine . Even in the main timeline , Obi - Wan and Yoda take training Leia ( as evidenced by Yoda in his words " There is another " inThe Empire Strikes Back ) . With Luke taken by the Emperor , Obi - Wan would likely have reconnected with Leia to civilise her as a Jedi alongside Yoda sacrifice her canyon Force potential and abilities . Leia would have become the mainJedi of the original trilogyera .

Leia Would Have Been The Rebellion’s Hope

Leia becoming a Jedi would efficaciously imply she became the Rebellion ’s last hope . Even if Luke had fall to the dark side , Leia would still have her early life being upgrade in the political clime of Alderaan mean she would play an important role in the Rebellion . Combining this with Jedi abilities learned from Obi - Wan and Yoda , Leia would have been the general , senator , and Jedi that the Rebellion needed to run them against the rising exponent of the Empire .

Vader Could Have Been Redeemed By Leia & Obi-Wan

It ’s interesting to excogitate about the fate of Darth Vader in thisStar Warstimeline . While the Emperor would have push Luke to kill his father and replace him as his apprentice , the Chosen Onelives according to the will of the Force . Vader ’s world power and desire for retaliation would probably have kept him awake . If this was the event , Leia could have been the one to redeem him to the light side of the Force alongside his former mentor Obi - Wan . This could have conduce to Leia , Anakin , and Obi - Wan attempting to reach Luke and turn him against the Emperor .

bear on : Why Luke Skywalker Did n’t Know Palpatine Was alert In The Sequels

Leia, Anakin & Obi-Wan Redeem Luke To Defeat Palpatine

This means the final stage of thisStar Warswhat if would line up with George Lucas ' vision for the original trilogy . Leia - the core Jedi of this alternate original trilogy - would still necessitate to face Palpatine , and she would be working to redeem her brother . She would be helped by aredeemed Darth Vaderand Obi - Wan Kenobi , with the three combining their powers to save Luke . Luke ’s redemption would naturally extend Palpatine to search revenge on his enemies , and Anakin Skywalker - watch his two child and effective Quaker attacked by his former passkey - would still live up to his destiny asStar Wars ' select One , perhaps even sacrifice himself to shoot down the Sith .

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Sidious, Tyranus, Maul, and Vader.

Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Emperor Palpatine from Return of the Jedi.

Star Wars Palpatine Luke Skywalker

Palpatine with a Dark-side Luke in Star Wars: Dark Empire art.

Star Wars Luke Skywalker Darth Vader apprentices

Leia Skywalker being given Anakin’s lightsaber by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Leia trains as a Jedi in The Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars Darth Vader Obi Wan Death Star

Anakin draws his lightsaber on Palpatine in the Revenge of the Sith

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