Irvin Kershner, the director ofThe Empire Strikes Back, was once willing to direct one of the movies in the prequel trilogy, and his take onStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clonescould have been very different from George Lucas' vision.The Empire Strikes Backis widely regarded as thebestStar Warsmovieever made, and a lot of its reputation comes from Kershner’s work. Lucas had met Kershner when he was a professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and he had asked his former teacher to direct anotherStar Warsmovie.
ThoughGeorge Lucas asked three people to direct the prequels, he ended up directing every installment himself. Many viewers considered that a mistake, and though the prequels are now beloved by manyStar Warsfans, most agree they aren’t as good as the original trilogy. If the prequel trilogy had been made just a few years earlier, however, Lucas could have convinced Irvin Kershner to come back and direct one of the films. If Kershner had created the middle installment in the trilogy, as he did withThe Empire Strikes Back, thenAttack of the Clonescould have been almost unrecognizable.
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Irvin Kershner Was Willing To Direct One Of The Star Wars Prequels
In an interview withVanity Fair,Irvin Kershner said that if Lucas had started making the prequel trilogy in 1988 instead of 1999, he would have agreed to direct one of the movies. Lucas had originally planned to begin developing the first movie of the prequel trilogy in 1985, just two years after the release ofReturn of the Jedi. Instead, he took a hiatus from filmmaking and didn’t begin filmingStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menaceuntil 1997. If Lucas had followed his original schedule, it would have been enough to entice Kershner into the director’s chair.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
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The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
The fact that he was willing to direct a prequel movie was especially surprising givenKershner had previously turned down Lucas' offer to directReturn of the Jedi. In the same interview, Kershner explained that he didn’t directReturn of the Jedibecause “After working for two years and nine months doing Empire, and having it take so much out of my life and having given me so much, I felt that it was a complete experience, and it was time to move on.“If the prequels had started in 1985, however, it would have hit the sweet spot of Kershner’s career where he had recovered from filmingThe Empire Strikes Backand had not yet retired.
Irvin Kershner retired from directing in 1994. His final directing credit came from an episode ofSeaquest 2032.
How Irvin Kershner’s Prequel Movie Might Have Been Different From George Lucas’
Assuming Kershner would have taken on the middle entry to the prequel trilogy, as he did with the original trilogy, he would have had a chance at makingAttack of the Clones.A big reasonThe Empire Strikes Backwas so beloved is because it had a decidedly darker and more mature tone than its predecessor. Kershner likely would have taken the same approach toAttack of the Clones. The story of Obi-Wan Kenobi discovering the clone army and the start of the Clone Wars may have been much more intense, and it could have had a much darker ending.
Return of the Jedi
Richard Marquand
Kershner also improved onA New Hope’s characters and their development inThe Empire Strikes Back, such as the interactions between Han Solo and Leia Organa. Under Kershner, the main characters ofAttack of the Clonesmay have gotten much better dialogue and characterization.Lucas' version, for example, is often criticized for the somewhat uncompelling romance between Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, but Kershner’s version could have made their relationship the stuff of legendary romance novels. Anakin also would have benefited greatly from Kershner’s skill with dialogue, and the phrase “I don’t like sand” would have never been uttered.
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Another unique skill Kershner brought toThe Empire Strikes Backwas his ability to write an incomplete chapter in a larger story.The Empire Strikes Backwas intended to be the second part of a trilogy, and Kershner understood that he needed to provide a satisfying continuation of Luke’s story inA New Hopewhile still leaving room forReturn of the Jedi.Kershner could have done the same forAttack of the Clones, but Lucas accomplished the same goal on his own: it already works as both a continuation of Anakin’s story and as a setup forStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Irvin Kershner’s version of Attack of the Clones would have been different, but not necessarily better than George Lucas'.
While seeing Irvin Kershner’s version ofAttack of the Clonesis an exciting hypothetical, the movie George Lucas produced is still great in its own right. Kershner could have made the film darker, but it’s already plenty dark in its own right, such as Anakin’s slaughter of the Tuskens or the brewing galactic war. The romance also could have been improved, but there’s a certain charm to Lucas' take on the beginning of Padmé and Anakin’s romance. In essence, Irvin Kershner’s version ofAttack of the Cloneswould have been different, but not necessarily better than George Lucas'.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Years after the events of The Phantom Menace, the Skywalker Saga continues with Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. When Senator Padme Amidala’s life is threatened, Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with her protection. While Obi-Wan uncovers a clone army made in secret, Anakin falls in love with Padme, marking the beginning of his inevitable fall to the dark side of the Force.
