‘Star Wars What If…?’ Part II: Non-Canon Stories
Image Source: CultureSlate
Once upon a time, Star Wars didn’t always have the same canon universe we have today. There was once another universe that is now referred to as Legends. With this in mind, many fans have asked for a “What If...?” series that adapted these stories for a series on Disney+. Here is a list of five legends stories to put in a Star Wars What If...? series on Disney+.
5. Dark Empire
Image Source: denofgeek
The Rise of Skywalker was not the first time Emperor Palpatine returned from the dead. The idea goes back to the first Dark Horse comic of the 90s, Dark Empire by Tom Veitch. Set a few years after Return of the Jedi, it details how Luke, Han, and Leia must battle a reborn Emperor Palpatine, who is using clone bodies to keep himself alive and rebuild his once mighty evil Empire. A bizarre adventure with many twists and turns, this would be one of the more interesting What If...? stories to tell, considering it is one of the stranger stories in the Legends universe.
RELATED:
4. The Battle Of Jabiim
Image Source: YouTube
Before The Clone Wars 2008 series expanded upon this monumental event on the small screen, the great war was depicted in other media such as books, comics, and games. One such comic book created by the good people at Dark Horse Comics told a story detailing one of the more heinous battles of the war, simply known as The Battle of Jabiim.
The Battle of Jabiim was considered one of the deadliest battles of the Clone Wars, a civil war between pro and anti-Republic forces with Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Keboi in the mix. This story is a deep war thriller dealing with the brunt of warfare and the psychological toll it takes on our heroes. This story shows how far they go before becoming monsters they swore to destroy. This would make quite an interesting What If...? story and a good adaption for a classic Legends adventure from Dark Horse Comics, especially with its addition to the Disney+ Kenobi series.
3. Dark Lord: The Rise Of Darth Vader
Image Source: amazon
Another one-and-done story but this time in a novel form that could make a What If...? story could easily be Dark Lord The Rise of Darth Vader by Author James Luceno. Set right after Revenge of the Sith, it details the first days of Anakin Skywalker as Darth Vader. Then, we see him go to the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk to hunt down some Jedi and come to terms with his new life as a Dark Lord of the Sith. Again, this story would make an interesting What If...? tale. The Legends version of this tale would fit nicely in Charles Soule’s Darth Vader comic series.
2. The Thrawn Trilogy
Image Source: SWU
No Star Wars Legend adaptation list would be complete without someone asking for the Thrawn Trilogy to be made in a What If...? story. Who wouldn’t want to see the story of Luke, Han, and Leia going up against Grand Admiral Thrawn in the iconic post-Endor trilogy? With characters like Thrawn, Pellaeon, and Mara Jade, it would make an excellent What If...? scenario in the post-Endor era.
1. The New Jedi Order Series
Image Source: denofgeek
Perhaps the most complex story to tell in a Star Wars What If...? but certainly not the least interesting would be the story of The New Jedi Order storyline. This 19-book series details the invasion of the galaxy by the Yuuzong Vong, an alien menace from another galaxy with no connection to the Force. What became a sprawling invasion with massive battles, several Jedi, and the death of a prominent Star Wars character, this series would be hard to make into a single What If...? story, but it would be fascinating to see it adapted in some way, perhaps in the near future.
The What If...? world of storytelling is fascinating, and Legends is, in many ways, the ultimate What If...? scenario. Alternate takes on what happened in the post-Endor galaxy or Darth Vader’s first week as Dark Lord. So many choices and storylines were told in the Legends banner, and it would be cool to see these stories adapted on the screen. To see another version of the galaxy far, far away.
READ NEXT:
