What If... The Phantom Menace came out in 1987?

A hypothetical look at what Star Wars: Episode I might have been like if George Lucas hadn't waited to make the prequels.
You can find the story-only version of the video here:
• (STORY SYNOPSIS) What ...
For more information about modding and extractinge assets from SWTOR, you can visit the SWTOR Slicer's Community:
github.com/SWTOR-Slicers
Non-SWTOR Assets:
R2-D2 by VideoCopilot:
"R2-D2 (Animated)" (skfb.ly/6pHQo) by StarWars-Universe is licensed under CC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (creativecommons.org/licenses/b....
C-3PO by CG-Teen
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If you'd like to dive deeper into the Star Wars Saga's development history yourself, here's all the behind-the-scenes sources I usually pull from:
pastebin.com/NthWEvbG
The Empire Wreckers actual play podcast:
www.buzzsprout.com/141856/
Or Elsewhere on the internet:
/ empirewreckers
/ empirewreckers
/ empirewreckers
/ empirewreckers

[@empirewreckers]

Since a few people have mentioned Midi-Chlorians being mentioned in J.W. Rinzler's Making of Star Wars book from 2007, Rinzler made a blog post in 2013 clarifying that the word was added to the book at Lucas' request, "bringing his original words in line with his later thoughts and the events of the prequel trilogy." www.starwars.com/news/so-what-the-heck-are-midi-chlorians

[@Metacritical_]

Was that the Menace of 87?!

[@dinodogzilla2999]

I was thinking about that moment when seeing the thumbnail

[@samuel-wankenobi]

I like that this isn't just some random fan fic and that you are using stuff from Lucas early script

[@shonenbag6478]

Glad to see no soulless AI being used for these concept frames! Your hard work goes acknowledged!!

[@DiegoSouto-fy9su]

I've seen so many of those "50's technicolor" version of movies that this thing took me by surprise

[@bigchez2855]

I really like the approach of following Lucas's early ideas rather than how you'd personally set up the movie. It highlights the uniqueness of Lucas's art, as well as it's most... questionable trends.

[@FabianGuse]

As a fan of the Star Wars prequels, I initially feared that this type of video, which entirely reimagines these films against Lucas's original vision, might bore me once more. However, I was delightfully surprised - it is extraordinarily refreshing to see a Star Wars creator who employs such meticulous research. Many content creators could certainly learn from this level of detail. Superb!

[@surfertron20000]

I wanna thank you for using the SW:TOR assets rather than AI to make the concept stills.

[@vancodling4223]

Lol why

[@vancodling4223]

Who got paid? Lmao

[@Par-Crom]

I second that. It would've look so superficial and pretentious, visually speaking, if he ever did that.

[@NukeWarz101]

looking forward to your episode two fanfic brother

[@Abridgimation]

Holy crap man, this is phenomenal! Would love to see what Episode II and III would look like under your vision! Maybe even the Sequel Trilogy if it happened around the time the Prequels did in the real timeline

[@andrewlavigne44]

This is well thought and I appreciate all the effort you put into getting "screenshots" etc.

[@turnerburton]

Years ago, I believe it was Red Letter Media that did a “what if the prequels were good” series. I adored those back in the day for their creativity, but they did become extremely fan fiction-y towards the end as the series began to be propelled by its own continuity. If this ends up being a series (please), I could see it being a better-researched case study/analysis of how George Lucas’s vision evolved over time, which has significantly more educational value and is a lot more interesting than “here’s what I would’ve done instead.” Thank you for doing this, I’m really looking forward to potential sequels!

[@hotrod0331]

It was actually belated media that did the “what if the prequels were good” rewrite not red letter media.

[@turnerburton]

@@hotrod0331 thank you for the correction, my bad!

[@jacobrex3208]

Kind of hot take, I love the politics of Phantom Menace. Having grown up in the time of prequels and vividly remembering when Revenge of the Sith released, I love the politics and the idea of the corruption leading the Republic to its demise.

[@user-ix3mu7rn4h]

Me too, while it might have been too on the nose, i still like the story of a republic's fall into an empire

[@RemnantCult]

Star Wars has always been political. One of the first things the original Star Wars novelization tells you is how the Republic slowly turned rotten from inside out. It should have been obvious that the prequels would have a bit more political intrigue than the later episodes.

[@Helperbot-2000]

@@RemnantCult and the first scenes is that of a princess diplomat and double agent trying to get out of a situation by invoking the will and power of the galactic senate, but is arrested for beeing a traitor to the empire

[@GuineaPigEveryday]

As many have said, the prequel’s story, its ideas and themes, are fantastic, the execution of it is what disappointed. I mean there’s no objectively good art but the writing needed more outside input and more drafting and less yes-men that never challenged George Lucas on his wooden dialogue and stilted writing, he’s a genius for the OT but everyone keeps ignoring how much of a collective work that was, the prequels were too but the script seemed bogged down with Lucas’ flaws in screenwriting, which had in the past often been offset by people like Lawrence Kasdan or Spielberg

[@noname-bu1ux]

I love it. It's a genuine observation of how liberalism (read: the ideology of capitalism) always chooses to ally with or turn to fascism rather than give in to the demands of workers. Brief explanation of that: the Republic (a liberal bourgeois democracy) uses a slave army to put down the CIS, a confederacy of worlds represented by labor unions, corporations, firms, co-ops, etc, and also a justified interplanetary liberation struggle from an empire in all but name. The Republic does nothing for them, but they still have to be part of their jurisdiction, and it is for that reason alone that the CIS deserved their independence. All the faults of the CIS aside, their own use of slavery etc....they were trying to cut ties with a parasite. George Lucas put some salient class dialogue in his movies. Sometimes it's a bit spotty, mostly in the form of thinly-veiled racializations of real people depicted as aliens, but it beats George Orwell.

[@ninjanolan6328]

How does this not have more views? This is a really high quality video. Keep up the good work!

[@RetroCrisis]

Just wow. Great job dude. I was thoroughly entertained - more so than the recent Disney trilogy. I particularly enjoyed all the trivia and behind the scenes stuff about Lucas' life and thought processes.

[@renaigh]

I was expecting Reagan to be included in some way and I was not disappointed.

[@BryceNewbury]

I came to the Star Wars lore, I stayed for the fanfic.

[@thelyghter7927]

The Force Unleashed music at the beginning is SO FITTING!!!

[@jackthegreek6092]

"I've been looking forward to this"

[@Knight1029]

You have such great insight on Star Wars. Thanks so much for making these videos!

[@muticere]

Okay, so you said Shatnerians and I knew I'd heard that name before. Then I realized, that's what Mike Stoklasa called the Neimoidians in his Phantom Menace review. As a deep cut joke, that's legitimately pretty good.

[@gabrokkerhun]

This is the channel that reignited my love for Star Wars after all the new media that I just couldn't be bothered with, looking forward to this video.

[@lavendersalad296]

This video rules. You're far and away my favorite star wars video maker! Looking forward to more in the future

[@lowki07]

This truly felt like taking a peak into another timeline... thank you so much 😢

[@holocron_vfx]

Thanks for the credit. Very good video.

[@amasterofsome]

Subbing just because of your determination to imagine the look instead of feeding AI a prompt. Great video man!

[@goldreaper4209]

I have no idea where you find all of this great Star Wars-adjacent b-roll but I love it 😂

[@blackpanther8716]

Wow, that was amazingly well done. I am extremely impressed with how well researched and true to the old material this story was.

[@that1drd668]

I really can’t wait to see Episodes 2 and 3 from this point of view it’s a really amazing concept and you’ve done wonderfully with it

[@BrokeDino]

That was quite good. Excited to see ep2 and 3 from you

[@ponyphonic]

This is absolutely fascinating.

[@ungulatemanalpha]

a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one

[@thekiss2083]

We will watch his career with great interest!

[@ThommyofThenn]

2:50 and it would have been yet another example of 1987 being the finest year for cinema in the 1980s! I mean...they had Robocop released that very year.

[@CoenusOfPolemocrates]

Another outstanding video on this channel; keep up the good work.

[@heartsalive3157]

This was awesome, I loved all the rough draft lore that you gave to back up your story choices.

[@dashiellgillingham4579]

A lot of people miss that we do nearly this level of revision every time we recreate something from the past. For example: modern retellings of Homer's Odyssey are focused on Odysseus' journey, which is not what is depicted in the song. The song is about Odysseus and his wife and son trying to navigate the complicated politics of his unexpected return to Ithica, where his survival was extremely politically hazardous for everyone. His ten years at sea are only vaguely hinted at, or brought up as he looks to his past for ideas of how to handle things. Other stories also hinted at the islands he visited, like Circe mentioning Odysseus had once lived with her and describing it in the play Medea by Euripides. Modern versions combine all these vague hints into a new narrative not found in the original work, constructed from things that ancient Greeks might have plausibly written, but didn't.

[@Kaiya_1414]

ur star wars vids r literally amazing keep it up!!

[@TehFeature]

This is so cool. I cannot imagine how much effort you put into this. Turned out great!

[@xmarksthespot4021]

You nailed it with the concept art! I also didn't know the Trade Ferderation were partly modeled on Star Trek! Gonna nitpick, the Obi Wan Padme (or Brea in this case) romance isn't really a romance, but more Brea feeling infatuated and Obi Wan feelinh awkward in response. That was the impression i got when I read the inital ideas behind TPM. Also Obi Wan saving Brea can be just him being a Jedi. After all, Brea is gonna be with Anakin further down the line.

[@loldoctor]

I think about this channel randomly every once in a while hoping a new video will appear and TODAY IS THE DAY

[@Case2_0]

Commenting to boost algorithm so more people see this masterpiece

[@Helperbot-2000]

great job! this is really interresting

[@DIEGhostfish]

I feel like Anakin's time as a slave on a neutral planet the Jedi and Republic refuse to invade and liberate is something that really should stay in some way.

[@thenewdoc4599]

I was really worried that you were going to use ai in the video but I'm so happy you didn't. It worked out really great. Your rewrites of the film is also well researched and doesn't just feel like another piece of fan fiction claiming to be in Lucas' original vision.

[@user-di6zx2mg6n]

Nice video!

[@richardw3052]

I clicked thinking (assuming) your focus would be on the practical effects and real filming locations that would have been used rather than CGI and am amazed at how much detail and research you've put into this video about the story and the hypothetical time frame in which this film would have been created. Great job!

[@Yodakaycool]

Ooo. Great video!

[@wobber17]

Really good video! Hope you continue this alternative prequel trilogy.

[@sinnyboy9317]

This was absolutely awesome guy!! Seriously loved this from start to finish, no word of a lie if you developed it more even in just like a basic script or detailed novelized version Id read it in a heartbeat. Just great stuff!! Been loving this channel and it's work for such a long time and recently been listening to the podcast you guys do. Awesome work across the board and cant wait for the next video. 👍🤙 Sidenote could you upload like turn around sheets for the characters you designed here somewhere? Id love to do some drawings of a few, really dug the style for them especially the more knightish look to the Jedi.

[@gino_barcollino]

Waiting for episode II soon

[@raff1944]

I hope this blows up because it’s really incredible!! You are very talented and creative and I’d love to collaborate or just pick your brain some day

[@jackcapellini113]

Fascinating video my friend. It’s so interesting to think of alternate history and how certain movies could have played out. You should eventually make a video essay covering what could have been George Lucas’s sequel trilogy!

[@DavidBrown-xm8ou]

49:32 "Luke. You will go to the Dagobah System. There you will learn from Yoda, the *JEDI* *MASTER* who instructed me." - Obi-Wan 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

[@Octalux]

Fantastic job!!!

[@yospidey0078]

Wow interesting video idea. When I saw this, I thought you were just going to do a simple prequel rewrite and with your title just trying to sound different from the others. But you actually did your research and all the information you have makes sense if Phantom Menace was released earlier.

[@CStelTV]

Great job!

[@Par-Crom]

I think I like this ! Also, no AI is the best AI to make this fan work. I can't be more thankful for what you came up with with this video, the respect for the raw material and the creativity. I hope that you're willing to work on the sequel then hehe.

[@mr.f716]

Id suggest changing the thumbnail to something more ‘‘video essay esque“. The wqy it looked in my subbox seemed more like a podcast episode especially paired with the second video with basically the same thumbnail. I almost skipped it and i feel like lots of people might have for that reason

[@owenedward144]

I don’t understand your reasoning at all lol

[@Yatsi-mz3yb]

I've been looking forward to this

[@alexneff]

Thank you for dropping 2 videos you dont post enough

[@EddieBloecher]

I remember some casual viewers freaking out in 1980 over the Episode 5 crawl. I actually witnessed a couple heated arguments outside of theater after film. Lol My friend Pat and I both 11 at rhe time laughed at some old lady with her grandkids going off in whispers saying well we haven't seen the other 4 how do you know what's going on. Lol

[@krufty47]

I probably wouldn't have been as die hard of a star wars fan if this were reality. As i was born in '93, which made it perfect being a kid/young teen during the prequels. Thank God George took that break

[@cartmansfat123]

Sir, you’ve just earned yourself a subscriber. There’s so much fan bias and hate running rampant in the Star Wars fandom right now. Seeing someone who understands George’s work while also criticizing his more questionable aspects is a breath of fresh air. I’ve seen so many people do what if the Phantom Menace was good, better, blah blah blah etc. It’s not often you see a plausible what if that takes into consideration of the creator’s mindset rather than armchair filmmaker pushing their “superior take”.

[@amarcellus1714]

I like the prequels but my God I have always imagined what could of have been if the prequels were made late 80s -early 90s if other writers did the script. Or better yet, the sequels coming out early 90s.

[@aresnir2725]

What if Force Awakens came in 1987? There was rumors that Lucas planned to make another 3 movies, continuing story of Luke, Han and Leia.

[@YamiAtomsk]

So THAT'S why my theatrical cut versions of Empire and Jedi have the "epiosde" in the title crawl. Had no idea those were always there.

[@nerdyoutube7847]

This is a banger video

[@EddieBloecher]

That 1990 date for Clones was day I shipped out to basic training for Army. Lol Missing that would've broken my heart before the Drill Sergeants had a chance to. Lmao

[@Brinco-tv]

I just watched Lilo & Stitch with my daughter and there's an alien pretty similar to what the neimodians had to be.

[@ActuallyMori]

Okay now I want a full series of this, like what if A New Hope released in 1999

[@jacobwest7]

I don't see how a prequel trilogy would work with every movie including the clone wars maybe unless the end of episode 1 is where it starts or it happened some time before the movie begins. I don't see them doing that, it makes sense that a table setting first movie is where you start. Also a small correction, midichlorians were invented in 1973 from what I remember he just used the old concept decades later for phantom menace

[@canaldohector]

I do wonder how the lack of more advanced computer graphics would have impacted the movie's aesthetic. I guess it would be closer to the Star Trek movies ILM worked on in that period.

[@SocksFC]

I'd say the only problem with Phantom Menace was that it was a bit conflicting for the audience. You'd have Jar Jar and podracing aimed towards children but contrasting with the politics that were aimed to adults

[@aresnir2725]

Its more audience's problems, with their expectations, rather then movie's itself

[@SocksFC]

@@aresnir2725 yeah

[@Fanfan30303]

This is cool thank you!

[@user-to9ge8ii9n]

Excellent movie & video, with a cool distinctive art style. Awesome. ❤ (Opposite to many gatekeeping commenters, using other technical tools ethically for a different style would have also been sweet.)

[@CyberSoulgem]

NEW EMPIRE WRECKERS LETS GOOOO

[@Kane.JimLahey.]

I love the force unleashed theme & ost. Wish Sam Witwer could get his own movie.

[@the_ultracheese67]

man it took me WAY too long to realize owen was uncle owen

[@rga1605]

This could've been interesting, just ironing out some issues and it could even be a good movie

[@teddyboucher1848]

Padme was 14 in the Phantom Menace I am pretty sure.

[@scissorteeth4859]

LFG This is my Super Bowl

[@rodolfomurillo4989]

Thsi video was baller af

[@TY057]

neat idea

[@luckyexplorer1053]

Next I think you should do a video on the original plans of the sequel trilogy on how that would of been like. Maybe call it, What if… The Force Awakens came out in 2011 or 2012. Imagine in a world where George Lucas figured out a better way to manage production for episode 7, Lucasfilm and Fox were never sold to Disney, and Disney just stayed put.

[@caedrewan]

this is getting an immediate share

[@guyvanarsdall7686]

Best part of this... no mid-chlorians,

[@macaryl95]

Midichlorians are the powerhouse of the force

[@DetectiveZoidberg]

I'm surprised you didn't mention that the company that did the CGI for Last Starfighter actually made a piece of X-Wing test footage but Lucas rejected the proposal. Maybe in this alternative timeline Lucas does work with them? kzbin.info/www/bejne/poa9fWilbLN7iZo

[@aresnir2725]

Some early CGI was used in New Hope for Death Star schematics for example.

[@user-bj2je7jc7z]

Imagine if James Cameron directed a Star Wars in the 90's. After T2

[@aresnir2725]

Why would he?

[@user-bj2je7jc7z]

@@aresnir2725 It was hypothetical, in case you didn't understand.

[@nihicyn]

New Empire Wreckers!! HELL YEAH!!!

[@DIEGhostfish]

Montross is always going to be Clancy Brown's character in Bounty Hunter to me. I can't see anyone else there.

[@rileyvanhornguy]

Will you eventually be doing the sequel movies, too? That would be awesome.

[@williamtait5599]

I wonder what the cast would be for this what if

[@roberterwine7650]

it was the 1978 re-release when star wars was called episode IV : a new hope

[@DavidBrown-xm8ou]

April 10, 1981.

[@andrewswanborough7076]

Music from the New Hope NES game. Nice.

[@ChristianPierce]

YESSSS

[@DIEGhostfish]

37:23 That did seem to possibly be a bit of a parody, a lot of the Man of Action pulps of the era would have a sort of stock plot of the protagonist eventually marrying his boss's daughter who he met when she was too young. Indy may have oritianlly been a meaner parody in spirit that would take that trope to its gross extreme, before they walked it back

[@DIEGhostfish]

Or possibly not. Who knows.

[@PutItAway101]

Calling it by the familiar word "chrome" would have been silly, hopefully they would have come up with a cool sounding made-up name for it.

[@Monkchelle_Kongbama]

because durasteel isn't a thing

[@Cenindo]

Very good video, but apparently Lucas did make a reference to Force-sensitive people having "more midichlorians in their cells" already while making the original trilogy. The midichlorians were actually not a new invention of the 1990s, though they were never mentioned onscreen before Episode 1 came out. Of course, many fans did not like this "new" concept added to the lore, but to Lucas it was not so new at all.

[@empirewreckers]

JW Rinzler actually made a blog post clarifying this, saying that the mention of Midichlorians in the Making of Star Wars book was added by Lucas when Rinzler was putting the book together: www.starwars.com/news/so-what-the-heck-are-midi-chlorians

[@led_potato]

Hello there

[@aze4308]

nice