Star Wars Fans Believe Swapping Movie Titles Could Save the Franchise

Fans of the Star Wars space opera series frequently propose diverse theories about its universe and occasionally suggest that specific movies in the saga might benefit from new titles. The Star Wars franchise has transported viewers to a distant galaxy since the 1977 release of A New Hope, encompassing the original, prequel, and sequel trilogies as part of the nine-film Skywalker Saga. Interestingly, some of the most rigorous critics of the Star Wars series have often been its own enthusiasts.

Fans of Star Wars scrutinize the franchise more than others, debating everything from midichlorians to Jar-Jar Binks and even who shot first between Han Solo and Greedo. This includes discussions about the naming of the Skywalker Saga itself. Interestingly, some Star Wars enthusiasts believe that changing titles among certain Star Wars movies could be a clever idea.

Why Some Star Wars Fans Are Swapping Titles In The Franchise

On an unofficial Star Wars Reddit community, a user named brady160 proposed swapping the titles of certain Star Wars movies a few years ago. The suggestion was to change Episode 1 and 9 titles so that they better match their storylines. If this title switch were to happen, then Episode 1 would be called “Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Rise of Skywalker,” focusing on the discovery of a slave boy with strong Force abilities who is the first in a lineage that will bring balance to the Force, as described by brady160. On the other hand, Episode 9 would become “Star Wars: Episode 9 – The Phantom Menace,” telling the story of a powerful enemy, previously thought dead, returning to threaten the galaxy once more.

The idea put forward by the user on Reddit, which is about renaming the entire Star Wars Saga, received significant support from other fans. A user (whose account no longer exists) even suggested a complete overhaul of the titles, with the franchise being rebranded as follows: “Episode I: A New Hope”, “Episode II: Rise of Skywalker”, “Episode III: Attack of the Clones”, “Episode IV: The Force Awakens”, “Episode V: Revenge of the Sith”, “Episode VI: The Last Jedi”, “Episode VII: The Empire Strikes Back”, “Episode VIII: Return of the Jedi”, and “Episode IX: The Phantom Menace”. It’s common for fans to propose changes like this in the digital era, but would a hypothetical title change fundamentally alter Star Wars?

Title-Swapping Is A Fun Exercise, But Wouldn’t Fundamentally Change The Star Wars Franchise

The proposal of rearranging the titles of different Star Wars films sparks curiosity about how this might impact the Star Wars universe and the franchise’s image. However, it’s highly probable that such a title change would have minimal, if any, effect. Titles can be as disconnected or connected to the actual story, characters, or world of a movie as one can imagine, but ultimately, the film remains the same movie it has always been.

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I must admit that the ideas proposed by brady160 and fellow fans on Reddit aren’t off the mark. Swapping the stories of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker seems to be an interesting approach when revisiting the saga. It’s intriguing to consider how these two movies could have made more sense if placed in opposite positions. However, with George Lucas’ reputation for making changes to the Star Wars films, it’s highly unlikely that we would ever see The Phantom Menace and The Rise of Skywalker titles switched, let alone the entire franchise undergoing such a significant transformation.

Star Wars Fandom Is Among The Most Engaged & Polarized In The World

It’s not uncommon for some Star Wars enthusiasts to propose swapping movie titles within the series, and this shouldn’t catch us off guard. After all, few fan bases of major sci-fi, fantasy, horror, or superhero properties are as deeply involved and invested in a fictional universe as Star Wars fans. In many respects, Star Wars is one of the pioneering examples of a dedicated group of enthusiasts coming together to form an engaged fandom around an intellectual property. However, it’s important to note that the Star Wars fandom is also a highly divisive one.

Despite the original Star Wars trilogy enduring as the timelessly iconic space opera, subsequent Star Wars films and series have sparked heated debates among fans, dividing them into passionate supporters and critics. The Star Wars prequels, infamous for their backlash, still hold a more favorable view among newer Star Wars enthusiasts. This renewed appreciation has boosted their reputation. Meanwhile, the discussions surrounding Disney+’s Star Wars shows have been even more contentious, with The Mandalorian being the notable exception that received widespread acclaim. The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars is generally well-received among fans, but Star Wars: The Last Jedi, arguably the most divisive Star Wars movie ever made in 2017, remains a point of contention.

The notion among Star Wars enthusiasts to rearrange the series titles showcases both their intense devotion and the divisiveness within the Star Wars fanbase. This idea, in essence, symbolizes fans creating their own retcons and modifying the franchise they cherish as an amusing pastime. However, it’s important to note that this change may not be something LucasFilm adopts in the actual Star Wars universe.

All Star Wars movies can be streamed on Disney+.

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2025-01-20 01:42