This thrilling Star Wars theory suggests Star Wars movies and TV shows could bring Darth Vader back in a way that would be believable and compelling—and it wouldn’t be Anakin Skywalker. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is one of the best characters in Star Wars, if not the single best, and Anakin Skywalker’s Star Wars timeline has dominated the franchise from the very beginning. Although Star Wars has made it clear that upcoming projects will focus on stories beyond the Skywalkers and the nine Skywalker Saga movies, Vader remains a key and beloved character.
Star Wars seems well aware of this, as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader has recently had two live-action returns, in Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka, and he is primed to return in Ahsoka season 2. Yet, that future would no doubt focus on Anakin and his redemption, not on his time as a Sith, given he was last seen as a Force ghost on Peridea. This new theory suggests that we may get to see Darth Vader as a full-fledged villain again, however, and it is absolutely shocking.
The Empire Secretly Created Backups Of Darth Vader’s Brain
Details About Darth Vader’s Armor Revealed This Unsettling Information
Some little-known facts about Darth Vader’s armor have shockingly revealed that the Empire created a backup of Darth Vader’s brain by nature of his suit. A canon reference book, Star Wars: Darth Vader: A 3-D Reconstruction Log, written by Daniel Wallace, explained:
“As part of the suit’s diagnostic cycle, needles lining the inside of the helmet penetrate the patient’s skin when the helmet is fixed in place. These feed neurological data on brainwave activity to the central chest computer… where it can be transferred onto data wafers.”
In addition to serving as a reminder that Darth Vader’s suit caused him daily pain, this information suggests a way that Darth Vader could return, and it would be entirely without Anakin Skywalker.
Purchase Star Wars: Darth Vader: A 3-D Reconstruction Log
With this process, the Empire effectively had backups of Darth Vader’s brain, presumably including Vader’s memories, aspects of his personality, and various other components that make Darth Vader who he is. Yes, Anakin Skywalker was more than just his brain data, although, at that point, he was also more man than machine. Taken together, this information suggests that the Empire—or whoever has access to that data now—could bring Darth Vader back online without needing Anakin Skywalker at all.
Imperial Cloning Means Vader Can Be Restored
Clearly, The Cloning Technology Is There
However controversial it may have been, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker proved that the Empire and what came after it had the ability to clone people with Palpatine’s resurrection. In fact, that technology had become so advanced that they even managed to give this Palpatine clone his Force powers, which was an especially impressive feat that took years of work and science. Given that, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that Darth Vader could be brought back to life through cloning and the downloading of his brain data.
Darth Vader was one of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith, but he also had some considerable weaknesses. For one, the suit itself was limiting for Vader, who was constantly in pain and had to re-learn things like lightsaber skills in a restrictive suit that impaired both his mobility and his vision. In addition to that, no matter how often he insisted he had killed Anakin Skywalker and was fully committed to the dark side, the reality is, Darth Vader was always conflicted. Bringing Darth Vader back in this way would therefore make him more powerful than ever.
Darth Vader was always conflicted.
Star Wars Can Actually Bring Back Vader As A Sith… Not A Redeemed Villain
This Would Be The Most Terrifying And Perhaps Most Powerful Darth Vader Yet
It is truly thrilling to imagine what this could mean for Star Wars. While some might bristle at Darth Vader coming back, as Star Wars has left a bit of a bad taste in some viewers’ mouths with multiple resurrections over the years, this return would actually make sense and could be well-executed. I will also never complain about getting to see more of Anakin Skywalker and/or Darth Vader, whatever form that takes.
As much as I also love Anakin Skywalker, getting to see Darth Vader fully embrace how evil he is without having any conflict within him would make him so much more terrifying. This could actually mean exploring a whole new side to Darth Vader—one who lacks any attachments, feelings, or remorse. Particularly as Star Wars is beginning to show what Anakin Skywalker is like after he returned to the light side of the Force, it would be brilliant to see the other half of that equation.
Getting to see Darth Vader fully embrace how evil he is without having any conflict within him would make him so much more terrifying.
It’s unclear how willing Star Wars might be to make a move like this. It feels like a bit of a long-sH๏τ, although Star Wars has certainly made much more bewildering decisions in recent years. Particularly with so much continued fanfare around Darth Vader, this wouldn’t necessarily be a terrible idea. Although we might never see it come to life, this Star Wars book does suggest that Darth Vader could have an incredible return in the Star Wars franchise.
