Max Nocerino 
Max delves into the realm of What-if scenarios within the Star Wars universe, uncovering an alternate timeline with disastrous consequences for the entire galaxy.
Infinities. Many sci-fi/fantasy fans immediately think of modern Marvel when the term is mentioned. However, (unbeknownst to many fans), Star Wars was doing Infinities well before the Marvel cinematic universe took a crack at it. What are Infinities, you say? They are What-If scenarios where one variable in a story is altered slightly. The change leads to a butterfly effect/chain reaction that changes everything that was initially Canon. They are NOT actual Canon. They are fun thought experiments, allowing writers to push their imaginations into places they never thought they would go.
In the 2000s, each Original Trilogy movie had a What-If comic with one “minor” change to the story, and then a simulation of sorts was run to see what would happen instead. A New Hope toyed with the proton torpedoes in Luke’s X-Wing, malfunctioning slightly and not delivering the full effect to the Death Star. They then weave a completely insane alternate path with Imperial Guards with lightsabers, evil Leia, and Yoda piloting the Death Star! Empire Strikes Back was also quite trippy. The alternate storyline was Luke dying on Hoth and Leia taking his place as the New Hope Jedi (yes, this is not minor, but you get the idea.)
Finally, Return of the Jedi‘s re-iteration has the “negotiations” with Jabba and “Leia” failing simply because C-3PO’s head fell off when Jabba slapped him, and he was unable to provide a translation for Leia, disguised as the bounty hunter Boushh. Ironically, this detail feels the most “minor” as ROTJ is and always will be my favorite Star Wars movie (I don’t care what anyone says).
CHAOS THEORY IN THE GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY…
In the real world, Chaos theory DOES exist. A minor permutation in a complicated system could lead to massive aftereffects, so the Infinities concept isn’t that far out. In the spirit of the beginning of summer, I take a crack at 6 Star Wars Infinities, one for every Prequel and Original Trilogy movie. Star Wars Legends never got around to the prequel iteration, so this is uncharted territory. I will not cover the Sequels as they are too new and fresh in the fans’ minds.
Also, the story structure was (arguably) so chaotic that, in my opinion, giving Rey a giant banana instead of a staff probably would have produced the same outcome. My Infinities will NOT be the length of a movie script; never fear. They are just initial events coruscating out of one different decision. So strap yourselves in, and let’s make the jump to hyperspace!
1.) Episode I: The Phantom Menace
We start where it all began, but my alteration comes at the film’s climax, not the beginning. Many of you reading my chaff at lost opportunities of not exploring, what would happen if the Queen and the Jedi could not get off Naboo, if the hyperdrive was never damaged and they never met Anakin on Tatooine, Maul capturing the Queen on Tatooine? The list is potentially endless, and my reasons for doing so are as follows: Some events are not so easily changed with the concept of probability. I believe Qui-Gon discovering Anakin was indeed the will of the Force, and the Force overrides all probability fields.
The change I propose is far simpler. What if when Obi-Wan cut through Maul’s saber staff, instead of only breaking one of the blades, both were out of commission? It seems like a convenient “save” from the dark side for Maul in that he still had one functioning saber to continue dueling with a jacked-up Obi-Wan. That strike to the saber staff was right across the middle, and it’s very likely that both blades would have been damaged, leaving Maul open and with no weapon.
Could it have ended there? Could Maul have been killed outright instead of barely surviving and poking his head back onto the galactic scene 13 years later? Hmmm. Let’s extrapolate. Maul was skilled in the Force and technically defeated Obi-Wan with a Force push. My headcanon is that Obi-Wan’s energy boost was from the dark side, and since he had no experience with that type of power, Maul could redirect the energy and push Obi-Wan into the pit.
1a.) Duel Of The Fates
So it’s very likely that Maul would use some acrobatic hand-to-hand combat and try to deprive the less experienced Kenobi with a lightsaber. Yet remember. Maul just killed his Master, and Obi-Wan is out for blood. Yet a good Force crush may be enough to kill Obi-Wan. Most of Maul’s defeat came with overconfidence and arrogance. If he was backed into a corner like a caged animal, he may unleash the full force of his Force and kill Kenobi. Once Obi-Wan was dead, Maul would probably again redirect his energy (not Force energy) to end the Battle of Theed and capture the Queen. Anakin might have still destroyed the control ship, but Maul would cut down Panaka and the security guards. With Amidala firmly in his grasp, Maul would be ready to force her to sign the treaty and legalize the Trade Federation’s occupation of the planet.
Anakin would return from space, and Maul would likely sense his prodigious Force potential. Then Maul might go rogue. He would kidnap Anakin to make him his apprentice and then wait to go after Sidious with his influential new disciple. The Clone Wars may have begun at some point, but it would be an actual war in which Palpatine would fight his former apprentice and decide the galaxy’s fate.
2.) Episode II: Attack of the Clones
This alteration is much more prominent, but my Infinities would be the Council not sending Anakin to escort Senator Amidala to Naboo to protect her. Anakin is still attracted to her, but he does not have a medium for her to fall in love with him. If the Council sent Yoda or Oppo Rancisis, Padme would not be tempted by her feelings—no offense to Yoda or Oppo. Obi-Wan would still be captured by the Geonosians and transmit his message to the Council. Whether or not the Council would still send 200+, Jedi is more challenging to determine, but likely not, as this is now purely Jedi business. He would send some Jedi (perhaps even Anakin) to help Kenobi, but the casualties would still be high. Obi-Wan and Anakin may have died unless Sidious told Dooku to spare them.
Yes, I believe so. Yoda would arrive with the clone army, and the clones and droids would fight a battle with no Jedi commanders (yet). The war would begin, but Anakin would not marry Padme and would not be tempted to go to the dark side to save her. Palpatine would have to pivot dramatically, and only a mind as sinisterly brilliant as he could devise a solution. Perhaps he could seduce Anakin with a promise to bring his mother back to life. It’s a stretch, but he did lie to Arden Lyn the same way in Legends. Or he could constantly pit the Jedi against him, maybe with the death of Obi-Wan, and blame it on the Council. Take your pick.
3.) Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
This one is a biggie, and no, I am not doing a Yoda goes to Mustafar switch-aroo. That is too easy, and Yoda’s character would never agree with having Obi-Wan try to confront the Emperor. He firmly said that Obi-Wan would be no match for him. I am also drawing on more recent sources, mainly that Ahsoka missed speaking to her former Master when Mace asked him to deliver the news of Grievous defeat to the Chancellor in the last season of The Clone Wars. Ahsoka joined the chat shortly afterward, missing Anakin by a hair, and could not present the disturbing new information she gleaned from Maul. Instead, she was gaslighted into holding her tongue by the clannish and judgmental Mace Windu and never got to talk about Maul’s vision.
It would give everyone pause if she yelled out to Anakin that he was potentially fated to turn to the dark side. Anakin might react indignantly, but at least it would start the conversation. Something is up. Yoda might suggest that they listen to Ahsoka, while some may say that Maul is not a credible source. Mace’s mind and distrust in Anakin may push him to visit the Chancellor himself to gauge his reaction. Mace said it was time for the Chancellor to give up his emergency powers, as the war was almost over.
Palpatine would say, “Of course, Master Windu.” He then sent Mace away to make his next move. He would contact Anakin and spin a story that Mace threatened his life and that he needed his help. Anakin would journey to the Chancellor’s office, smarting from his dismissal. There, Palpatine would make up an excuse that his wife was in danger—danger from the Jedi.
3a.) Order 66
He would execute Order 66 secretly and have Anakin go after Mace. What happens next? I don’t know for sure. It’s hard to determine, but perhaps Mace’s experience would allow him to defeat Anakin. Arresting him, Yoda and Mace would meet and confront the Sith Lord. Palpatine would have made the Jedi enemies of the Republic and started to shift the blame of the war on them. Troops would attack the Temple, and the Jedi would fight for their lives. The duel between Yoda, Mace, and Palpatine would be fast and furious. Palpatine could still win if he could separate Mace from Yoda. However, it’s also possible that they may defeat the new Emperor. Anakin would go to jail, and the Order would be battered but not broken.
4.) Episode IV: A New Hope
“Hold your fire; there are no lifeforms aboard.” The Imperial, who was too “lazy” to fire on the “malfunctioning” escape pod, should have been a bit anal on this one. I would, but that’s just me. No lifeforms aboard. Just fire on it and ask questions later. The droids (and the plans) would be vaporized, and Leia would be captured. Nobody would have gotten Luke and Ben involved, and Leia would have been executed. The Rebel base would remain hidden. However, the Death Star would never have been destroyed, and it would rule through fear and crush the nascent Rebellion.
Eventually, though, Luke (now older) runs across Obi-Wan, who reveals everything to him and begins training Luke in the sands of Tatooine. Yoda may die, but Obi-Wan was only 57 when Vader killed him, so he likely had another decade or two. Luke would train and go after the Emperor and Vader when the time was right. Only this time would he have the full force potential of the Chosen One.
5.) Episode V: The Emperor Strikes Back
This one is very abstract. Most fans would think it was a waste. But imagine if Luke was taught the Force technique of Ayna-Seff, a Force ability that could ultimately shut off Vader’s cybernetics. He might be able to immobilize his father during their duel and the Rebellion would take him prisoner. Vader would resist at first, but Luke would keep talking to him. He would sense the good in his father and plead with him to help him defeat the Emperor. Perhaps Vader, now possibly free of Palpatine’s chains on him and having a chance for a second chance with his son, might help Luke attack the Emperor and restore Balance to the Force.
6.) Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Okay, guys. Imagine everything happened the way it did. However, when Palpatine was zapping Luke, there was no bottomless chasm next to them. That part of the Death Star was finished. Palpatine kills Luke and has Vader drop his body into the pit. The Death Star blows up Endor, and the Rebellion is no more—end of story.
Yes, evil won because the construction workers were more efficient. Let that sink in.
What would happen if critical events in the Star Wars universe took different turns? The possibilities are endless, with various potential outcomes that could significantly impact the galaxy. Can you imagine alternate scenarios in this fictional universe? Share your thoughts in the comments!
The entire Star Wars Saga is now streaming on Disney Plus. Subscribe here and unlock a treasure trove of Star Wars awesomeness.
Max Nocerino is a regular Staff Writer for The Future of the Force. He is a passionate Star Wars fan and loves the literature of the galaxy far, far away. Follow him on Twitter where he shares his love of the Force frequently!
