How to Create a No-Spoiler Version of Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. Part 10

I grew up watching the Star Wars prequel trilogy and love them to no end, but they are flawed films and, like others before me, I’ve been working on my own fix. I’ve also become a little obsessed with creating a ‘no-spoiler’ version of the prequels that could be watched before the original trilogy without spoiling any of the twists.

The full list of entries in this series can be found here.

Another Assassination Attempt

On Naboo, Anakin and Padme should be found in the garden of her. Padme, still a bit embarrassed from their prior scene, should be apologising for if her family made it awkward. She can also explain that, because she’s been a senator for so long, she’s never had her own place. At this point, they should decide to go for a walk through the city. This will be an opportunity to develop their love story, because so far, I’ve depicted them as not really liking each other.

As they walk through the city, Anakin can say that he’s sorry they kicked it off on the wrong foot and that he had actually been excited to see her again, since they were best friends when they were kids. Padme can reply that she was excited as well and that, as a kid, she had been devastated when he disappeared to start his Jedi training: “I thought about you a lot after you went away, all the adventures you must be having.” The whole conversation should be very wistful.

On a more serious note, Padme should also ask why he supports militarisation and a strike against the Confederacy, which she regards as ruthless and escalatory. Anakin, opening up a bit, should begin to recall that, if he’d been more ruthless during the Tatooine slave revolt, his mother would still be alive (the reverse Uncle Ben moment from my version of the Phantom Menace). Before he can finish that thought, however, there’ll be another assassination attempt, this time by Django Fett (his new commission).

Given how determined the assassins previously were, it seems strange to me that there wouldn’t be at least one more assassination attempt against Padme. As it presently stands, the plot line almost feels like it gets abandoned. Including another assassination attempt here will redress this and allow for a much-needed action scene. It can also further their story and explain why they go to that lakeside house from the film.

Django Fett, on the roof of a nearby building, will fire a Sniper round at Padme. Sensing it time, Anakin will suddenly stop what he’s saying, draw his lightsaber, and deflect the laser into the ground. Django will fire two more rounds, both of them deflected by Anakin, before Padme spots where he is.

Naboo security guards can start arriving at this point and Django, realising the attempt failed, should attempt to flee. With Padme safe, Anakin should give chase. This should be followed by a roof top chase scene that culminates on a rooftop landing pad where Django’s ship is parked. There should also be a nearby bridge, full of people. There can be an Anakin vs Django Fett fight scene here, similar to the actual films Obi-Wan vs Django fight scene that I previously cut.

Anakin should be clearly winning the fight and, after a few moments, should be holding Django at sword point. Padme and the security guards can arrive at this point, but won’t be close enough to help. Anakin can start saying that Django’s under arrest and demanding to know who hired him. Unimpressed, Django should raise a detonator, possibly say a cheesy action movie one liner, and then blow up the supports of the nearby bridge.

Anakin will immediately rush to help the people on the bridge (perhaps shouting “NOOO!”), doing a hundred feet force jump towards it, allowing Django to escape. Anakin can then use the force to hold up the bridge, keeping it stable long enough for everybody to escape. He’ll then collapse in exhaustion, and watch Django’s ship fly away.

Padme and the security guards will catch up and kneel besides the collapsed Anakin. He’ll note, a little matter of factly, that he let the assassin get away. Padme will say that he made the right choice, and Anakin should start to express his concern over the people on the bridge: did everyone escape in time? The guards will assure them that everyone is safe, and Anakin should be visibly relieved, perhaps even saying that protecting people is all that matters to him.

Obi-Wan on Geonosis

Back to Obi-Wan. His arrival on Geonosis should play out in a similar way to the actual film. Obviously, it can’t include the astroid belt fight sequence with Django Fett, which is a shame, but in its place there might be some droid fighters and ships patrolling around the planet that cause Obi-Wan some trouble. The scene shouldn’t be too action heavy though, not when it follows the previous fight scene, but can involve some cool moments that’ll be reminiscent of Empire Strikes Back (because poetry).

To avoid the patrols, Obi-Wan should fly into the planets asteroid belt, despite his Astromech, R4, objecting, and identify an Astroid that’s drifting towards the planet. He’ll land inside a cave on the Astroid’s surface and then watch out of its mouth as it carries him past the patrols. He may have a brief conversation with a worried R4, reassuring the droid that there’s nothing alive in the cave. The point of these prequels, I think, should be to enhance the Original Trilogy, so this conversation could act as a foreshadowing easter egg for the giant cave worm in Empire.

Everything else will stay pretty much the same, I have very few notes. Once he’s past the patrols, Obi-Wan will fly down into the Geonosian atmosphere and observe the massive Trade Federation Starships parked on the surface. He’ll land in a secluded area and make his way into the main compound, careful to avoid patrols.

He’ll then, witness, as in the actual film, the meeting between Count Dooku and the various corporate leaders. Dooku has already be seen in my version of this film, discussing the possibility of an alliance. The extra context will, hopefully, help this scene to hit harder. Again, it will play out in almost the exact same way, dialogue included.

Obi-Wan will witness the corporations discuss their treaty with Dooku and the creation of a Droid Army capable of sweeping aside the Republic and the Jedi. My one addition is that the Confederate militia General from earlier should also be present. He should be visibly uncomfortable and may briefly try to comment that the corporations won’t be in charge, before Dooku makes him stand down. The scene will end with Dooku declaring that escalation is inevitable and that they have to strike before the Jedi.

Following the Confederate meeting, Obi-Wan should stumble into one of the droid factories and, seeing the sheer number of droids, could briefly comment to himself that, maybe, he shouldn’t have come here alone. This can serve as a transition into the next scene of Anakin and Padme.

End of Part 10

The next part will involve some more character focused stuff, including Anakin and Padme’s time at the lakeside house.

-Dexter