I grew up watching the Star Wars prequel trilogy and love them to no end. But they are flawed films, so, 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. One that could be watched before the original trilogy without spoiling any of its twists.

The previous entry in this series concluded with multiple parties departing for Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan and capture Dooku/prevent an escalation of the war. This entry will be more action-oriented. (A full list of entries can be found here.)

The Geonosis Blockade

Anakin and Padme will be the first to arrive on Geonosis.

Their arrival can play out in a similar manner to the actual film, but with one possible addition. Before landing, they might have to avoid some droid fighters and ships in space. This isn’t strictly necessary and could be cut for time. But if included, it would be a fun sequence that facilitates some useful characterisation and covert exposition.

It could also involve some of the sonic explosions/depth chargers that I previously cut. Anakin might use them to destroy the droid fighters that intercept them. Alternatively, he might skilfully evade some sonic charges whilst leading pursuing droid fighters into them. R2-D2 and C3PO can be thrown around inside the ship’s cabin whilst this happens.

Anakin can be shown enjoying the action, and the audience will get to see his piloting skills. Padme, meanwhile, should be initially alarmed by the blockade and a little irritated by Anakin’s carefree response. But she should start enjoying it as well once it becomes clear that they’re not in any danger. It helps their love story to show them having fun together.

They should also observe that the blockade is incomplete/thin. Perhaps speculating that Geonosis is not expecting an attack and doesn’t want to draw attention. This is to explain why the Clone Army can land unopposed.

The Droid Factory

After entering the planet’s atmosphere, they’ll land in some smokestacks to hide their ship (as in the film) and enter a Geonosian facility. R2-D2 and C3PO will follow. They’ll promptly discover the droid factory. I always enjoyed the film’s droid factory sequence, so I want to include it here. And with one or two changes, it could enhance the original trilogy.

As in the film, they’ll first get separated. R2 will save their lives, and then they get captured. C3PO’s head will still get attached to a battle droid (it wouldn’t be Star Wars without some goofiness).

The main change I want to make is that Anakin’s lightsaber should not get destroyed. Nor should Anakin be dismissive about it. His lightsaber is a big deal for Luke; it can’t be discarded. Instead, Anakin can drop it during the sequence (similar to Luke dropping it in Empire) and appear devastated.

Padme, meanwhile, can find the lightsaber and give it to R2 for safekeeping. It can be placed in the same slot that R2 later uses to smuggle Luke’s lightsaber past Jabba the Hutt. That said, there shouldn’t be any emphasis on R2’s lightsaber storage. It should be presented as a standard, unremarkable astromech ability.

Again, the purpose of the prequels should be to enhance the originals during a chronological viewing. It’ll be cool for new viewers, I think, to introduce the idea of R2 storing a lightsaber during episode 2 and then utilising that ability to defeat Jabba in episode 6. That doesn’t work if you make it a wink-at-the-camera prequel moment.

Finally, as in the actual film, the sequence will end with all of them getting captured by Django Fett. This will hopefully hit harder after his Naboo scenes. He might even comment that Padme, having survived several assassination attempts, has finally run out of luck. That will lead directly into the gladiatorial arena.

The Arena

The film’s arena sequence should start with Count Dooku, standing on the balcony, making an impassioned speech about the crimes of the Republic and their prisoners in particular (Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme). Something about corruption and neglect. Obi-Wan will already be chained to a pillar in the arena.

The Confederate Militia General should also be on the balcony with Dooku. As will the trade union executives, Poggle the Lesser (the Geonosian leader), Django and Boba Fett. The General might comment that he’s uncomfortable about the execution of Republic prisoners. Dooku can respond with faux concern that it’s out of his hands. The Geonosians are demanding it.

Similar to the actual film, Anakin and Padme can discuss their relationship at the arena’s entrance. Their dialogue will have to be different, though, since I’ve changed their love story. In short, they’ll confess that they’ve been suppressing their feeling (due to the Jedi code) but, expecting to die, will admit they’ve been in love for years. They’ll kiss as they enter the arena.

It’s mostly action from here on out, but there is one more important interaction. During the real movie, as Anakin and Padme are chained up, Obi-Wan and Anakin have a short exchange of sarcasm. I want to change that into a brief heart-to-heart. Obi-Wan is meant to be the main character here, so it seems relevant.

The conversation can still start sarcastically. Anakin can say that he’ll never be done rescuing Obi-Wan, who’ll respond that the rescue is going really well. But then, Anakin can comment that it wouldn’t happen so often if Obi-Wan would just stop sidelining him. He might add that a Padawan is meant to help their teacher.

Obi-Wan, initially defiant, can then admit to being wrong. He can confess that he shouldn’t have gone to Geonosis alone, but that he was scared something would happen to Anakin. This will hopefully feel earned.

Queue the monster fight. I have no changes to make here. Likewise, for the arrival of Mace Windu and the Jedi task force.

As the monsters approach, Obi-Wan can begin advising Anakin whilst Padme climbs to the top of her execution pillar. Obi-Wan will manage to get free when the crab-monster breaks his chain, whilst Anakin jumps onto the bull-monster’s back. Padme will first use her chain to ward off the cat-monster, which Anakin kills, and then jumps down onto the bull-monster with Anakin.

Mace Windu can then do his big entrance scene from the movie. He’ll approach Dooku from a dark hallway, ignite his lightsaber and demand an end to the fight. All over the arena, Jedi will begin to ignite their lightsabers, and Dooku can utter his line about the Jedi being impossibly outnumbered.

A group of B2 Super Battle Droids will force Mace Windu to jump down into the arena as it fills up with battle droids (including the C3PO battle droid). And the final battle will begin.

End of Part 13

That does feel like a bit of a cliffhanger way to end. I apologise for that, but this entry was getting too long. Part 14 will probably be the final entry in this series. It’ll cover the entire Battle of Geonosis and the aftermath.

See y’all then.

-Dexter