In Episodes I-III (aka ‘the prequels’) of Star Wars, we learn that the villain we knew as Darth Vader started out as Jedi trying to protect the woman he loved, only to be lured to the Dark Side.
A new fan film called VADER EPISODE 1: Shards of the Past shows us Darth Vader only a few months after the events of Revenge of the Sith and the execution of Order 66, which saw the eradication of the Jedi at the hands of Chancellor Palpatine, Anakin Skywalker, and the Clone Troopers.
Vader secretly harbors a great deal of anger towards Palpatine for the death of Padme Amidala, and for what he feels were false promises. The short film opens with a shocking scene of Vader attacking Palpatine and his guards in an attempt to kill him. Palpatine taunts him with a vision of his late wife, saying that because of his feelings for her, Vader is too weak to actually kill him.
We learn that this only takes place in Vader’s mind while he sits in his restorative/meditation chamber, but the anger Vader feels is still very real. Palpatine can sense it in him when he is summoned to the Emperor. The Emperor sends Vader on a mission to Naboo, the home planet of both Padme and Palpatine, where a surviving Jedi now hides.
The video description reads:
Anakin Skywalker is DEAD. For eight months, the mysterious Darth Vader has enforced the Emperor’s commands. Fighting between the loss of Padme, and the new cursed life he now leads, Vader must do what must be done when a surviving Jedi Master from Order 66 has lured him to the home planet of his late Wife’s tomb… THIS VIDEO IS NOT MONETIZED (no ads) IN ACCORDANCE TO LUCASFILM’S RULES TO ME. NO MONIES OR PROFIT CAN/WILL BE MADE FROM THIS VIDEO. Funded by Star Wars Theory alone. This project is single handedly the most amazing thing I’ve ever been part of. Without Danny Ramirez’s guidance and help, this never would have taken off the ground, let alone…gotten to where it is today. I owe him a lot. He is da coooolest. I thank every single one of you for watching my videos and supporting my channel. I will do my best to excel your expectations for years to come and provide entertainment you deserve. I thank you for everything, and I hope to one day make episode 2 a reality. In the mean time, all I ask, is for you to share this video, and hit like to spread to word. I couldn’t have done this without the talented people behind it. You know who you are (that long credits list). I love you all. And to the fans, meeting hundreds of you at the free premiere in LA was surreal. I will post everything soon from the event. You’ve changed my life forever, and I hope to bring you this first episode (and many more I hope!) as a gratitude and gift for what you deserve. I am eternally grateful. ENJOY AND MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS!!!!
What do you think of this Darth Vader fan film? Would you be interested in seeing more?
