A New Hope’s Obi-Wan Kenobi Death Could Have Been Much Grosser

“Star Wars” has always been regarded as a family-friendly franchise. It keeps vulgarity to a minimum, portrays physical intimacy modestly with hugs and kisses, and lacks excessive bloodshed that would make parents uneasy. Despite this, the series occasionally includes deaths that are surprisingly graphic. One example is the original concept for Obi-Wan Kenobi’s death in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” Upon reflection, it seems fitting given some of the franchise’s later, more intense moments.

Consider the demise of Count Dooku, played by Sir Christopher Lee, in “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.” During a duel with Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), the Sith Lord loses his hands to Anakin’s blade. Skywalker then uses both his and Dooku’s lightsabers to decapitate the Separatist leader. This is not the only gruesome scene; in “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones,” Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) meets a similar fate when Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) decapitates him in battle.

Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) also faces a grim end in “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.” He is quite literally torn apart by the deflection of his own Force lightning. These scenes illustrate that “Star Wars” can be brutal when the story demands it, showcasing moments of violence that linger in the minds of its audience.

Discussing violent moments in the “Star Wars” universe can fill pages upon pages, as the franchise contains many instances of intense and memorable deaths. The hypothetical graphic depiction of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s death in the “A New Hope” novelization would have been shocking. Still, it would simply have been an early indicator of the series’ willingness to push boundaries and incorporate darker elements.