Editing Darth Vader (section)

== Creation and development ==

=== Darth Vader ===
As part of the development for [[Star Wars (film)|the original ''Star Wars'' film]]'',''{{Efn|Originally titled ''Star Wars'', it was later retitled ''Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope''.}} [[George Lucas]] hired the artist [[Ralph McQuarrie]] to create conceptual images for the characters. For Vader, Lucas asked McQuarrie to depict a "very tall, dark fluttering figure that had a spooky feeling like it came in on the wind."<ref name="Casey" /> Because the script described Vader traveling between spaceships, McQuarrie suggested that he should wear a space suit. Lucas agreed, and McQuarrie created Vader's iconic mask by combining a full-face breathing mask with a [[samurai helmet]].<ref name="Casey">{{cite book|last1=Casey|first1=Dan|title=100 Things Star Wars Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die|publisher=Triumph Books|year=2015|chapter=Ralph McQuarrie, the Conceptual Mastermind|isbn=978-1-63319-345-1|access-date=June 22, 2017|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dizlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT309|url-status=live|archive-date=January 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115164658/https://books.google.com/books?id=dizlCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT309 }}</ref><ref name="insider">{{cite journal|date=June 2004|title=The Old Master: Ralph McQuarrie on Designing Star Wars|journal=[[Star Wars Insider]]|issue=76}}</ref> A 1975 [[:File:Ralph McQuarrie Darth Vader production painting.jpg|production painting]] by McQuarrie depicts Vader engaged in a lightsaber duel with Deak Starkiller, who later became Luke Skywalker. Vader is shown wearing black armor, a flowing cape and a skull-like mask and helmet. This early design was similar to Vader's final appearance.<ref name="sw-memorable">{{cite web|date=August 16, 2016|title=Ralph McQuarrie's Most Memorable Masterpieces|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/ralph-mcquarries-most-memorable-masterpieces|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622155610/http://www.starwars.com/news/ralph-mcquarries-most-memorable-masterpieces|archive-date=June 22, 2017|access-date=June 22, 2017|website=StarWars.com}}</ref> 

Working from McQuarrie's concepts, the costume designer [[John Mollo]] devised an outfit that combined clerical robes, a motorcycle suit, a [[Stahlhelm|German military helmet]], and a military gas mask.<ref name="theguardian-mollo">{{cite web|last1=Gilbey|first1=Ryan|date=November 1, 2017|title=John Mollo obituary: Star Wars costume designer who dressed Darth Vader|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/01/john-mollo-obituary|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330143416/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/01/john-mollo-obituary|archive-date=March 30, 2019|access-date=July 10, 2018|website=The Guardian}}</ref> The prop sculptor [[Brian Muir (sculptor)|Brian Muir]] created the helmet and armor.<ref name="starwarscom">{{cite web|date=March 24, 2010|title=''Insider'' Excerpt: Vader Sculptor Brian Muir|url=https://www.starwars.com/fans/medianews/news20100324/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809032321/http://www.starwars.com/fans/medianews/news20100324/index.html|archive-date=August 9, 2011|website=StarWars.com}}</ref> The sound of Vader's breathing was created by the film's sound designer, [[Ben Burtt]], using modified recordings of a scuba breathing apparatus.{{Sfn|Rinzler|2010b}} The sound effect is trademarked at the [[U.S. Patent and Trademark Office]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=O'Reilly|first1=Terry|date=January 5, 2017|title=The Crazy World of Trademarks|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/the-crazy-world-of-trademarks-1.3918789|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106203421/http://www.cbc.ca/radio/undertheinfluence/the-crazy-world-of-trademarks-1.3918789|archive-date=January 6, 2017|access-date=January 7, 2017|work=Under the Influence|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> 

Lucas has provided differing accounts of how the name "Darth Vader" originated.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Edwards|first=Gavin|date=2005-06-02|title=George Lucas and the Cult of Darth Vader|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/george-lucas-and-the-cult-of-darth-vader-247142/|access-date=2024-03-27|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=March 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327084654/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/george-lucas-and-the-cult-of-darth-vader-247142/|url-status=live }}</ref> On another occasion, he said it was inspired by the phrase "Dark Water".{{Sfn|Rinzler|2007|p=564}} It is also possible that "Darth Vader" originated from the name of Gary Vader, a boy who went to high school with Lucas.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Brian Jay|title=George Lucas: A Life|date=2016|publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]]|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-316-25744-2|page=213}}</ref> “Darth” is a title given to the Sith Lords of the Sith Order, such as Darth Sidious (Palpatine), Darth Tyranus (Count Dooku), and Darth Maul. It was widely believed for years that "Darth Vader" meant "Dark Father", even fueled by Lucas himself after the release of ''Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back'', despite contradicting the fact that the "father" twist in that film hadn't been planned when Darth Vader was created.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyler |first=Adrienne |date=2020-04-18 |title=Star Wars: What Does Darth Actually Mean? |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-darth-name-title-meaning-explained/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref>

The names of various ''Star Wars'' characters have been altered in countries outside the United States. In France, Vader's name was changed to {{lang|fr|Dark Vador}} ({{IPA|fr|daʁk vadɔʁ|pron}}) starting with the original film.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Llana |first=Sara Miller |date=December 16, 2015 |title=Darth Vader or Dark Vador? France gives Star Wars a Gallic twist |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2015/1216/Darth-Vader-or-Dark-Vador-France-gives-Star-Wars-a-Gallic-twist |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328061455/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2015/1216/Darth-Vader-or-Dark-Vador-France-gives-Star-Wars-a-Gallic-twist |archive-date=March 28, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-28 |work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Z6PO? How the French originally translated the names of Star Wars characters |url=https://www.thelocal.fr/20170504/star-wars-force-awakens-star-wars-characters-in-french |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240329132907/https://www.thelocal.fr/20170504/star-wars-force-awakens-star-wars-characters-in-french |archive-date=March 29, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Local France}}</ref> Although the names of some other characters have been reverted to the English versions over the years, Vader is still referred to as ''Dark Vador'' in recent French-language ''Star Wars'' media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Assad |first=Rayan |date=2022-06-22 |title=L'épisode final de la série Obi-Wan Kenobi fait un clin d'œil à un duel de la série animée |url=https://www.numerama.com/pop-culture/1015116-lepisode-final-de-la-serie-obi-wan-kenobi-fait-un-clin-doeil-a-un-duel-de-la-serie-animee.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Numerama |language=fr-FR |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812152039/https://www.numerama.com/pop-culture/1015116-lepisode-final-de-la-serie-obi-wan-kenobi-fait-un-clin-doeil-a-un-duel-de-la-serie-animee.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Imbert |first=Thomas |date=2016-12-18 |title=Star Wars : 15 références à la saga dans Rogue One [SPOILERS] |url=https://www.allocine.fr/diaporamas/cinema/diaporama-18658801/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=AlloCiné |language=fr |archive-date=August 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812152024/https://www.allocine.fr/diaporamas/cinema/diaporama-18658801/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The title "Darth" has been replaced with "Dark" for other Sith Lords as well.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Faribeault|first=François|date=2024-05-23|title=La série Star Wars The Acolyte se dévoile davantage dans un duel entre un Jedi et un assassin|url=https://www.konbini.com/popculture/la-serie-star-wars-the-acolyte-se-devoile-davantage-dans-un-duel-entre-un-jedi-et-un-assassin/|access-date=2024-08-12|website=Konbini|language=fr|archive-date=August 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812152040/https://www.konbini.com/popculture/la-serie-star-wars-the-acolyte-se-devoile-davantage-dans-un-duel-entre-un-jedi-et-un-assassin/|url-status=live}}</ref> In Italian-language editions of ''Star Wars'' films, Darth Vader was called {{lang|it|Dart Fener}} ({{IPA|it|ˌdar(t) ˈfɛːner|pron}}) starting with the original trilogy. In 2004, the dubbing director for the Italian-language version of ''Revenge of the Sith'' (2005) asked Italian fans to decide which name to use in the film; the Italian name was chosen. However, the name was switched to "Darth Vader" for ''The Force Awakens'' (2015).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Montanero |first=Enrico |date=2004-11-05 |title=Vader o Fener? Ecco il responso |url=https://www.fantascienza.com/5230/vader-o-fener-ecco-il-responso |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Fantascienza |language=It}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mereghetti |first=Paolo |date=2015-12-16 |title=Star Wars 7, ma è così memorabile? La nostra recensione |url=https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/15_dicembre_16/ritorno-star-wars-ma-cosi-memorabile-l-abbiamo-visto-ve-raccontiamo-0ea1ffba-a3ce-11e5-900d-2dd5b80ea9fe.shtml |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Corriere |language=It}}</ref> In Iceland, Darth Vader's name is {{lang|is|Svarthöfði}}, which means "black-head".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Holdsworth|first=Nick|date=2015-08-31|title=Icelandic Capital to Rename Street After Darth Vader|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/iceland-renames-street-darth-vader-818926/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328061456/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/iceland-renames-street-darth-vader-818926/|archive-date=March 28, 2024|access-date=2024-03-28|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Anakin Skywalker ===
The films ''[[Swiss Family Robinson (1960 film)|Swiss Family Robinson]]'' (1960) and ''[[Battle of the Bulge (1965 film)|Battle of the Bulge]]'' (1965) influenced the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy, but Lucas's publicist has denied that Anakin Skywalker was named after [[Ken Annakin]], the director of those films.<ref>{{cite web |last=Young |first=Bryan |date=January 21, 2014 |title=The Cinema Behind Star Wars: Battle of the Bulge |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/the-cinema-behind-star-wars-battle-of-the-bulge |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921103135/https://www.starwars.com/news/the-cinema-behind-star-wars-battle-of-the-bulge |archive-date=September 21, 2020 |access-date=March 25, 2019 |website=[[StarWars.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ken-annakin24-2009apr24,0,3633303.story |title=Ken Annakin dies at 94; British director of 'Swiss Family Robinson' and others |first=Dennis |last=McLellan |date=April 24, 2009 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |location=Los Angeles, California|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427111703/http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ken-annakin24-2009apr24,0,3633303.story |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The original surname of Anakin and Luke was "Starkiller", and it remained in the script until a few months into filming ''Star Wars''. It was dropped due to what Lucas called "unpleasant connotations" with [[Charles Manson]], who became a "star killer" in 1969 when he murdered actress [[Sharon Tate]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Serratore |first=Angela |date=July 25, 2019 |title=What You Need to Know About the Manson Family Murders |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/manson-family-murders-what-need-to-know-180972655/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818185908/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/manson-family-murders-what-need-to-know-180972655/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hedash |first=Kara |date=2020-02-18 |title=Star Wars: Here's Why George Lucas Changed Luke Skywalker's Original Name |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-george-lucas-luke-starkiller-skywalker-name-change/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=ScreenRant |language=en |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105023320/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-george-lucas-luke-starkiller-skywalker-name-change/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lucas replaced "Starkiller" with "Skywalker".{{Sfn|Rinzler|2008|p=191}}

''The Phantom Menace'' introduced the possibility that Anakin could be the [[Chosen One (Star Wars)|Chosen One]] of an ancient Jedi prophecy, who is destined to bring balance to the Force. Lucas stated in an interview that "Anakin is the Chosen One. Even when Anakin turns into Darth Vader, he is still the Chosen One." Hayden Christensen said of Anakin: "He believes that he's the Chosen One. He's not doing wrong things knowing that it's having a negative impact. So there's that sort of naivety to him{{nbsp}}...{{nbsp}}and it makes him more human in a lot of ways."<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=The Chosen One |type=Featurette on Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith DVD |publisher=20th Century Fox |year=2005}}</ref> Lucas later clarified that the plot element of Anakin's [[Miraculous births|virgin birth]] was meant to align the character with heroes from mythology in general and not specifically [[Jesus]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pratik |date=2024-09-24 |title=George Lucas Destroyed All Anakin Skywalker-Jesus Christ Comparisons With a Simple Statement |url=https://fandomwire.com/george-lucas-destroyed-all-anakin-skywalker-jesus-christ-comparisons-with-a-simple-statement/ |access-date=2024-09-27 |website=FandomWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

After completing [[principal photography]] for ''Revenge of the Sith'' in 2003, Lucas made changes to Anakin's character by rewriting his turn to the dark side. He accomplished this through editing the principal footage and filming new scenes during [[Pick-up (filmmaking)|pickups]] in London in 2004. In previous versions of the script, Anakin had several reasons for turning to the dark side, including his sincere belief that the Jedi were plotting to seize control of the Republic. Although he retains this belief in the finished film, Lucas's changes emphasized his desire to rescue Padmé from death. Thus, in the theatrical version of ''Revenge of the Sith'', Anakin falls to the dark side primarily to save Padmé.<ref name="Within">"Within a Minute" (2005). ''Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith'' DVD documentary.</ref>

Anakin's apprentice [[Ahsoka Tano]] was introduced in the 2008 animated film ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|The Clone Wars]]''. Giving Anakin responsibility for a Padawan was meant to place the character in a role that forced him to become more cautious and responsible. After just a short time together, though, Anakin realized they shared many qualities, and she could benefit from a mentor similar to herself. Ahsoka was eager, reckless, and undisciplined, much like Anakin. However, those traits are among the reasons that Anakin was such a good Jedi and master to Ahsoka.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salvati |first=Tara |date=2023-08-19 |title=7 Star Wars Moments That Sum Up Ahsoka & Anakin Skywalker's Relationship |url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-moments-sum-up-anakin-ahsoka-relationship/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> It was also meant to provide him with insight about his relationship with his own master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and show how their relationship matured. Anakin's relationship with Ahsoka was seen as an essential story arc spanning both the film and the 2008 television series ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|The Clone Wars]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minkel |first=JR |date=August 11, 2008 |title=When Clones Attack: Q&A with Clone Wars Director David Filoni |url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/star-wars-clone-wars-qa-david-filoni/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604225629/http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/star-wars-clone-wars-qa-david-filoni/ |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |access-date=May 26, 2016 |website=Scientific American |publisher=[[Springer Nature]]}}</ref>