Originally published December 27, 2015. Updated April 15, 2018.
Warning. This post contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Proceed with caution…
While most would agree that “The Force Awakens” is a pretty perfect name for the latest Star Wars installment, according to a recent interaction on Twitter, the film didn’t always have that title. At one point in time, Star Wars: Episode VII was called Shadow of the Empire, which hardcore fans of the franchise may recognize as nearly the same title of a non-canonical Star Wars novel from 1996.
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A member of the Lucasfilm Story Group, Pablo Hidalgo, revealed this information during an interaction with editor of Jedi News, Justin LaSalata. LaSalata shared what he thought would be an interesting title for Episode VIII, which people began speculating possible names for ever since The Force Awakens hit theaters, when Hidalgo chimed in. See the full conversation below…
https://twitter.com/pablohidalgo/status/680455366585401344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/pablohidalgo/status/680465074553622528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The events of Shadows of the Empire took place in between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of Jedi and featured numerous characters from the original trilogy, including Princess Leia, Boba Fett and Darth Vader. The book was released alongside a video game, a line of action figures, a soundtrack and more.
If Episode VII did end up being called Shadow of the Empire, presumably the “shadow” would refer to the First Order, which, according to the film’s opening crawl text, rose “from the ashes of the Empire.” While certainly an appropriate name, it’s far darker and more cynical than the hopeful title of “The Force Awakens.”
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens sees J.J. Abrams directing returning stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), in addition to Adam Driver (Girls), Oscar Isaac (A Most Violent Year), Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Domhnall Gleeson (Ex Machina), John Boyega (Attack the Block), Daisy Ridley (Silent Witness), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones), Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave), Ken Leung (Lost), Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Max von Sydow (The Exorcist), Jessica Henwick (Spirit Warriors), Christina Chong (24: Live Another Day), Simon Pegg (Star Trek) and newcomers Crystal Clarke and Pip Andersen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=WD1b1f5FgYA
