Let’s take a moment to rewind back to December 2016, a simpler time for STAR WARS fans. The galaxy had yet to revolt against The Last Jedi (2017) and it was a time where we were still inspired by STAR WARS spin-off films. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) was released, and received a positive response from movie-goers; the film was praised for its war themes and subtle dark tone. And how could we forget ‘that’ Darth Vader hallway scene? STAR WARS fans the world over left the movie theatre in awe of Dark Lords, unquestionable power and presence — I left the movie theatre wanting a Darth Vader anthology movie.

Let’s first recognize that, yes, episodes 1 through to 6 are a Darth Vader story already — but in the main saga we never saw Darth Vader at full power, we never got to experience the ruthless Vader that has been alluded to in the larger STAR WARS canon. There is a piece of Darth Vader’s story that is missing cinematically and I believe the best way to fill that hole is to produce a Darth Vader Horror Movie, more specifically, a Darth Vader Slasher Movie, and here is the list that proves why.

NUMBER TEN — COMPLETING THE DARTH VADER STORY

In terms of the STAR WARS timeline, this horror movie would make the most sense to be positioned just after Revenge of the Sith (2005) — following the events of ORDER 66 the presence of the Jedi has been diminished, The Emperor has ordered Darth Vader to purge the remaining Jed. Vader: A Star Wars Story follows a small motley group (made up of Jedi’s, rebels and droids), that must survive that wrath of perhaps the most powerful sith lord in the galaxy.

It’s a simple idea that has yet to be produced cinematically and would be a nice way of completing Darth Vader’s story.

NUMBER NINE — THE MOST ICONIC MASKED KILLER IN THE WORLD

Slasher movies are infamous for their masked killers, think Halloween (1978), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) or Scream (1996). Each movie has been able to create killers that have become pop-culture icons — well luckily for Lucas Film and Disney they own perhaps the most famous and recognizable masked villain of them all.

It’s time we remember why Darth Vader is one of the most celebrated movie baddies of all time and let’s bring new meaning to that mask.

NUMBER EIGHT— EXPENDABLE CHARACTERS

Whether it promiscuous teenagers or useless authority figures, Slasher films like the cliché of having expendable characters that can be used to help legitimize the film’s antagonist. We only have to look back at “that” Darth Vader hallway scene from Rogue One to see how this would play out in a Star Wars horror flick. The rebels are completely hopeless against the horrifying power of the Sith Lord.

NUMBER SEVEN — KNIVES OVER GUNS

There is certainly added fear that is acquainted with a movie killer that is able to use a knife over a gun; tension is always high when we know a villain is slowly moving in to kill his target. This is another bonus for Lucas Film as Vader is already a famous melee weapon wielder.

Fans have been somewhat upset about the lack of lightsaber fights in the new Disney-era of STAR WARS. This movie would be a huge opportunity to right that wrong and reaffirms the lightsaber in cinema.

Knife-saber takes priority over blaster in this horror adaptation.

Dagobah Artwork by JC-Richard

NUMBER SIX — AN ISOLATED PLANET

If we have learned anything from Slasher films, it is that being alone probably means bad things are just around the corner. This is Perhaps one of the most exciting ideas of a film like this would be limiting the galaxy to a single planet. We are used to visiting numerous planets in STAR WARS films but what if we saw a fresh take on this and watch our protagonists try to survive in a completely isolated place.

The idea of the team crash landing on Dagobah only to realize that Vader has tracked them down would be cinematic gold. Imagine the red glow of lightsaber slowly revealing itself to the crew through the bewildered haze and bellowed trees or perhaps a rebel being caught up in the wild vines of the swamp system as Vader slowly made his way towards them.

NUMBER FIVE — THE LAST GIRL LEFT STANDING

A cliché that both Slasher and Horror films like to play with is the idea of ‘The Last Girl Left Standing’ — the only remaining team member; a female that can overcome the odds to fight back against the villain. Disney has been particularly progressive in their promotion of ‘GIRL POWER’ in their adaptations of STAR WARS, so this cliché seems like a particularly easy narrative to tell.

It might even be nice to see a different kind of heroine, beyond the STAR WARS, go to — white skin, brunette with a British accent. I’m sure fans everywhere would rejoice to see Ahsoka Tano make her Live Action debut in this role.

NUMBER FOUR — DEHUMANISING VADER

When we were introduced to Anakin Skywalker in the STAR WARS prequels we lost a certain element of mystery and fear that the Sith Lord had before provoked — Through the prequel trilogy we continually hoped that we would get to see how the dark side warped Anakin into one of the most feared men in the galaxy… that never happened.

We have seen the human side of Darth Vader; we know what Anakin Skywalker was like, it’s time we get a true inside into how disciple and villainous Vader was once joining the Dark Side.

NUMBER THREE — GETTING MORE JAMES EARL JONES

Slightly selfishly, I want to get as much of James Earl Jones as I can before the inevitable happens. At the age of 88, it's fair to say we might not get to hear that beloved voice for much longer. With him reprising the role in both Star Wars Rebels and Rogue One it’s clear to see that James Earl Jones has still got it — Nobody will ever match what he brings to the character.

And if we want any more justification for why we need more James Earl Jones in all of our lives, just look at the trailer for The Lion King (2019), and furthermore look at the response. Audiences everywhere would clamor for another nostalgic return, from the voice of Darth Vader.

NUMBER TWO — PG-13 RATING

The problem with a Horror specific STAR WARS film would be the age rating. It’s unlikely even with the success of films like Deadpool (2016) and Logan (2017) that Disney would stray away from its PG-13 formula with this adaptation.

If we look at the PG-13 it today’s movie climate we can see that studios are able to get away with more than they ever have done before. Obviously, we don’t need a sexually forward Vader, who is cursing and swearing but instead a Vader that gives us interesting and frightening slasher like kills and even maybe a few executions with the force. What is brilliant, is the fact that the use of a lightsaber as a murder weapon could instantly remove and need for blood further working favor for the films age certification.

REASON ONE— DARTH VADER IS BOX OFFICE VIAGRA

You want to take your grandpa to the cinema, you explain that a new STAR WARS movie is playing and it’s based on Darth Vader — It’s an easy sell because everyone knows him. It’s rare that a character gains the kind of mainstream appeal that someone like Vader has, and this fact shouldn’t be ignored. Casual moviegoers are some of the most important people a studio needs to entice into seeing a film, they’re the people that can make a movie a box-office juggernaut.

Disney has the rights to one of the most popular characters in cinematic and pop-culture history, it only seems smart to produce a film that would capitalize on that.