The Empire Strikes Backhit the audiences of 1980 with one of cinema’s most famous plot twists, and the movie’s trailer helped make that happen. The second installment of theStar Warsfranchise picks up with all three heroes deeply involved in theRebel Alliance’s attempts to take down theGalactic Empire. After tracking down Yoda to continue his Jedi training, Luke rushes to saveHan and Leiafrom certain doom at the hands of Darth Vader. It’s during that mission that Luke learns the shocking truth that Darth Vader is actually his long-lost father.
Though that’s a well-known trope in sci-fi today,The Empire Strikes Backwas the pioneering movie behind it. The movie’s trailer brilliantly avoids the plot twist without misdirecting any expectations about the story.Audiences watching the trailer would have no idea just how much the upcoming installment would change theStar Warssaga.
The Empire Strikes Back Told Us The Main Plot
Star Wars UKposted the trailer to Twitter/X, saying “The Empire Strikes Back trailer gives us goosebumps to this day.”The trailer for the movie covers all its necessary bases, explaining what the movie would be about without revealing anything important to Vader’s confession.A narrator informs the audience that the story is continuing its battle of good versus evil, announcing that “The Rebel forces battle the Empire and Darth Vader,” along with exciting visuals of just that.
Why Star Wars Will Never Match Empire Strikes Back’s Greatest Plot Twist - Even After 44 Years Of Trying
The Empire Strikes Back has the best plot twist in all of Star Wars, and no other moment in the franchise has yet to replicate its shocking reveal.
It features soundbites from the movie, including Vader’s declaration that Luke would, “Join us or die,” and showing scenes from his fateful duel with Luke. The trailer promises a showdown between Luke and the Sith Lord, yet keeps the real motivation behind Vader’s gusto under wraps. It’s chilling to watch the footage leading up to the famous “I am your father!” in a context outside that incredible plot twist.
Darth Vader’s Motives Were Carefully Concealed
Darth Vader’s desire to have Luke join the Empire isn’t a strange thing to see. As far as the audience knew at the time, Luke’s significance to Vader was simply being the first Jedi he’d seen in action in many years. Luke’s skills were advanced enough to take down Vader’s unstoppable Death Star, thwarting the Sith Lord himself. Not only that, but Luke trained under Vader’s old master and Vader had allegedly killed Luke’s father. All that makes for a pretty compelling reason for Vader to get Luke on his side rather than try to kill him off.
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.
Luke Skywalker
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.
In the trailer, the duel between Vader and a worn-down Luke seems like a predator playing with his prey. The prequel trilogy would go on to establish Vader’s difficulty with letting people go, but the audiences who first saw the trailer forThe Empire Strikes Backlikely assumed Vader’s biting“Don’t make me destroy you!” was a villain’s frustration over wishing he could use the hero’s talents for evil. Fans had no idea what a surprise they were in for, as suddenly, his obsessive hunt for Luke makes a lot more sense.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Cast
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
