Some people are confused about why did the Star Wars franchise start with Episode IV. The reason could be attributed to George Lucas. He wanted the galaxy far, away to have a sense of living. In other words, he wanted the films to be released in a logical order. It makes sense, but why start with Episode IV? That question has been debated by fans and critics alike. Let’s explore the answer to that question.
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Lucas wanted to make the galaxy far, away feel like a lived-in world
Fans of the original trilogy were aghast when George Lucas announced that the movie was out of order and that the prequel trilogy would change their perception of the original. Despite the controversy over the change, the film’s release was a success. Lucas’ premise for the trilogy was to make the galaxy far, away feel real and lived-in, and it did, in the end, a masterpiece.
When Star Wars premiered in 1977, Lucas was convinced that the first three movies would fail to reach the audience’s expectations. However, the movie was a smash hit. While the original trilogy threw viewers into a futuristic world without context, the prequels offered backstory and gave Lucas the opportunity to flesh out his vision. Episode IV added more stories to the galaxy and allowed the original trilogy to have a better feel.
He wanted it to be a stand-alone film
The filmmaker Ben Affleck had originally intended to make a Batman stand-alone film, but was pushed aside in favor of Matt Reeves’ reboot. In the end, Warner Bros. gave up on the idea of trying to emulate the MCU and let the filmmakers follow their instincts and make their own films. As a result, this movie took place in a universe that wasn’t part of the DCEU at all.
He wanted it to be about Luke Skywalker
In Star Wars: Episode IV, “Return of the Jedi,” Luke Skywalker serves as the commander of the Rogue Squadron. On Hoth, he is captured by wampas, but escapes by using his lightsaber. Soon after, he sees the Force ghost of Obi-Wan, who told him to go to Dagobah to complete his Jedi training. Han Solo saves him and then he leads a Snowspeeder squadron to battle the AT-ATs. Luke and his wingmen survive the battle, but their wampas are overwhelmed and they must retreat.
The Empire’s plans to conquer the galaxy and kill everyone threaten to bring the galaxy to an end. As an unexpected result, Luke Skywalker joins forces with cocky pilot Han Solo, a Wookiee, and two droids to save Princess Leia. The duo save the galaxy and restore justice, freedom, and the rule of law. But how can Luke save his friend?
It was a multi-part saga
The first Star Wars movie was originally titled Episode IV, but George Lucas decided to change the numbering after it was released to avoid confusing fans. The title of the movie was removed from the iconic opening text crawl because Fox executives were concerned that audiences would become confused with the new name. The film became an instant hit, and the success of the first film gave Lucas the clout to numerically title subsequent movies. Later, Lucas renamed the series Episodes, starting with the first film.
Fans of the original trilogy have been recommending the Ernst Rister order for decades. This method involves multiple time jumps and treats the prequel trilogy as an extended flashback sequence, while the original trilogy is the main series. This allows viewers to appreciate the Vader twist while not feeling overwhelmed by the multi-part nature of the franchise. However, it may be difficult for newcomers to appreciate the nuances of the original films without a prior knowledge of the Star Wars saga.
