Summary

• Deleted scenes from Star Wars movies offer important character development and background information vital to the story.
• Some cut scenes help establish relationships and motivations that enhance the overall narrative of the films.
• Viewing these deleted scenes can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Star Wars universe and its characters.

Not every scene can make it into the final cut of every Star Wars movies and shows have deleted scenes; in many cases, it's easy to see why they were cut, because they were unnecessary or the movie moved in a new thematic or story direction. But there are some deleted scenes whose removal really does seem to detract from the finished product.

Fortunately, given the success of Star Wars, many of these deleted scenes have been released over the years. In some cases, they've even been referenced in canon, meaning they're officially part of the overarching Star Wars story. Here are the top 10 deleted scenes that really shouldn't have been cut.

10 Jocasta Nu and Obi-Wan Kenobi Discuss Count Dooku

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones

The Jedi Archivist Jocasta Nu doesn't get much time in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but she plays an important role in one deleted scene from Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. In this crucial scene, Jocasta Nu discusses why Count Dooku left the Jedi Order, and compares him to Obi-Wan's old master, Qui-Gon Jinn. This is important in two respects; it adds more context to Dooku's fall, but also sets up Obi-Wan as potentially sympathetic to the Separatists, given his reverence for Qui-Gon.

9 Darth Vader Reaches Out To Luke With The Force

Return Of The Jedi

As it stands in the original film, Luke and Darth Vader actually interact very little on a personal level. After revealing that he is Luke’s father in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, the two do not really have a moment together until their reunion aboard the Death Star. This is changed somewhat in a short deleted scene, occurring when Luke is rebuilding his lightsaber, where Darth Vader would have briefly reached out using the Force and gone unanswered.

This sequence is even more remarkable given that it proceeds to Luke Skywalker on Tatooine, showing him finishing off construction of his green lightsaber. Luke's green lightsaber instead made its debut later in Return of the Jedi, when Artoo launched it out to him. Although this was more effective as a surprise - with Luke wielding his new blade just when he needed it - it is a real shame the construction was unseen.

8 Bail Organa's Vote Of No Confidence

Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Originally, Bail Organa did not make any appearance in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. However, there was originally going to be a scene that included him, showing Bail, played by a different actor named Adrian Dunbar, making a vote of no confidence in the Galactic Senate. This would have established Bail's character earlier in the Star Wars timeline, giving viewers something to refer back to in later films and involving him earlier in Pé Amidala’s life.

In Star Wars canon, there are close historical ties between the peoples of Pé's world Naboo and Alderaan - perhaps explaining why Bail would Naboo in its time of need. It's striking to see how well Palpatine has manipulated this peaceful planet, one historically associated with the Jedi, by encouraging them to his own plans. Bail's later role in the Rebel Alliance becomes a penance of sorts.

7 Finn Faces One Of The Villagers On Jakku

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens

Although the introduction to Star Wars: The Force Awakens does its job showing exactly why Finn cannot continue to live life as a Stormtrooper, there is a short deleted scene that really hits this point home. After stepping away from the main group, Finn meets a villager and her baby and is faced with the decision of killing them for the First Order or letting them go. He ultimately chooses not to kill them, reinforcing the sense he does not fit in with the First Order - and setting up his defection rather well.

6 Biggs Darklighter And Luke Skywalker Are Reunited

Star Wars

Luke Skywalker's closest friend on Tatooine, Biggs Darklighter, was oddly absent from the first Star Wars movie. George Lucas cut two deleted scenes featuring Biiggs, seeking to build momentum in the story. The second of these, in which Biggs and Luke reunited as pilots in the Rebel Alliance, is particularly valuable. It would have meant Biggs was one of the pilots who died in the Death Star run, reinforcing the sense of drama, while there's also a throwaway reference to Luke's father.

5 Han Solo's Time As An Imperial Cadet

Solo: A Star Wars Story

When Han Solo signs up to the Empire, the timeline skips over most of his time learning and flying on their behalf. However, one deleted scene showing him flying a TIE Fighter would have shed some more time on Han’s time as an Imperial cadet, exploring the pressure that those in the Empire are under. Normally, TIE Fighter pilots are no-name goons that die with their ships, but this would have been an opportunity to really explore something different.

4 Luke Skywalker Mourns Han Solo's Death

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Han Solo's death had a massive impact on his loved ones, but it was oddly glossed over in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. In the final cut, Luke merely asks where Han is when Rey arrives. In a deleted scene, Luke takes a moment to mourn for his lost friend, before continuing Rey's training and his supposed duty to the galaxy at large. It's an essential moment, one that would have shown so much humanity in the story.

3 The Sith Could Have Been Mentioned Decades Earlier

Star Wars

Attendees at Star Wars Celebration 2017 were treated to a rare deleted scene, one that still hasn't been released online, although it's still possible to spot shaky hand-held videos from the event. In this scene, Imperial leaders argue over Darth Vader's plan to track the rebels, and complain that this "Sith Lord" would lead to their destruction. Darth Vader's response name-drops the "Cosmic Force," an aspect of the Force that wouldn't really be explored until Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

This particular deleted scene would have made major parts of Star Wars lore official canon in the very first movie. The Sith were never mentioned by name in the original trilogy (although they're referenced in the novelizations), and the concept of the Cosmic Force is still unknown to many viewers today. It's thrilling to imagine a version of Star Wars that established these ideas on the big screen from the beginning.

2 Count Dooku Interrogates Pé Amidala

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack Of The Clones

In the final version of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Count Dooku never takes the time to question Anakin and Pé after they are captured on Geonosis - which seems odd given he was wanting to recruit planets to the Separatist cause. One deleted scene would have fixed this, showing Count Dooku interrogating Pé in an attempt to convince her to betray the Republic and ally herself, and subsequently the entire planet of Naboo, with him. The level of duplicity is remarkable, given he has her sworn enemies - the Trade Federation - working with him.

1 Viewers Could Have Witnessed The Birth Of The Rebellion

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith

Incredibly, George Lucas chose to cut the actual birth of the rebellion from Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. One deleted scene showed a group of senators - including Bail Organa and Pé Amidala - discussing opposing Chancellor Palpatine's growing power. Pé suggests going to a Jedi, and according to Matt Stover's novelization, she isn't referring to Anakin here; she's talking about Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not only would this have given Pé much more agency in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, it would have underscored the breakdown of her marriage.