STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS' Original (And Familiar) Title Revealed

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS' Original (And Familiar) Title Revealed

For a very long time, all anyone could talk about was the possible title for Star Wars Episode VII, and while The Force Awakens was no doubt a great choice, is this alternative even better? Fans of the Expanded Universe might think so! Hit the jump for details...

By JoshWilding - Dec 27, 2015 07:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: The Verge
Back in 1996, a novel was released which filled in some of the gaps between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but the big difference with Shadows of the Empire was that it was treated like one of the movies, with merchandising and a huge amount of promotion surrounding its release. However, it turns out that Star Wars: The Force Awakens very nearly borrowed this title from the now no longer canon novel as Pablo Hidalgo (Lucasfilm's creative executive and its "in-house Star Wars geek") has revealed the following on Twitter about early plans for the movie:


 
Whether this was actually going to be the title or was just a placeholder is hard to say, but it definitely would have been a fitting alternative to The Force Awakens seeing as the shadow of the Empire definitely loomed large over the events of this movie. Which do you think is better though? 
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Invictor
Invictor - 12/27/2015, 8:09 AM
Shadow of the Empire makes sense, for a title, but, I'm glad we got the one we got.
Invictor
Invictor - 12/27/2015, 8:10 AM
It didn't focus too much on the Empire's influence, but mainly on the force awakening through a couple of the main characters.
TexasAvenger
TexasAvenger - 12/27/2015, 8:14 AM
Both titles are good and make sense with how the movie plays out, but I prefer The Force Awakens.
Vaportrail
Vaportrail - 12/27/2015, 8:22 AM
There's no reason they couldn't still adapt Shadows of the Empire either to film or as an animated movie. Nothing in there is overwritten by TFA, same as much of the EU.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 12/27/2015, 8:23 AM
When you expunge the EU as canon, you can't really take a notable title of one of its books.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 12/27/2015, 8:24 AM
The Force Awakens is a bit better. Fits the pathos and story of the film more. The Force is a large part of the film
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 12/27/2015, 8:27 AM
SHADOW of the EMPIRE fits awesomely, but the FORCE AWAKENS hits on multiple meanings. Similar to how the PHANTOM MENACE could refer to Palpatine, Anakin or even Darth Maul. Turned out to be Jar Jar but you get mu meaning.
newmutantsRETURNS
newmutantsRETURNS - 12/27/2015, 8:49 AM
@rulk

Bro im a little behind on news...can you tell me how much it made so far? Thanx !
BlackPhillip
BlackPhillip - 12/27/2015, 8:52 AM
I would have preferred 'A New, New Hope'
GreedoSarducci
GreedoSarducci - 12/27/2015, 9:31 AM
Shadows of the Empire might not be canon, but at least Dash Rendar's Outrider is thanks to ANH:SE.
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 12/27/2015, 10:25 AM
Wouldve been an odd title, given that it has nothing to do with the actual book.
JredTheRed
JredTheRed - 12/27/2015, 10:53 AM
So, Shadows of the Empire isn't canon anymore either? I don't know why...Been awhile since I've read it or played the game, but if I remember correctly it didn't have to much to do with the main SW cast. They could keep it canon. It was a great story.
Bread
Bread - 12/27/2015, 10:54 AM
It should've been called "The Search for More Money"
Fogs
Fogs - 12/27/2015, 10:59 AM
@GliderMan - was that the moment when Rey touched the saber?
DEVWoulf
DEVWoulf - 12/27/2015, 11:03 AM
Should have called it Star Wars: Han's Flying Adventure

The next one can be called Star Wars: Lonely Wookie Society

Looking forward to Episode IX: Vengeance of the Ewoks
JredTheRed
JredTheRed - 12/27/2015, 11:05 AM
@Gliderman - I'm not for sure, but I think that Finn and Poe are force sensitive like Rey. Like when Finn took to the blasters on the Tie Fighter fairly well without ever operating them and Poe being an "ace" pilot much like Anakin and Luke. I think maybe the "Awakening" is sensing more and more people across the galaxy that have become force sensitive, kinda like when Yoda felt everyone dying in RotS.
JredTheRed
JredTheRed - 12/27/2015, 11:07 AM
@Bread I'll be right back. *goes to get butter*
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 12/27/2015, 11:31 AM
Y’see…
They can’t use “Empire”, because it’s already been used. But “Shadow” is fine. “Shadow” is a word that was used frequently in chapter titles of the old movie serials.
“Force” is okay, but “Awakens” is not. “Awakens” was never used once in any chapter title of any movie serial ever.
I checked.

I’m still pissed off about the name. I was pissed off about the lack of wipes in the edit of “The Force Awakens” but I’ve just got back from seeing it for the umpteenth time and I noticed that there actually was at least one wipe used at the end of the very last shot. So I’m not so pissed off about that anymore. As long as Rian Johnson has the good grace to bring the wipes back a bit more in the next one.

I still don’t get why there is a “Resistance”, though. We know that the galaxy is under The Nee Republic and we assume that The First Order is some kind of dangerous terrorist state, like the Nazis or the Islamic State. They do mention those that might be “Sympathetic” to The First Order. Maybe they have some territory here and there or something. But why would there be a “Resistance”? Would it not just be an army of the New Republic?
I just don’t get it. It shouldn’t be so confusing. I know that the prequels were very heavy on seemingly inconsequential and unnecessary political exposition, but this was the opposite extreme. I literally had only the faintest whisp of an idea about what was going on. And I might even be wrong about that.
BaronZemo
BaronZemo - 12/27/2015, 11:56 AM
Was it....."Another Hope"?

BAH DUM TSSS
Faithcrow
Faithcrow - 12/27/2015, 12:05 PM
NerdMan I totally agree with you. And even though the SE's make me angry his ship does appear. I think Disney just broad stroked it just to be safe.
Optimist18
Optimist18 - 12/27/2015, 12:33 PM
@DukeAcureds,

According to the visual dictionary for TFA, the New Republic is so war weary following the events of the original trilogy that they pretty much ignore the building threat of the First Order, having demilitarized the New Republic (basically outlawing war) and having signed a Galactic Concordance with what was left of the Empire.
DukeAcureds
DukeAcureds - 12/27/2015, 12:41 PM
Optimist@
Ah, I did not know that. Thanks.
They really should have explained that, though. I mean you just said it in one sentence. They couldn't have squeezed that tiny bit of exposition in there somewhere? Not even in a film with an OPENING SCRAWL?!
Cheers for clearing that up for me, though.
CoolJerk
CoolJerk - 12/27/2015, 1:06 PM
Maybe they should have called it "Star Wars: Haters Gonna Hate"?

You don't like this movie? Good. That pleases me.
Darriann
Darriann - 12/27/2015, 2:19 PM
Let me place this right...here.

soaponapope
soaponapope - 12/27/2015, 8:11 PM
i played shadows of the empire to death when it came out
KidKid
KidKid - 12/27/2015, 8:49 PM
A New Hope 2.0 would have been a better title
SmellofDuty
SmellofDuty - 12/27/2015, 10:52 PM
@NerdMan

I would've loved Dash to have been Max Von Sydow's character in TFA
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