Star Wars Original Script Gave Luke Another Sister, Saved us from the Horrors of Mark Hamill-Carrie Fisher Incest Nightmare

Star Wars has no lack of larger-than-life events and intergalactic battles but fans still cannot get over one moment from The Empire Strikes Back.

Written by: Diya
Reviewed by: Rishabh
mark hamill, carrie fisher

SUMMARY

  • Star Wars Episode V gets into a mess of its own making after the death of original writer Leigh Brackettʼs death.
  • Luke, Leia, and Anakin Skywalker originally had very different identities separate from the one shown in George Lucasʼs original trilogy.
  • Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher wilfully defended their incestuous kiss until the end due to one practical reason.
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Star Wars – one of the many phenomena that forever changed the landscape of pop culture in modern history – has brought us stories of unbridled joy, hope, love, friendship, camaraderie, candor, optimism in the face of utter loss, and resolution in the face of utter despair. And yet, there remain aspects of the narrative that are as mysterious today as they were 47 years ago.

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After the first chapter of the story premiered with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, George Lucas established a new dynasty belonging to new-age superheroes who defied the rules and boundaries of this universe to achieve heroic deeds that resound throughout the entire galaxy.

Star Wars trio [Credit: Lucasfilm/20th Century Studios]
The Star Wars gang [Credit: Lucasfilm/20th Century Studios]
Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo would then go on to be names that inspired indelible virtue, bravery, and strength of moral character for generations to come just as much as Darth Vader went on to immortalize himself as the most recognizable, classic villain. However, despite the trioʼs ubiquitously famous origin saga that rivals even Batmanʼs origin story, it is not the arc that originally defined the relationship between Luke, Leia, and Anakin Skywalker.

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The Complicated Origins of Luke, Leia, and Anakin Skywalker

It has been one of the most controversial and jarring revelations in the history of movie plots when Luke Skywalkerʼs long-lost twin was revealed to be Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. After their categorically electric moment in Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, it struck the audience as incestuous, in hindsight, despite the twinsʼ ignorance about the significance of their relationship.

Luke Skywalker with Darth Vader [Credit Lucasfilm_20th Century Studios]
Luke Skywalker with Darth Vader [Credit: Lucasfilm/20th Century Studios]
In a documented revision of the true origins of the Star Wars saga, it has been found that the original story written by Leigh Brackett retained a different sister for Luke Skywalker. Originally called Nellith, Luke was only made aware of her existence by the Force ghost of his father, Anakin Skywalker, who – according to Brackettʼs script – was not, in fact, Darth Vader.

It was explicitly stated by Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode IV that Darth Vader killed Lukeʼs father. Darth Vader, in turn, was kept a mysterious villain devoted to the evil Galactic Empire. Keeping in tandem with George Lucasʼs 1977 film, Brackett assured to keep the bloodline and ancestry of the original cast clean from confusion and controversy. It was only after her death that the new writers including Lucas himself reoriented the script that would later make it to the final theatrical cut.

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As a result of the changes made by screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, director Irvin Kershner, and George Lucas, Anakin Skywalker would later go on to become Darth Vader, leading to the iconic line – I am your father – that sent ripples through one of the largest fanbases in pop culture history.

Star Wars Actors Comment on Luke and Leia Kiss

Luke Skywalker and Princess Leiaʼs incestuous moment causes controversy [Credit 20th Century Studios]
Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia kiss in Star Wars: Episode V [Credit: Lucasfilm/20th Century Studios]
The subject of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organaʼs kiss has raged debate and controversy due to its incestuous nature since the premiere of The Empire Strikes Back. But Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher have hardly allowed the fans to argue on their behalf, being the primary perpetrators of the act. Hamill took to social media platforms repeatedly to address the controversial kiss, making light of the matter to ward off any form of hate and backlash in posterity.

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In several such social media updates, Hamill wittily defended himself and co-star Carrie Fisher from the incestuous label that the audience kept flinging in their direction:

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Carrie Fisher has addressed the infamous kiss at many fan conventions with her equally dry wit and humor. While signing autographs for fans, Mark Hamill scribbled the words, “No tongue!” above Luke’s head, to which Fisher responded under Leiaʼs image, “Or many tongues. You pick!” The photo was posted by Hamill after Fisherʼs death as a celebration of his co-star and close friendʼs legacy by captioning the iconic poster with the words – “She always got the last word.”

Star Wars franchise is available for streaming on Disney+

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Written by Diya Majumdar

Articles Published: 1637

With a degree in Literature from Miranda House, Diya Majumdar now has over 1600 published articles on FandomWire. Her passion and profession both include dissecting the world of cinema while being a liberally opinionated person with an overbearing love for music, Monet, and Van Gogh.