What If…? introduced a world of ideas to audiences. With interesting takes on established ideas taking to screen, fans of the franchise quickly decided that this is a formula that would work for another. Star Wars fans have been clamouring for a What If…? type series set in a Galaxy Far Far Away, and it seems they might be getting their wish soon.
Fans have taken to the internet to churn out their slew of ideas ranging from popular fan favourites to downright wacky ideas like “What If Jabba the Hutt was Skinny?”. Of course, some of these are less serious pitches than others, but Lucasfilm can get quite the blueprint of what would make fans click with the series if they are attentive to fan reaction to the news on X (formerly Twitter).
Fans have some popular and wild ideas for the show
What If…? is an anthology series. While the Marvel Universe unites these stories as a part of a multiversal narrative, that is not necessarily true for Star Wars. An anthology series that explores alternate outcomes of the story beats throughout the various eras in Star Wars could afford an opportunity like no other to Lucasfilm. Fans are also on board with this, putting out their theories on X:
Need a what if the Jedi council never turned their back on Ahsoka
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) January 12, 2024
What if Obi-wan died and not Qui-gon
— LepsLair is making content (@lepslair) January 12, 2024
What if Anakin won on Mustafar
— The Boogeyman (@GhostOfLampkin) January 13, 2024
WHAT IF Rey never bypassed the compressor? pic.twitter.com/UkY8AB85VY
— GoldenAgeGeek (@GoldenAgeGeeks) January 13, 2024
“What if Anakin sucked at pod racing”
“What if C-3PO was a girl”
“What if Jaba was skinny”
💀
— Johnny Utah (@johnnyutah269) January 13, 2024
The ideas range from serious alternate explorations of various situations in the series, to downright hilarious alternate takes on characters and story beats, showing that the idea is not without merit in the eyes of the fandom. It is important to remember that the show is not officially announced yet, and is only reportedly in development. While Lucasfilm might never come out with such a series for Star Wars, it cannot be denied that fans would eat it up if done right.
There is precedent for a What If…? style series for Star Wars
While new franchise fans might find it annoying that Star Wars might be looking to ape the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the idea for a What If..? type series is not new to the franchise. Star Wars Infinities was a series of comics that made small but pivotal changes to the original trilogy, yielding vastly different storylines, much like What If…?
The stories made some pretty wild changes to the canon, such as killing Luke on Hoth, causing Han to think he is the Jedi who needs to train under the Jedi Master on Dagobah. Other ideas that the comics explored include Yoda training Leia during the events of Empire Strikes Back, Han’s blindness being permanent after the opening of Return of the Jedi and Leia becoming Darth Vader’s apprentice.
The existence of this series, the popular what-ifs already making the rounds in the fandom, and the Star Wars universe being greatly expanded beyond the Original Trilogy and the Prequels, will afford Lucasfilm a unique opportunity to give the fans exactly what they wish for, with enough material from the Clone Wars, Rebels, The Mandalorian and the Sequel trilogy.
