Star Wars is one of the biggest franchises in all of pop culture, and as a result, fans spend a lot of time analyzing every frame of the films. The movies are touchstones for entire generations of viewers, meaning that many people are well-versed in their secrets. But even the most committed supporters can get stumped every once in a while, as the films raise some questions that are never solved by the story’s end. Get ready to theorize even more about the galaxy far, far away as we explore 10 Star Wars mysteries that were never answered.
NOTE: For this list, we avoided mentioning any of the mysteries posed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (i.e. Rey’s parents, the true identity of Supreme Leader Snoke) since those could be revealed in a future film. The ones presented below are most likely going to remain a mystery forever.
Anakin’s Conception
In The Phantom Menace, it’s noted that Anakin Skywalker was born without a father; his mother Shmi cannot explain what happened. The topic is not really touched upon again until Revenge of the Sith, when Chancellor Palpatine tells Anakin the story of Darth Plagueis the Wise. Sidious’ former master, Plagueis was so powerful that he could manipulate the midichlorians to create life. This strongly suggests that this is how Anakin was conceived, but the film stops short of actually confirming it.
As a matter of fact, George Lucas had originally intended Palpatine to confess to Anakin that he is the young Jedi’s “father” in a way, since Palpatine used the Force to make Shmi pregnant. It’s a passage included in the script, but it was obviously cut out of the final film, so fans may never know the truth. In retrospect, it makes the whole “miracle birth” angle an odd inclusion to the saga.
Vader Doesn’t Sense Leia
Darth Vader is one of the most powerful Force users in the galaxy, but why couldn’t he sense his own daughter? Return of the Jedi’s big twist is that Princess Leia is Luke Skywalker’s twin sister, and therefore one of Anakin’s children. It shocked audiences, but to some it didn’t make a whole lot of sense. If Leia was of Vader’s blood, then the Dark Lord of the Sith should have been able to sense something in the Force to alert him of that connection, right?
It’s not as if Vader was just blind to the presence of his relatives throughout the saga. During the Death Star trench run, he remarks that Luke’s X-wing is strong with the Force. Leia, while no Jedi, is still able to use the power, meaning she’s also Force sensitive and Vader should have been able to sense that. It’s true that Anakin was under the impression that Padmé was pregnant with just one child and did not know of a second until Luke’s thoughts betrayed him on the second Death Star, but that may not be a strong enough excuse. Vader was standing right in front of Leia and got nothing.
Yoda’s Species
Just about every alien and creature that shows up in a Star Wars movie has a name. Many of them, like Wookies, Ewoks, and Hutts, go down in history and become memorable parts of the zeitgeist. But ask even the most die-hard fan what species Yoda is, and nobody will know the answer. In all of his appearances, the wise old Jedi Master is presented as just a small green alien with pointy ears, illustrating that one does not have to have the physical stature of a “great warrior” to be strong with the Force.
Episode I showcased another member of Yoda’s kin in Jedi Council member Yaddle, but it was just a minor cameo and nothing else was said. Unless Disney has a Yoda spinoff movie in the works that will detail some of his backstory, this may go unanswered for eternity. And honestly, it might be best if it stayed that way. Sometimes a little mystery goes a long way, and fans don’t need to learn everything about their favorite characters.
Luke’s Dagobah Training
In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke heads to the swamp planet Dagobah to train with Yoda, while his friends avoid Imperial capture flying around in the Millennium Falcon. The way the film is edited makes it seem as if Luke was only on Dagobah for a few days learning the ways of the Force, but that hardly seems like enough time to become a Jedi Knight. Common sense would dictate it’s a process that would take months to complete (like a college course), yet that sounds like an awfully long time for Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca to be cooped up on the Falcon. So what gives?
It’s a topic that will be left up to the viewer’s interpretation, since it’s something that will never be alluded to again. Even Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo (part of the studio’s famed story group) doesn’t have an explanation for this one, so mum’s the word on how long Luke was training. But given that Rey was able to demonstrate great adeptness with the Force in Episode VII without any training from a Master (that we know of), Luke spending a couple days with Yoda does make a little bit of sense.
Maker of the Prophecy
The Star Wars prequels introduce the idea of a Jedi Prophecy, which tells of a person who will bring balance to the Force. When he discovers Anakin on Tatooine, Qui-Gon Jinn believes he’s found the one the prophecy is talking about. That sounds great on paper, but the prophecy is actually one of the vaguest elements of the entire saga. Nobody mentions where it came from or who wrote it; or even why it’s so important to bring the Force back into balance. Viewers are left with numerous questions, but are expected to just take it all on face value.
Destroying the Sith seems to be the end goal here, with Lucas saying that when Vader kills the Emperor, he fulfills the prophecy. However, there are Dark Side users featured in The Force Awakens, and even though they’re (maybe?) not Sith Lords, they definitely follow those teachings as a guide. The emergence of Kylo Ren and Supreme Leader Snoke suggest that the prophecy was ultimately pointless, since there could be imbalance in the Force again. The Chose One trope can be a strong narrative tool, but it’s best to keep it out of Star Wars.
Is Boba Fett Alive?
Despite minimal screen time in the original trilogy, bounty hunter Boba Fett is one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise. So when he unceremoniously met his end in Return of the Jedi by being knocked into the Sarlaac pit by a blind Han Solo, none were too pleased. Many would have preferred for the mercenary to remain alive, or if he had to go, die with a little more dignity. In the years since, Lucas has said that if he realized how much of a hit the Boba character was, he wouldn’t have killed him off - and even claims that he’s alive.
So far though, there hasn’t been any proof of that. The closest Lucasfilm has gotten to confirming Boba Fett’s escape from the Sarlaac is a reference to Mandalorian armor in the canon novel Star Wars: Aftermath, which is set some time after Return of the Jedi. Rumors about a solo Boba Fett movie continue to swirl around the Internet, but the studio has yet to officially announce the third anthology project. Fans are no doubt hoping that the bounty hunter gets put in the spotlight soon so they can get an answer to this question.
Who Discovered the Force?
One of the most unique elements of Star Wars is the Force, an energy field that surrounds the inhabitants of the galaxy and binds them together. Though not everyone is a believer in the religion, the films obviously show that it does exist. Since the movies illustrate the smallest snippet of galactic history (around 60 years or so), there’s a great portion that hasn’t yet been explored. That includes the first person to discover the Force and what it was capable of. After all, Jedi had been protecting the universe for over 1,000 generations before the Battle of Yavin.
It’s an interesting story for sure, following an individual as he or she learns that they can control objects with their mind and feel the presence of others. With Disney’s canon including numerous novels and comic books, a creative author could do something truly fascinating with this narrative, since the Force has serious repercussions on the galaxy. At the same token, however, Lucas tried (and failed) to explain the backstory of the Force with midichlorians in the prequels. This might be something the die-hards would prefer remain untouched, so more of the myth isn’t lost.
Who’s Funding the Rebels?
The Empire has plenty of resources at their disposal to wage a war, since their influence covers numerous star systems in the galaxy. But their opponents are the exact opposite. The Rebel Alliance is portrayed as a ragtag group of freedom fighters struggling to make ends meet on a shoestring budget. Yet, they have numerous starships, droids, and equipment at their disposal - even an entire fleet as shown in Jedi. So who’s funding them so they can take on the Imperials?
It’s hinted that certain systems, such as Alderaan, sympathized with the Rebels and provided funding, which could hold the answers. A deleted scene from Revenge of the Sith showed members of the Republic discussing the possibility of forming a Rebellion, but even a handful of systems (considering they survived any Imperial retributions) couldn’t sustain an entire army. Fans may never know for sure who was banking the operation, and since the Rebels ended up winning the war, the Rebels’ financial suppliers are the real heroes of the story who go unnoticed.
Obi-Wan’s Tatooine Vacation
At the end of the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi goes into exile on Tatooine so he can watch over young Luke, but that probably wasn’t the only thing he did. There are roughly 19 years that pass between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, so it’s hard to envision Obi-Wan babysitting the entire time. While he most likely remained low key to avoid detection, Kenobi probably found some adventures to get into during his extended stay on the desert world as he familiarized himself with the location. Or perhaps old allies from the Republic contacted him for aid in a secret mission. He does tell Luke that he’s getting “too old for this sort of thing,” suggesting that he was still active after the Empire’s rise.
Much like Boba Fett, speculation about an Obi-Wan Kenobi spinoff film refuses to die. And since the character is a major part of the Clone Wars animated series, exploring his life post-Revenge of the Sith would yield the greatest narrative opportunities. It’s a project that Ewan McGregor is game for, and fans did enjoy his take on Kenobi in the prequels. Whether Lucasfilm has something like this in the cards remains to be seen, but it would be fun.
Where’s Lando?
First appearing in The Empire Strikes Back, Lando Calrissian played a large role in the final two installments of the classic trilogy. He even had a hand in destroying the second Death Star. For many fans, he’s as much a part of the franchise as Luke, Han, and Leia. That made it exceptionally odd then, when Lando did not appear in The Force Awakens. With so much of the film dedicated to catching up on old friends, many expected the old smoothie to show up in a cameo, but he wasn’t even mentioned by name.
To date, none of the post-Jedi canon material has detailed Lando’s whereabouts, a concerning development since the character was shown with his friends dancing away with Ewoks on Endor. He seems too big to ignore entirely, so one would think Lucasfilm has plans for the Cloud City boss at some point in the future. Though, Billy Dee Williams was not part of the recently announced Episode VIII cast, so Lando’s time in the war could be over - without anyone knowing why.
Conclusion
Those are our picks for Star Wars mysteries that were never answered. Are there any we missed? Which ones leave you the most confused? Sound off in the comments section below and be sure to subscribe to our channel for more fun videos like this one!
