When it comes to the Star Wars sequel trilogy, there are certainly enough “what ifs” to go around. From Han Solo’s death in The Force Awakens, to Luke Skywalker’s treatment in The Last Jedi, to, well, pretty much everything in The Rise of Skywalker, it seems something could have been handled differently. The biggest “what if” came when the Colin Trevorrow script for Episode IX leaked to the Internet. What would have been title Duel of the Fates stirred instant controversy. Many felt that Trevorrow’s telling outshined the theatrical version of Episode IX we received.  While we’ll never see that version on screen, it seems we will get to read it in comic book form.

Artist Andrew Winegarner recently tweeted that he’s been working on a comic book adaptation of Duel of the Fates for some time. The fan-made comic will play out the alternate version of The Rise Of Skywalker over the pages of seven issues. You can check out the first six issues on his website HERE.  Winegarner’s dream?  “[F]or Marvel to agree to publish [his] adaptation as a Legends version of Episode IX; as Dark Horse Comics used to do.” Based on what we’ve seen, we would happily support the endeavor.

Artist turns Trevorrow script into Star Wars: Duel of the Fates Comic

Star Wars; Duel of the Fates; Trevorrow
Image: Andrew Winegarner

The Rise of Skywalker, while retaining some elements of the Colin Trevorrow treatment of Episode IX, deviated significantly from the original telling. The prior script would have seen Finn take on a much larger role in the film. Likewise, Duel of the Fates would have sent Kylo Ren to train with Tor Valum. (Valum, in the script, was a Darth Plageuis-type mentor to Palpatine.) There were plenty of other differences, too, as we saw in the concept art applicable to Trevorrow’s version.

Finn; John Boyega; Trevorrow; Rise of Skywalker; Duel of the fates
Concept art from Colin Trevorrow’s Star Wars: Episode IX – Duel of the Fates. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

What we get from Winegarner, however, is a complete telling of the fully scripted Duel of the Fates story line. If nothing else, it’s a fun way to experience what might have been. We certainly wish Andrew all the best with this effort.