As we know, Darth Vader physical actor David Prowse passed away this past November at the age of 85. His estate is now auctioning off a slew of his Star Wars memorabilia, including his script from The Empire Strikes Back. What’s striking (pun intended) is how the script treated *that* scene in which Darth Vader reveals to Luke that he was, in fact, the young Skywalker’s father. It’s no surprise that George Lucas and co. hid the true reveal from all except a select few (including James Earl Jones). How, however, has been a bit of mystery until now.

David Prowse; Darth Vader
David Prowse in his Darth Vader costume for Star Wars: A New Hope. (Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.)

“No, I am your father” remains one of, if not the most iconic, lines in all of Star Wars. A reveal that huge required the utmost secrecy. So much so, in fact, that even David Prowse himself had no idea that the words he spoke while filming were not part of the final dialogue. His script, to the contrary, contained language that, while hinting at the truth, did not actually reveal it. It did, however, still have Darth Vader wooing Luke to the Dark Side.

David Prowse script reveals original Darth Vader dialogue

Darth Vader; Empire Strikes Back
Image: Courtesy Auctioneer of East Bristol Auctions

The dialogue used as a placeholder for “No, I am your father” still has Darth Vader offering Luke a powerful destiny: “Luke, we will be the most powerful in the galaxy,” Vader tells him. “You will have everything you could ever want… do not resist… it is our destiny.” It’s a few lines earlier, however, that strongly suggest the Skywalker family secret:

“The Emperor is strong with The Force – but The Force runs strong in the Skywalker line and together we will overthrow him.  I will complete your training and we will rule the Empire as equals…”

Luke Skywalker;
No… That’s not true… That’s impossible! (image: Lucasfilm Ltd)

In hindsight perhaps folks should have seen the big reveal coming. Nevertheless, the secret held, and the rest, as they say, is history.  The now-legendary Darth Vader script will go on sale as part of an auction of Prowse’s estate next month. According to CNN, it’s expected to fetch upwards of $5,500 US Dollars.

Source: CNN