Star Wars: Attack of the Clones hit theatres back in the summer of 2002 and, despite The Phantom Menace being divisive, was a huge box office hit. Only Spider-Man and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers made more money than George Lucas's blockbuster, which laid down the foundations for Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. It's long, too, with only The Rise of Skywalker and The Last Jedi having a longer runtime out of the 11 movies released so far.
However, it could have been even lengthier had the deleted scenes from the DVD and Blu-ray editions of the film been included in the final cut. We'll now take a look at all 11 and list them in chronological order.
Padme In The Senate
Padme doesn't spend too much time in the Galactic Senate in this movie, with the former Queen of Naboo instead spending the majority of her time being whisked away from people who are after her. There's a deleted scene that shows her in political action, though, calling for the security measures to be lessened because she feels they're a declaration of war. After all, the Republic is all about peace.
Chancellor Palpatine then ends the session, perhaps to avoid too many people from backing Padme. He needs war to rise to power as the Emperor and her criticizing his decisions certainly does him no favors. This scene was probably cut to avoid as much political jargon as possible, especially given that was one of fans' biggest complaints about the previous movie.
Obi-Wan Tests The Toxic Dart
Early on in Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan chase down a bounty hunter named Zam Wessel following an unsuccessful attempt on Padme's life. They're unable to get much out of her, however, with Jango Fett eliminating her to stop her from blabbing. Kenobi then goes to the Jedi temple and learns from Jocasta Nu that the location the toxic dart originates from appears to be missing.
Before this, there was seemingly going to be a scene where Obi-Wan analyzes the dart in a special room with help from some robots. At the end of that scene, Obi-Wan says "I know who can identify this." He's referring to Nu and, once again, we can understand why this moment didn't make it into the final product. It didn't need to delay things any further and, had it been included, it would have disrupted the pacing of the title.
Jocasta Nu Gives Count Dooku Insight
As mentioned above, Kenobi and Nu both have a conversation within the Jedi Temple. What the second Star Wars movie in the series doesn't show, though, is a conversation the pair have about Count Dooku.
There's a statue of Christopher Lee's character within the library and, while looking at it, Nu compares the Sith Lord to Qui-Gon Jinn. She reveals to Obi-Wan that the pair weren't dissimilar, thus foreshadowing what happens later when Dooku reveals he mentored Qui-Gon. Nu says the duo were both "out of step with the decisions of the council" and also brands them "idealists." This adds backstory to the villain, also shedding light on his decision to leave the Republic behind.
Padme Sees Anakin Dreaming
In Revenge of the Sith, Padme witnesses Anakin having a bad dream. And this happens during an omitted moment from Attack of the Clones, while the pair are awaiting transport that will take them to Naboo.
Anakin is sleeping with loads of people around him, thrashing around and murmuring to himself - in clear discomfort. When he wakes up, he reveals how much he misses his mother and how he's been subjected to dreams of her in immense torment. In the final version of the movie, this happens later while the pair are actually on Naboo. And we prefer this version because it comes after Anakin has confessed his love for her, thus making far more narrative sense.
Extended Arrival On Naboo
Fans weren't entirely satisfied with Hayden Christensen's portrayal of Anakin Skywalker when the second movie in the series (chronologically at least), hit theatres 18 years ago. Some felt that, in making him an extremely emotional and sensitive human being, they were damaging the villainous legacy of Darth Vader. So that might have been why they decided to trim down an extended version of the moment Anakin and Padme get to Naboo to lie low.
He talks about his love for the place, saying things such as "I like the way it shimmers in the sunshine" and "the air smells like flowers." They're certainly things we can't ever imagine Vader saying so it's probably for the best this was left out. Padme reveals she's always wanted a family of her own, too, foreshadowing the births of Luke and Leia that are to come.
Obi-Wan And Mace Windu Talk It Out
Before Obi-Wan Kenobi embarks on his journey to Kamino to get to the bottom of the whole Jango Fett affair, there's a deleted scene where the Jedi Knight and Mace Windu talk things out. Kenobi comes across really badly here, criticizing Anakin despite the youngster saving Padme earlier on in the movie.
Kenobi also brands his apprentice "arrogant" and reveals to Samuel L. Jackson's character that Anakin is in love with Padme - or at least has an "emotional connection to her." Had this been included, it would have led to fans scrutinizing why the council didn't intervene - creating a plot hole at the same time. It also paints Obi-Wan in a really bad light, seeming out of character for somebody who had his friend's best interests at heart. They're meant to be like brothers, so this somewhat detracts from that.
Padme's Parents House
Padme's parents make a fleeting appearance in Revenge of the Sith shortly after her tragic death. But they very nearly appeared in the previous film - and would have had scenes shot involving the pair, as well as Padme's sister Sola, been included in the final cut.
Anakin and Padme visit their house on Naboo, with Sola's young children over the moon to be meeting R2-D2. Padme's mother says Anakin is the first boyfriend their daughter has ever brought home - much to her annoyance. Anakin also irks his future wife by opening up on the severity of her situation, something the Queen of Naboo had been key to downplay. Given fans know this information already, it's somewhat pointless going over it again on screen. So that could explain why it was left out of the end product.
Anakin In Padme's Bedroom
No, this isn't an X-rated deleted scene just in case you were wondering. There's another cut moment from Attack of the Clones where Anakin goes inside Padme's bedroom. There are pictures on the walls, moving pictures much like the ones in Harry Potter. They show the Queen of Naboo when she was younger, surrounded by friends. Friends, she reveals, who unfortunately died because they couldn't adjust to living in their surroundings.
It's somewhat pointless but Anakin's cold unnerved reaction is the highlight. You get a real sense that mass people dying doesn't bother him which, when you know he transforms into Darth Vader, feels significant. A glimpse of the coldness and darkness that lives within the tortured Jedi's soul.
Count Dooku Interrogates Padme Amidala
When Anakin and Padme are captured on Geonosis, they're put to death. The second movie doesn't show any negotiations or talks that happen beforehand, unlike the DVD and Blu-ray editions of the movie.
After managing to get the pair, Count Dooku attempts a negotiation. Padme calls for Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has been imprisoned himself, to be freed but the Sith Lord declines. This scene is redundant and what also makes it worthy of being cut is the political talk. There's talk of what to do with Naboo but it certainly takes away from the pacing and momentum of the movie, so it's for the best that it didn't make it into the final version of the movie. The same can also be said for the final entry on this list...
Padme And Anakin On Trial
Padme and Anakin are also put on trial after being captured on Geonosis. But it's not something that's overly important because it's so, so brief.
They're immediately guilty so the whole trial and sentencing are irrelevant. Furthermore, the acting leaves much to be desired with Nute Gunray being particularly wooden on screen. It definitely made sense to skip this and just have the pair being thrown straight into the middle of the arena on Geonosis. That decision ensured the final act of the movie moves at rip-roaring speed and the action scenes are a joy to behold, especially when the Clone Army turns up to rescue them. Attack of the Clones may have been divisive but there's no denying the closing stages are Star Wars at its best.