Anakin Skywalker was prophesized to bring the balance to the Force, but one Star Wars theory suggests that Count Dooku believed he was the true Chosen One, not Anakin. The prophecy of the Chosen One is central to the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but it has always had an underlying level of uncertainty. Although Qui-Gon Jinn was convinced that Anakin was the Chosen One, the other Jedi were not as quick to believe, including Obi-Wan Kenobi. This has led to debate among fans over whether Anakin Skywalker really was the Chosen One, and who else could have fulfilled the prophecy.
While Anakin seems like the most obvious answer, he and Dooku share many common elements. Both were trained as Jedi, possessed great power compared to others, and became dissatisfied with the limits of the Jedi Order. Like any prophecy, it's entirely possible for there to be multiple candidates who could fill the role. While one perspective on events is shown in Star Wars, there are also factors that could, in Dooku's mind, give him an advantage over Anakin as the Chosen One from a certain point of view.
Dooku Knew More About The Chosen One Than Any Jedi
Dooku may have believed himself to be the Chosen One because he was the most qualified on the subject. Dooku and his apprentice, Qui-Gon Jinn, were among the few Jedi who had studied the ancient Jedi prophecies. This would explain why Qui-Gon was so certain that Anakin was the Chosen One, because he knew more about the subject than anyone else at the time. However, after Qui-Gon was killed, Dooku would have been the one who knew the most about the Jedi prophesies.
The Jedi Council accepted Anakin as the Chosen One because Qui-Gon believed in him and there were no other obvious candidates. Dooku would be able to make an informed judgment, and his disagreements with the Council would keep him from accepting their point of view. Unlike Qui-Gon, whose knowledge made him certain that Anakin was the Chosen One, Dooku's certainty could have led him to a different conclusion.
Dooku Didn't Believe Anakin Skywalker Was The Chosen One
It's very clear in Star Wars that Dooku didn't believe Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One. When they first meet in Attack of the Clones, Dooku thinks very little of Anakin, seeming more interested in Obi-Wan. This is reaffirmed by Dooku in The Clone Wars season 4, episode 18 "Crisis on Naboo" when Count Dooku says "Well done, Master Kenobi. You are a worthy adversary. I cannot say the same about your young apprentice."
In the Revenge of the Sith novelization, Dooku wanted to recruit Obi-Wan instead of Anakin. This aligns with Dooku asking Obi-Wan to join him in Attack of the Clones, and it also explains why Dooku focused his attacks on Anakin at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. Dooku continues to make clear how little he thinks of Anakin, dismissing his boasts and sensing his unwillingness to use anger in battle. Dooku may have been proven wrong on that final point, but it's obvious that he never really believed Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One.
Did Dooku Believe HE Was The Chosen One?
There are several factors that suggest Dooku saw himself as Star Wars' Chosen One. The prophecy states that the Chosen One will bring balance to the Force, and Dooku had good reason to believe it was out of balance when he was a Jedi. In the Tales of the Jedi miniseries, Dooku saw firsthand how many people were suffering because of corruption within the Republic, and how the Jedi Order failed to do anything about it. Dooku joined Darth Sidious because he believed they could bring a new order to the galaxy that would change things for the better.
The Jedi believed that destroying the Sith was the key to bringing balance, and Dooku tells Obi-Wan they can do just that if they work together. While the Jedi believed this was one of Dooku's lies, there may have been some truth to it, since The Clone Wars TV series shows that Dooku was training Asajj Ventress to overthrow Palpatine. Of course, it's also possible that Dooku may have subscribed to a literal view of balance in the Force, going so far as to believe that the Jedi needed to be destroyed as well.
Dooku Believing He Was The Chosen one Explains How Palpatine Betrayed Him
Dooku didn't see Palpatine's betrayal coming, and believing he was the Chosen One could explain why. Dooku is shown to be a cunning and intelligent man, orchestrating an elaborate plot to plunge the galaxy into war. He was also fully aware of the Rule of Two, and how treachery is the way of the Sith. This naturally raises the question of how he didn't realize Palpatine's plan until it was too late.
If Dooku believed he was the Chosen One, then he believed that he had a prophesized destiny. He wouldn't think that he could be killed until he had fulfilled the prophecy, and he certainly wouldn't think that Anakin Skywalker would kill him. Yoda once criticized Dooku for believing that the rules didn't apply to him, so it's possible that this mindset would carry over to the rules of the Sith. Dooku's own ego blinded him to the truth, and like many Star Wars villains, that ended up being his downfall.
Even if Dooku wasn't the Chosen One, the idea opens the door for further reinterpretations of the Star Wars franchise. The identity of the Chosen One has been questioned before, such as when Obi-Wan thought Luke Skywalker was the Chosen One in Star Wars Rebels. George Lucas himself would have challenged Anakin's claim to the prophecy, as his early Star Wars sequels plan made Leia the Chosen One. There's no telling what other parts of the Star Wars universe could be revisited, changed, or given new meaning in future stories.