Finally, Star Wars has revealed just how dangerous a dark side Luke Skywalker would be. The Tatooine farmboy with a thirst for adventure who learned he was the son of a Jedi Knight, Luke would prove that one man can change the history of an entire galaxy when he shot down the Death Star, and again when he successfully redeemed Darth Vader, leading the Sith Apprentice to turn on his Master. Luke is a legendary figure, renowned for his strength in the Force and his unshakeable belief in the possibility of redemption.
Naturally, Star Wars fans have always wondered just what would happen if Luke Skywalker ever turned to the dark side. The old Expanded Universe toyed with that idea in the Dark Empire comics, in which Luke bent the knee before a resurrected Emperor, but even then it didn't last long - with Luke himself redeemed by the love of his friends and family. That story isn't even canon any more, with Disney declaring the Expanded Universe "Legends" when they acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. The question still feels relatively unresolved.
Amusingly, the Star Wars special LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales actually provides an answer, albeit a non-canon one. It features an account of the Death Star's destruction by Darth Vader's twisted servant Vaneé, who turns the original Star Wars story on its head by telling a tale in which Luke Skywalker joined the Empire instead of the Rebellion. Power-hungry and eager for fame and celebrity, this version of Luke proved himself a skilled pilot, and even earned the attention of Darth Vader himself. He became Darth Vader's apprentice, trained in the ways of the Force, and it was clear he had even more power than the man he did not know was his father. Ironically, Luke's story ended in the same way when he fired a stray shot during the battle over the Death Star, and accidentally obliterated it. No doubt in Vaneé's version, Luke joined the Rebellion in order to claim he'd intended to fire that shot all along.
Of course, this is just a tall tale told in a Halloween special, but the really striking thing about the account by Darth Vader's servant Vaneé is how easily it could have happened. Viewers tend to forget that Luke Skywalker's dreams of seeing the galaxy were originally leading him to join the Empire, and in fact in the first film he fought with his uncle over whether it was time for him to enlist. Luke's heroic journey really began when Imperial stormtroopers gunned down his aunt and uncle, giving him a personal reason to oppose the Empire. Things could have easily turned out differently.
Lucasfilm is increasingly diving into non-canon Star Wars stories, most notably with the superb Star Wars: Visions animated series, and it's possible these can give viewers a better glimpse of a dark side Luke Skywalker. For now, though, LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales suggests he would be a force to be reckoned with.
