The Star Wars prequel trilogy certainly divided fans, with many unhappy about George Lucas' decision to dabble in special effects rather than use the same practical techniques that made the original three movies so loved around the world. However, while The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones prompted many debates, Revenge of the Sith is widely considered to be one of the better blockbusters within the series. It was a huge box office hit upon in 2005, and, at 140 minutes long, it's one of the lengthiest Star Wars films,as well.
It would have been even longer, however, had deleted scenes made it into the final cut. So, we'll take a look at all 12 from the DVD and Blu-ray editions and list them chronologically.
Elevator Banter
Before becoming enemies, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi had a very brotherly relationship. This wasn't always shown across the prequels, with the Clone Wars TV series instead helping to give fans more of an insight into their connection. But, an early moment from Revenge of the Sith shows the pair exchanging some hilarious comments while under attack from battle droids.
Anakin jokes about being able to understand what R2-D2 is saying, while Kenobi then appears amused when an elevator doesn't show to whisk them away. This all happens while they're attempting to rescue Chancellor Palpatine, who has been captured by General Grievous. By the end of the movie, though, Kenobi could have been forgiven for regretting their act of heroism.
General Grievous Kills Shaak Ti
In the early stages of the third movie, Anakin and Obi-Wan are stopped in their tracks by a ray shield. However, things were nearly very different with General Grievous confronting the two Jedi in a deleted scene.
Grievous has a prisoner of his own in Shaak Ti, who tells Kenobi she's sorry for failing. The cyborg then cuts her down, impaling her in a moment of utter brutality. Anakin and Obi-Wan then exchange some more light words and manage to escape by cutting a hole in the floor, which sends them flying into the sewers below.
Anakin And Obi-Wan Swim To Safety
It appears the fast-paced beginning to Revenge of the Sith nearly didn't happen, with George Lucas having ideas aplenty to use that would potentially have dragged things out. Had he stuck with Grievous confronting Anakin and Obi-Wan, he would have also opted to use a moment that shows the pair swimming through the sewers while Super Battle Droids give chase.
Anakin's tactics are criticized by Obi-Wan, but the youngster knows what he's doing and creates an explosion that ultimately obliterates their enemies. Obi-Wan then backs down, admitting he himself may have much to learn. It also sums up their relationship perfectly, showing how much Anakin's reckless ways rile his master no matter what good they achieve.
Palpatine Manipulates Anakin
When Anakin and Obi-Wan return from rescuing Palpatine, the Sith Lord puts his villainous plans in motion. This involves manipulating Anakin emotionally, tapping into the Jedi's weaknesses and exploiting them for his own gain. He knows the former Tatooine slave craves attention and recognition for his heroic actions and therefore lavishes him with praise during a deleted scene.
The pair talk in Palpatine's office on Coruscant, with the villain saying the council 'doesn't appreciate' Anakin's talents and suggesting they will stop the Senate from making changes for the good of the Republic. Rather ominously, Palpatine claims the Jedi fear Anakin because he's got something inside of him too strong for him to control. This foreshadows the transformation Hayden Christensen's character will undergo later on in the film.
Yoda, Obi-Wan And Mace Windu Talk About Palpatine
In the version of Revenge of the Sith fans got, Palpatine's rise to power seems to coincide with when Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan are away on Jedi business. The former goes to Kashyyyk, while the latter travels to Utapau to fight General Grievous and end the war once and for all. However, things were very nearly different.
Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Mace Windu all discuss Palpatine in the Jedi Temple. Obi-Wan and Windu suggest he's the Sith Lord they've been looking for, but Yoda, ever the voice of reason, claims they need concrete proof before bringing him in.
The Rebel Alliance Is Born
Mon Mothma is a character who first appeared in Return of the Jedi, and, since then, has popped up in Rogue One, The Clone Wars, and Star Wars Rebels. However, she very nearly popped up in Revenge of the Sith, though her scenes were ultimately left on the cutting room floor.
The first shows her, Bail Organa, Padme Amidala, and other senators debating a plan of action as a result of Palpatine refusing to give up his power. It's here thta the Rebel Alliance is born, with Mon Mothma saying they need a discreet organization to tackle the incident. She warns that nobody can be told, and we're sad it wasn't included. It would have been poetic that Padme is there for the creation of the Rebel Alliance when her daughter, Leia, spearheads it many years later.
More Rebel Alliance Discussions
In another omitted moment including Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Padme, the trio discuss Palpatine. It's there that Padme claims she knows a Jedi, one they can trust to do the right thing. We assume she's talking about Anakin, but, given how close he is to Palpatine, she could feasibly have been referring to Obi-Wan Kenobi, instead.
Ultimately, the conversation doesn't amount to much. It again slows things down and the outcome of their discussion is simply to wait and see how things unfold.
Palpatine Is Confronted
With Palpatine refusing to give up his power, Padme, Mon Mothma, Bail, and the other members of the Senate confront him in his office. They kick up a fuss, but the Sith Lord is unmoved and ominously says his defense "should be enough for your committee." Anakin is present for this exchange and Padme shoots him a look of anger when he just stands there impartially, refusing to speak up for either side.
After this, Palpatine performs some more manipulation. He tells Anakin that Padme is hiding something and her friends "can't be trusted." He also says he senses much conflict within Skywalker, further paving the way for the Jedi's fall to the dark side later on.
Anakin Skywalker Kills Shaak Ti
It seems Lucas was undecided when it came to Shaak Ti. We've already mentioned how, in one deleted scene, General Grievous cut her down. But, in another, it's Anakin Skywalker who does the deed instead after falling to the dark side and leading the Order 66 attack on the Jedi Temple.
She asks him what's the matter and he doesn't even respond, cutting her down before proceeding. The animation of the scene isn't finished but, after slaughtering her, Anakin would have proceeded with chilling calm while stormtroopers and young Jedi do battle around him.
Obi-Wan And Yoda Fight Clones
In the third movie, after reuniting, Yoda and Obi-Wan take out clone troopers standing around the Jedi temple, and the Revenge of the Sith DVD and Blu-ray editions show an extended clip of this same scene.
The clones are actually hiding under Jedi hoods, fooling absolutely nobody whatsoever. It's there that a battle breaks out and the troopers are all cut down. This then allows Yoda and Obi-Wan to enter the Jedi Temple, where they learn the truth about Anakin's betrayal.
Yoda Communicates With Qui-Gon Jinn
Towards the end of the final prequel movie, Yoda tells Obi-Wan Kenobi that his old master, Qui-Gon Jinn, has learned the path to immortality. What the blockbuster doesn't show, though, is how this happens.
A deleted scene does, however. Yoda and Qui-Gon communicate via the force on Polis Massa, the place where Padme gives birth to Luke and Leia before sadly dying shortly afterward. Qui-Gon tells his old friend that he "will learn to merge with the force at will" and his "physical self will fade away but you will retain your consciousness." It's understandable why this was cut, but learning more about the origins of force ghosts would have been interesting regardless.
Yoda Arrives On Dagobah
Dagobah is the planet where Luke Skywalker finds Yoda during the events of The Empire Strikes Back. Still, fans would have got another glimpse of the location had a cut scene been included.
It's ever so brief, merely showing Yoda landing on Dagobah. It adds fan service but nothing else, in all honesty, and, given how much happens at the end of Revenge of the Sith, the decision to leave it out definitely makes sense.