Anakin Skywalker’s turn to the dark side seemed to prove he wasn’t the Chosen One, but Star Wars revealed that the real chosen one is Darth Vader.
As fans learn from watching the third installment of Star Wars’ prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker was believed to be the Chosen One–someone who would eradicate the Sith from the galaxy and bring balance to the Force–but instead, he became the Sith Lord Darth Vader. Skywalker failed to live up to the prophecy and proved that he wasn’t actually the Jedi’s Chosen One after all. However, in an entirely different story Star Wars seemingly confirms that Darth Vader actually is a Chosen One in a completely unexpected way.
In Star Wars’ original trilogy, it is revealed that Anakin Skywalker’s son, Luke Skywalker, is the the true Chosen One of the galaxy. He is the only person who is strong enough in the Force to take down the Empire and, by association, the Sith, as well as being the only one who could restore the Jedi Order to its former glory. Luke was able to succeed where Anakin so miserably failed, and thereby took his place in history as the galaxy’s savior. However, in a Star Wars Legends story, it is revealed that Darth Vader’s true destiny wasn’t for the benefit of the Jedi or the Sith, but for a much more chaotic cosmic purpose.
In the Dark Horse Comics miniseries Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin by Tim Siedell, Stephen Thompson, and Iván Fernández, a sinister cult known as the Heinsnake Cult is attempting to assassinate the Emperor. In response, Darth Vader tracks them to their homeworld to eradicate the threat in the name of the Empire. However, that is exactly what the cult wants him to do as when he arrives, they show Vader how significant they believe he is to their cause. The Heinsnake Cult believe in the order found in chaos, and their religion has its own Chosen One who is prophesied to bring about that glorious chaos to the galaxy by way of eliminating both the Jedi and the Sith. They believe this person is none other than Darth Vader, as his likeness appears in their ancient hieroglyphs prophesying his anarchistic reign.
It is interesting that Vader finds himself at the center of two separate prophecies within the Star Wars universe, both of which speak to his incredible power with the Force. However, the Jedi turned out to be wrong about Anakin being their Chosen One as he helped destroy the Jedi while bolstering the Sith’s galactic power. On the other hand, the Heinsnake Cult nearly have their prophecy fulfilled before Darth Vader ultimately fails. By the end of the original trilogy, Darth Vader turns away from the Sith and becomes responsible for the Emperor’s demise. Basically, Darth Vader nearly completes the Heinsnake Cult’s prophecy by ending the rule of both the Jedi and the Sith. However, because of Luke’s role in bringing balance to the Force, Darth Vader doesn’t throw the galaxy into chaos. So, while the cult is correct in naming Vader their Chosen One, he ultimately fails his mission.
This storyline marks the second time Darth Vader turns his back on his supposed destiny, though the second instance stands apart from the first. Darth Vader was never the Jedi’s cosmic savior, but he was the Heinsnake Cult’s bringer of chaos. This is proven true after he unwittingly completes two thirds of the prophecy before ultimately choosing to help his son complete his destiny rather than completing his own by throwing the galaxy into chaos–proving that Darth Vader was a Chosen One within the Star Wars universe, just not the one anyone expected.
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