"Mace Windu Lives" - The Best Option For Samuel L. Jackson's Star Wars Return Is Also The Darkest

Recent comments about a potential Mace Windu return have me thinking about the best way the Jedi Master’s Star Wars story could continue. Ever since 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, several fans have been theorizing and begging Lucasfilm about a Windu return with the reveal that he didn’t die fighting the Sith. After all, losing a limb and falling from a great height is not nearly as life-threatening in the Star Wars galaxy as it is in real life.

The leader of the Jedi Council during the prequel trilogy, Mace Windu was one of the most powerful Jedi Masters of his era and the wielder of a rare purple-bladed lightsaber. However, he ultimately met his demise at the hands of Darth Sidious and the newly corrupted Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith…or did he? In light of new comments from actor Samuel L. Jackson and The Mandalorian director Bryce Dallas Howard, I’m confident that the best way for Mace Windu to come back is also one of the darkest.

From Samuel L. Jackson and Bryce Dallas Howard

As many fans know, Samuel L. Jackson has never really stopped campaigning to one day come back as Mace Windu. He’s just as eager for a comeback as fans, and has often complained in jest about how everyone else has come back but him. To that end, it should come as no surprise that Jackson recently gave a very public declaration that “Mace Windu Lives!” at the 20th Anniversary re-release screening of The Revenge of the Sith at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theater back in April, taking the stage alongside Anakin Skywalker actor Hayden Christensen before the movie began.

However, The Mandalorian director Bryce Dallas Howard recently confirmed she’s also been inquiring about Mace Windu’s return, and has even talked with Jackson himself about trying to make some sort of spin-off happen. During an interview with The Direct, Howard confirmed she’s talked with Lucasfilm’s Dave Filoni about the potential of Windu’s survival:

“I want to work with Sam Jackson, just no matter what, in any circumstance. And I also love working in Star Wars… And so, you know, I harass Dave Filoni a lot about a lot of things, and that’s just one, but, yeah, no, that was a fun conversation, but didn’t add up to anything.”

For the time being, it seems as though nothing is officially on the table when it comes to Mace Windu, at least not yet. However, I know exactly how Mace Windu’s Star Wars return should play out, when and if it does happen.

If Mace Windu Survived Revenge of the Sith, It Shouldn’t Be As A Traditional Jedi

Due To His Unique Force Relationship

Had it not been for Anakin Skywalker’s interference, Mace Windu fully intended to kill Darth Sidious. Believing that the Sith Lord was too dangerous to be left alive, Windu had his lightsaber raised and was ready to strike. As such, it’s a clear sign pointing to Mace Windu giving in to his darker impulses which he typically kept restrained via Vaapad, the unique lightsaber style Mace developed. Also known as the Ferocity Form, this unique fighting style channels the wielder’s inner darkness into the duel with careful focus and determination so as not to fall prey to one’s darker emotions.

As such, it seems as though Windu indeed lost control in his final moments, forsaking the Jedi Code before losing his limb and being thrown out the window of Palpatine’s office with a blast of Force lightning. Keeping that in mind, I think it’s not too extreme to imagine a scenario where a surviving Mace Windu wouldn’t be the Jedi he once was. There’s a strong argument to be had that Order 66 would push a broken Mace over the edge, no longer maintaining control over the dark and subsequently using said darkness to try and avenge the Jedi Order.

Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu in Star Wars

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We could then have a series set during the Dark Times show where an unleashed, scarred, and one-handed Windu tries to finish what he couldn’t in Revenge of the Sith. Mace Windu would be a one-man army hell-bent on ending the Sith by whatever means necessary, no matter how many Imperial Inquisitors the Empire might send his way. Subsequently, the ending could perhaps see Mace Windu redeeming himself back to the light by the show’s end, either by sacrificing himself as a Jedi once more or even by putting down his lightsaber and letting go of his desire for vengeance.

A Mace Windu Series Would Be Epic, But The Odds Feel Low

I Doubt Lucasfilm Would Do It Anytime Soon

A Mace Windu series set in the Dark Times is certainly bold and exciting. However, perhaps it’s too big of a swing for Lucasfilm at the present moment. With everything else Lucasfilm has in development, it seems like the focus is currently elsewhere. After all, they’re preparing for an imminent return to the big screen with next year’s The Mandalorian & Grogu, as well as a large focus on their various New Republic projects.

That being said, there’s currently only one confirmed live-action series in the works with Ahsoka season 2. While we might not be getting a Mace Windu in the near future, it’s promising to see that there’s at least a good level of interest from Samuel L. Jackson himself, as well as from key Lucasfilm filmmakers like Bryce Dallas Howard. Perhaps a Mace Windu series could become a reality in a handful of years?

Being sandwiched between the original and sequel trilogies, the New Republic Era is certainly finite. Eventually, Lucasfilm will more than likely be searching for other eras of the Star Wars timeline to explore. With any luck, a Mace Windu spin-off series will hopefully be at the top of the list for the future of the Star Wars franchise. After all, the powerful Jedi Master is just too cool not to have survived Revenge of the Sith.