Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith

The narrative unfolds three years after the events depicted in Attack of the Clones. The Galactic Republic is deeply entrenched in an epic war against the Confederacy of Independent Systems, led by Count Dooku, who is also the Sith Lord, Darth Tyranus. General Grievous, the cyborg military commander of the Confederacy's Separatist Droid Army, has extended the conflict to Coruscant and taken Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, the leader of the Galactic Senate, hostage during a massive space battle.

As the Separatist Droid Army attempts to flee the Republic capital, a substantial space engagement occurs, prompting Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his former padawan, now Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, to initiate a rescue operation for the Chancellor. The Jedi navigate through the Separatist fleet. During this endeavor, Obi-Wan's interceptor sustains damage from buzz droids, resulting in the destruction of his astromech, R4-P17. Anakin attempts to eliminate the droids, but inadvertently damages his former Master's spacecraft. Obi-Wan cautions Anakin against firing, stating that it is not helpful. Anakin admits it was a mistake. Obi-Wan instructs Anakin to proceed and rescue the Chancellor, but Anakin refuses to leave without Obi-Wan. Anakin employs a fighter wing to dislodge some of the buzz droids from Obi-Wan's craft, although one manages to attach itself to Anakin's ship, only to be swiftly neutralized by R2-D2. As they approach Grievous's flagship, Obi-Wan reminds Anakin that their shields are still active, prompting Anakin to deviate from the formation and target a shield generator, disabling the shields on the ship's docking bay. This action triggers the ship's emergency breach door, which begins to close rapidly. The two Jedi execute a crash landing just before the door seals shut.

Anakin and Obi-Wan advance through the flagship, employing their lightsabers to overcome a multitude of droids. Simultaneously, R2-D2 provides support from the hangar bay, incinerating a pair of super battle droids using fuel and his thrusters.

Upon reaching their destination, the Jedi encounter the captive Chancellor Palpatine. They are confronted by Count Dooku himself. Obi-Wan informs Anakin that they will engage Dooku together, leading to an intense lightsaber duel. The Jedi catch the Count off guard by switching from basic attacks to more advanced strategies. During the confrontation, Dooku uses the Force to suspend Obi-Wan in mid-air by his throat before slamming him against a railing, rendering him unconscious.

Anakin continues the battle, enduring repeated taunts from Dooku. Harnessing his anger, Anakin taps into the dark side of the Force and gains the upper hand in the duel. He severs both of Dooku's hands, leaving him defenseless, and then holds him at lightsaber-point with both his own weapon and Dooku's. Palpatine urges Anakin to kill Dooku, much to the latter's dismay as he looks at the Chancellor pleadingly, only to be met with a sinister smile from Palpatine. Initially, Anakin hesitates, but Palpatine insists firmly. Unaware of Palpatine's true intentions, Anakin brutally decapitates the helpless Dooku. His body and head fall to the ground.

The Invisible Hand passes by a Venator-class Star Destroyer. An exchange of fire begins between the two ships, and a shell from a Republic Venator destroys one of the Invisible Hand's cannons and ammo crates, causing the Invisible Hand to begin an uncontrolled descent toward Coruscant. Despite Palpatine's urging that he should abandon the unconscious Obi-Wan, Anakin carries him on his back and navigates through the ship with the Chancellor. Obi-Wan eventually regains consciousness.

After Grievous has the bridge crew regain control of his flagship by firing the emergency booster engines, he ensures the capture of the two Jedi and their charge. Having been ensnared by a ray shield trap, the three are escorted to the bridge under guard, but R2 successfully creates a diversion, enabling the Jedi to retrieve their lightsabers and break free.

Grievous then dispatches a pair of his formidable IG-100 MagnaGuard droids after the Jedi. Obi-Wan swiftly decapitates the first MagnaGuard with his blade, but the droid continues to fight, compelling Obi-Wan to slice the droid warrior apart before it deactivates. Anakin eliminates the second MagnaGuard and destroys the battle droids attempting to remove Palpatine from the bridge. The Jedi close in on Grievous, but the cunning General shatters a window with his fallen guard's electrostaff and is swept outside. Using a tow cable, Grievous secures himself to the ship and heads for the escape pods. Launching all other escape capsules, Grievous speeds for the safety of a Trade Federation Lucrehulk-class battleship. Once again, the flagship begins to descend in free fall into Coruscant, though due to its extensive damage taken from its broadside cannon fight with the Guarlara and entering Coruscant' atmosphere, the ships hangar bay begins to weaken. After extending the ship's drag flaps, the hangar gives out and breaks off from the rest of the ship, sending them into a faster freefall. With the aid of a few emergency firespeeders they land, hitting a control tower along on one of Coruscant's industrial landing platforms.

On Coruscant, Anakin is celebrated for his heroic actions. He meets secretly with Padmé Amidala, and they share a kiss in the shadows of the Senate office building, concealing their relationship. She reveals that she is pregnant with their child.

Elsewhere, Grievous, now holding both the political and military leadership of the Separatists, arrives on Utapau, where Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, Geonosian Archduke Poggle the Lesser, Techno Union head of state and Foreman Wat Tambor, and other members of the Separatist Council remain in hiding. Darth Sidious contacts the General, instructing him to relocate the Separatist leaders to Mustafar, a volcanic planet. He also informs Grievous that the war is nearing its end. Grievous expresses uncertainty about this, given Count Dooku's demise. Sidious assures him that Darth Tyranus's death and loss were necessary, for he would soon have a new Sith apprentice: one far younger and more powerful.

Later, on Coruscant, Anakin awakens in a state of panic, drenched in sweat. He reveals to Padmé that he has been experiencing dreams of her dying during childbirth, and vowing that he cannot live without her, he promises to prevent this dream from becoming reality.

Chancellor Palpatine requests Anakin's presence, and they convene in the Chancellor's office. The Senate has granted the Chancellor additional emergency powers, giving him direct control of the Jedi Council. Palpatine confides in Anakin his apprehension, distrust, and disdain for the Masters. He appoints Anakin as his personal representative on the Council.

The High Council reluctantly accepts Anakin's appointment but denies him the rank of Master. Anakin reacts with anger at this perceived insult, but Mace Windu quickly silences him. Disregarding his outburst, the Council proceeds to discuss matters pertaining to the war. It is decided that Anakin will be assigned to protect the Chancellor, and Yoda will lead a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. Anakin is both angry and disappointed by this.

Obi-Wan later informs Anakin that the Council wants him to report on all the Chancellor's dealings, essentially spying on him. Anakin is confused and upset, feeling torn between two friends and loyalties. Obi-Wan himself is dissatisfied with the situation.

At the Galaxies Opera House in the Uscru District, Anakin joins Palpatine to watch the Mon Calamari Aquatic Ballet performing Squid Lake. Palpatine informs Anakin that Clone Intelligence has located General Grievous hiding in the Utapau system. Anakin is pleased by this news, as Grievous's capture will hasten the war's conclusion. Palpatine remarks that he would question the competence of the Jedi Council if Anakin was not sent on the mission. Inviting Anakin to join him, Palpatine dismisses his aides: once they are gone, Palpatine seduces Anakin to the dark side. He also tells Anakin that the Jedi Order wishes to overthrow the Republic and that if he has suspected it, Anakin must surely have sensed it. Anakin confirms that the Jedi don't trust him, a fact that Palpatine expands to include the Senate, the Republic, and democracy as a whole. Anakin tells Palpatine that his trust in the Jedi has been shaken and Palpatine deduces Anakin's distaste for the Council's mission to spy on the Chancellor. Palpatine reminds Anakin of some of the early political lessons Palpatine tried to teach him, about how all those who gain power are afraid to lose it and that includes the Jedi. Anakin tries to defend the Jedi by saying they use their powers for good, but Palpatine argues good is only a point of view, noting that in almost every conceivable manner, including a quest for greater power, the Sith and the Jedi are exactly alike. Anakin disagrees, remarking that the Sith depend on passion for strength, thinking only of themselves, whereas the Jedi are selfless, thinking only of others.

After a brief pause in their conversation, Palpatine makes a remark about the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. Palpatine describes Darth Plagueis as a Dark Lord of the Sith so powerful and wise that he could use the Force to influence the midi-chlorians to create life. Not only this, but having such power and knowledge of the dark side, Plagueis could use thistle ability to save people he cared about from death, a statement which gets Anakin's attention (which was Palpatine's desire) and Palpatine describes the dark side of the Force as a pathway to many abilities considered by some to be unnatural. When Anakin asks what happened to Darth Plagueis, Palpatine concludes that Plagueis became so powerful that all he feared was losing his power, which he eventually did. Unfortunately for Plagueis, he taught his apprentice, who happened to be Darth Sidious, all he knew: after he had, his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Palpatine notes the irony of how Plagueis could keep others from dying, but not himself. When Anakin asks if it is possible to learn the power to stop death, Palpatine simply replies, "Not from a Jedi," further alienating Anakin from the Jedi Order.

After Yoda arrives on Kashyyyk, Anakin relays the information about Grievous, explaining that a partial message was intercepted in a diplomatic packet from the Chairman of Utapau. Yoda says they should act quickly and decisively on this information. When Anakin expresses his interest in going at Palpatine's request, Mace Windu harshly tells him that the Council will decide who goes and not the Chancellor. Yoda believes that a Master with more experience is needed to confront, and defeat, Grievous. Ki-Adi-Mundi agrees and nominates Obi-Wan to go. With the nomination agreed on, the Council adjourns and Obi-Wan prepares to go to Utapau. Yoda, Luminara Unduli, and Gree, along with Tarfful and Chewbacca defend Kashyyyk against the Corporate Alliance Tanks, Dwarf Spider droids, Droid Gunships, and legions of battle droids.

Anakin escorts Obi-Wan to a Jedi cruiser before his departure. Anakin maintains his belief that he should be on Utapau as well. Obi-Wan agrees, but also notes that it might just be a wild Bantha chase. Anakin stops Obi-Wan and tells him that he knows he's disappointed Obi-Wan and that he's not been acting very grateful for the training he received. Anakin tells him he's just been so frustrated with the Council lately, but that he does apologize. Obi-Wan calls Anakin strong and wise and tells Anakin he's very proud of him and while Obi-Wan trained him since Anakin was a boy, he calls Anakin a far greater Jedi than Obi-Wan could hope to be. But Obi-Wan encourages Anakin to be patient and that it won't be long before the Council makes Anakin a Jedi Master. The two bid each other farewell, and Obi-Wan departs for Utapau. Unbeknownst to them, this marks the final occasion they will see or speak to each other as fellow Jedi and friends.

Obi-Wan arrives in Pau City on Utapau and initiates his search for General Grievous, riding a varactyl named Boga. He locates Grievous on the Tenth Level. After Obi-Wan dispatches the droids surrounding Grievous, the two engage in single combat. Grievous's arms split in half, enabling him to wield four lightsabers simultaneously. Obi-Wan quickly severs the lower halves of the General's hands, helping to even out the odds a little. During the battle, the Third Systems Army arrives under the command of CC-2224 "Cody." Obi-Wan manages to catch Grievous off guard and uses the Force to push the fiendish droid general into the ceiling. Grievous drops his remaining two lightsabers and attempts to flee on his wheel bike, while Obi-Wan pursues on Boga. During the chase, Obi-Wan drops his lightsaber, which Commander Cody happens to find during the massive battle against the droids.

On Coruscant, Anakin informs Palpatine that General Grievous has been located on Utapau. Anakin insists he should be on Utapau as well. Their conversation shifts to Palpatine's knowledge of the Force and dark side, both of which he learned from his mentor (Plagueis), much to the shock of Anakin who starts to become wary of the Chancellor. After Palpatine tells him that the dark side can save Padme from death, Anakin realizes that Palpatine is in fact Darth Sidious, the latter of which Palpatine confirms (This revelation means that Palpatine as Sidious engineered the Invasion of Naboo and War, betrayed and caused the deaths of Plagueis and Dooku, and has been deceiving the Jedi and Republic). Anakin ignites his lightsaber and threatens to kill Palpatine, but then decides to expose his deception and identity to the Jedi Council. He is still concerned with saving his wife, and believes only Palpatine's knowledge will ensure this.

Obi-Wan continues to pursue General Grievous on Utapau. He catches up with the General and jumps onto his wheel bike. Using Grievous's electrostaff, he manages to destabilize the speeder, and it goes into a spin. Both Obi-Wan and Grievous are thrown off as the speeder topples over the edge of Grievous's secret landing platform. Grievous then draws his blaster, though it is knocked from his hand by Obi-Wan, now wielding the electrostaff. He knocks Grievous down, and a brawl ensues, during which Kenobi tears open the General's chest plates, revealing his living organs. Enraged, Grievous repeatedly hits Obi-Wan and then picks up the helpless Jedi and throws him over the edge. Obi-Wan barely manages to hang on and momentarily dangles for his life. As Grievous moves in for the kill, Obi-Wan uses the Force to retrieve the General's blaster and fires at Grievous's exposed organs. He hits, and they burst into flames. With his eyes flaming, Grievous falls to the floor, dead.

Anakin returns to the Jedi Temple and approaches Windu who tells Anakin that they have just been informed that Obi-Wan has destroyed General Grievous and so they are going to go to the Senate to ensure that Chancellor Palpatine gives back his emergency powers. However, Anakin reveals that Palpatine is a Sith Lord and is not likely to give up his powers, a statement which shocks Windu and stops him dead in his tracks. Anakin confirms what he just said and says he believes Palpatine is the one they have been looking for. When Windu asks how Anakin knows this, he tells Windu that Palpatine knows the ways of the Force and has been trained to use the dark side and that he is absolutely sure. Windu says their worst fears have now been realized and that if the Jedi Order is to survive, they must move quickly. Anakin warns Windu that Palpatine is very powerful and they'll need his help to arrest Palpatine, but Windu urges him to stay out of it as he senses much fear in Anakin and it could cloud his judgment. Windu also adds that if what Anakin says is true then Anakin will have gained his trust but for now, he wants Anakin to wait in the Council Chambers until he returns. Masters Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin board a gunship and head to Palpatine's office.

Sitting in the Council Chambers, remembering Palpatine's promise of stopping death and the dreams of Padmé dying in childbirth, Anakin ruminates over his decision: in his mind, he hears Palpatine's voice saying that if the Jedi kill him, any chance of saving Padmé will be lost. Finally, he leaves and rushes after the four Jedi.

Windu and the three other Jedi Masters arrive at Chancellor Palpatine's office. Windu declares Palpatine is under arrest and the Masters ignite their lightsabers. Sidious pulls a lightsaber from his sleeve and hurls himself at the Jedi with a screeching war cry. Kolar is the first to die, run through the chest and as Kolar's life is ending due to the wound, Sidious turns and slices Tiin's torso. A few seconds later, with more effort from Sidious, Fisto is slain, killed by a slash across the gut. Only Windu remains, alone against the Dark Lord.

Sidious and Windu engaged in a fierce duel, their battle raging on. Initially, they seemed evenly matched, but Windu gradually gained the upper hand, pushing the Sith Lord from the Chancellor's antechamber into the main office. A large glass window shattered as they fought, and then Windu landed a kick on Sidious, causing him to fall and lose his lightsaber. Just as Windu held his blade to Sidious's throat, Anakin appeared. Windu declared Sidious defeated, but the Sith Lord responded by unleashing a powerful surge of Force lightning. Windu, however, used his lightsaber to deflect the lightning, redirecting much of its energy back into Sidious's body. The Sith Lord's appearance was dramatically altered; his face became pale and gaunt, his teeth turned yellow and decayed, his fingernails grew long and dirty, and his eyes glowed with a fiery yellow and blood-red outline. He ceased his attack, claiming he was too weak to continue. As Windu contemplated killing Sidious, Anakin intervened, arguing that Palpatine should face trial. Windu dismissed this, stating that Sidious's influence over the Senate and courts made him too dangerous to be left alive. Anakin was forced to make a final decision between the Jedi Order and Padmé. As Windu prepared to strike the killing blow, Anakin betrayed him, severing his sword arm. Sidious, laughing maniacally, unleashed another torrent of Force lightning, blasting Windu out of the window, sending him plummeting to his death far below.

Anakin was filled with horror at his actions, but he understood there was no turning back after betraying the Jedi. He pledged his loyalty to Sidious, seeking the Dark Lord's power to prevent death, hoping to save his beloved wife. Sidious accepted Anakin as his Sith apprentice, giving him the Sith name "Darth Vader." Sidious ordered Vader to initiate Operation: Knightfall, ensuring the Jedi Rebellion would be crushed, and then eliminate the Separatist Council on the Mustafar system, before proclaiming that "Once more the Sith will rule the galaxy."

Vader led the 501st Legion to the Jedi Temple. Together, he and the clone troopers stormed through the Temple, killing every Jedi they encountered, including the skilled swordsman Cin Drallig and even the younglings hiding in the Council Chamber.

Simultaneously, from his office, Sidious transmitted a command to Commander Cody and numerous other clone troopers scattered throughout the galaxy: to execute Order 66, a protocol designed to eliminate all Jedi, which the Clones followed (as explained in seasons 6 and 7 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars).

Across the galaxy, the Jedi Generals were betrayed and murdered by their own clone troopers. As these events unfolded, Yoda sensed the deaths of every Jedi. On Utapau, Kenobi was knocked off a cliff by a blast from an All Terrain Tactical Enforcer, but he and Boga survived the fall, and Obi-Wan escaped on Grievous's concealed starfighter; on Mygeeto, Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi was shot down by CC-1138 and the 21st Nova Corps; on the lush, tropical world of Felucia, Jedi Knight Aayla Secura was killed by CC-5052 and his 327th Star Corps; on Cato Neimoidia, Plo Koon's Jedi starfighter was destroyed by Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighters, crashing into a clone staging area; and on Saleucami, Stass Allie's 74-Z speeder bike was blown up by CC-8826 and his wingman, riding BARC speeders. On Kashyyyk, Yoda was observing the ongoing battle when Commander Gree received the order. He and Captain Jek attempted to ambush Yoda, but the wise Master sensed their intentions and swiftly decapitated both clones with a strike of his lightsaber. Tarfful and Chewbacca assisted Yoda in escaping the planet.

Senator Bail Organa arrived at the burning Temple to witness the slaughter of a young Padawan named Zett Jukassa by a squad of troopers led by Commander Appo. Horrified, Organa fled the scene and departed Coruscant in the Tantive III, seeking to contact any surviving Jedi.

Obi-Wan and Yoda both survived Order 66 and were rescued by Senator Organa, having evaded capture. The Jedi decided to return to Coruscant to alter the Jedi beacon, which was calling all Jedi back to Coruscant, unaware it was a trap set by Darth Sidious. Kenobi hoped to warn any surviving Jedi to avoid the Temple.

Following the attack on the Jedi Temple, Vader returned to Padmé at the Senate Apartment Complex, from where the smoke rising from the destroyed Temple was visible. He informed her that the Jedi had attempted to seize control of the Republic, and that there were traitors within the Senate. He requested her loyalty to the Chancellor, and then told her he would travel to the Mustafar system, where the remaining Separatists had gathered, to bring an end to the war.

Through a hologram, Sidious informed the Separatist Council that Vader would deal with them upon his arrival, though the council was unaware that Sidious had betrayed them and had actually sent Vader to kill them.

Vader arrived on Mustafar and was greeted by Viceroy Gunray, but the Sith apprentice quickly confined the Separatist Council within the bunker. He slaughtered Poggle the Lesser, Rune Haako, Po Nudo, and Wat Tambor, among others. He saved Gunray for last, slicing the Neimoidian across the chest as he begged for his life. It was at this moment that the first visible sign of the dark side manifested in Vader, as his irises turned a sickly yellow, with the rest of his eyes taking on a bright crimson hue.

The Senate convened a special session where Palpatine announced the "Jedi plot to overthrow the Senate," which he claimed had been foiled. Amidst thunderous applause, he informed the Senate that the surviving Jedi would be hunted down and defeated. He then declared that "in order to ensure the security and continued stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire," which Palpatine described as creating a safe and secure society. As the majority of the Senate cheered their approval, Padmé Amidala and Bail Organa, shocked by the outcome, exchanged glances, and Padmé could only lament, "So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause."

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Yoda ventured to the Jedi Temple, slaying several clones and walking through the carnage in disbelief. Yoda noticed that many of their fellow Jedi had been killed by someone wielding a lightsaber. They altered the Temple's signal to warn any surviving Jedi to stay away from the Temple, but then Obi-Wan, seeking the truth, reviewed the security hologram recordings. To his horror, one recording showed Vader dueling Younglings and then kneeling before Sidious. Yoda declared that they must destroy the Sith, but Obi-Wan was hesitant to kill Anakin and wanted to confront the Emperor instead. Yoda, however, stated that Obi-Wan was not strong enough to face Sidious and that Anakin was gone, "consumed" by Vader. Yoda departed to confront Sidious, instructing Obi-Wan to "use his feelings" to locate Vader.

Following Yoda's advice, Obi-Wan visited Padmé, asking about Anakin's whereabouts and informing her that he had turned to the dark side and murdered many Jedi in the temple, and that everyone had been deceived by Sidious, who was behind everything, including the war. Despite her distress, Padmé refused to reveal her husband's location. Obi-Wan deduced that Padmé was pregnant with Anakin's child, revealing that he knew of their relationship all along, and apologized for what he had to do before leaving. On Mustafar, Vader surveyed the desolate landscape and wept over his recent acts of violence, knowing he could not escape the influence of Darth Sidious.

Later, Padmé departed Coruscant in her star skiff, heading to Mustafar to find her husband and discover the truth. Unbeknownst to her, Obi-Wan secretly boarded the ship just before it took off.

The star skiff landed on Mustafar, and Padmé was greeted by a smiling Vader. Padmé revealed her conversation with Obi-Wan; he claimed it was all lies but did not deny the accusations. Padmé also told him Obi-Wan knew about their relationship, wanted to help them, and begged him to run away with her to raise their child in peace. Vader, consumed by power, declared that they no longer needed to run and that he could overthrow Palpatine so that they could rule the galaxy together. Padmé, realizing how much her husband had changed, recoiled in horror and tearfully begged him to stop, insisting she still loved him.

As she pleaded, Obi-Wan emerged onto the star skiff's boarding ramp. Upon seeing him, Vader flew into a rage and accused Padmé of betraying him with Obi-Wan. Without allowing her to explain, he began Force-choking her. Obi-Wan intervened and demanded Vader release Padmé, but Vader continued to choke her unconscious. Turning his anger towards Obi-Wan, Vader accused him of turning his wife against him, but Obi-Wan retorted that Vader had done that himself and allowed himself to be twisted by Sidious's lies, becoming a Sith. Vader refused to listen and ranted that he had brought order to his "new empire." Obi-Wan, unable to believe what he was hearing, prepared to fight. Vader declared that those who opposed him were his enemies and engaged Obi-Wan in a ferocious duel between Master and Apprentice.

Within the Chancellor's office inside the Imperial Senate Building, Yoda confronted Palpatine. He revealed that he knew of Anakin's transformation, addressing him by his Sith name. Sidious used Force Lightning to hurl the Jedi Master backwards into a pillar. Obi-Wan and Vader battled across the bridge and entered the Klegger Corp Mining Facility, fighting through the hallways. Back on Coruscant, Sidious declared to Yoda that the Jedi would be no more. The Jedi Master stood up and pushed him backwards past the desk. They engaged in an intense battle, using their lightsabers and Force abilities. At the Mustafarian Mining Complex, Obi-Wan and Vader fought in the conference room on the desk. Vader attempted to Force choke the Jedi Master with his lightsaber activated. Obi-Wan lost his grip after being kicked in the stomach, but he recovered it. Yoda resumed fighting Sidious until they reached the Galactic Senate Chamber, the heart of the Senate. Vader continued to battle Obi-Wan, who was on the defensive. They fought in the command center with the bodies of the dead Separatist leaders on the floor. A missed slash from Vader's lightsaber damaged a computer console, deactivating the facility's shields. As the door opened, Obi-Wan and Vader exited the mining facility and headed outside. At the Galactic Senate Chamber, Sidious hurled Senate pods at Yoda, and the effort to avoid them exhausted the Jedi Master. Sidious then blasted Yoda with Force Lightning, causing the Jedi Master to lose his lightsaber. With the last of his strength, Yoda redirected it back at him, but this caused an explosion that threw both himself and Sidious over the pod's edge.

Obi-Wan and Vader's battle continued as they carefully walked across some pipes. A mining droid approached the Jedi, and they fought with their lightsabers. The pair jumped onto a bridge and walked onto some large stalks. Simultaneously, deadly lava blasted towards Vader and Obi-Wan, forcing them to take cover from the falling debris. The lava severed a collection arm attached to the main structure. Sidious managed to hold onto a senate pod, while Yoda fell to the senate floor, leaving his cloak behind. With Bail Organa's assistance, Yoda fled the Senate Building, intending to go into exile. Back on Mustafar, the battle continued. Obi-Wan and Vader rode the collection arm down the lava river below, which plunged over a molten waterfall. Abandoning the arm, Obi-Wan leaped onto a hovering mining platform below, with Vader pursuing him back up the lava river atop a collection droid. Obi-Wan pleaded with his old friend one last time, but Vader still refused to listen, forcing Obi-Wan to accept that his student, friend, and brother was corrupted beyond redemption.

After fending off another attack from Vader, Obi-Wan disengaged as the platform neared the shore of the lava river, leaping onto the black sand bank. Obi-Wan warned Vader that he now held an unassailable position, but Vader, enraged and bloodthirsty, yelled "You underestimate my power!" and foolishly leaped up to kill his old Master in the same way Obi-Wan had defeated Maul. With a swift sweep of his blade, Obi-Wan severed Vader's left arm and legs. Vader tumbled down the embankment and rolled to a stop at the edge of the river of lava.

As Obi-Wan watched, Vader, helpless and now fully consumed by the dark side, tried in vain to pull his crippled, smoking body up the embankment with his one remaining mechanical arm. Obi-Wan was overcome with disgust and sadness at the pitiful fate of "The Chosen One," and was reduced nearly to tears. He angrily shouted that Vader had failed in his life and destiny, and had hurt all those who loved him, including Obi-Wan himself. All Vader could do was scream in pain and powerless rage, cursing his former friend and Master. The lava below Vader then engulfed his leg, setting him on fire, horribly burning and disfiguring him, with Obi-Wan turning away from the horror, unwilling to kill him. After briefly staring at the charred, mutilated figure that was once Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan turned and walked away, taking Anakin's dropped lightsaber with him. He returned to the star skiff and left the planet with the unconscious Padmé and her droids. Obi-Wan felt guilt for failing Anakin & Padmé's happiness.

Sidious arrived on Mustafar with a group of shock troopers led by Commander Thire. They rescued Darth Vader from the brink of death using a stasis pod and Sith medicines held in the Emperor's shuttle.

On the isolated asteroid Polis Massa, Yoda meditated and heard the spiritual voice of Qui-Gon Jinn. The voice revealed that there was a way to merge with the Force and retain consciousness after death. In order to learn this power, Yoda declared himself an apprentice to the spirit of Qui-Gon Jinn.

Obi-Wan arrived at Polis Massa with Padmé, who received emergency medical treatment from the facility's droids. She was dying, having lost the will to live. The medical droids worked to save her babies—she was carrying twins, much to the surprise of Bail Organa, Obi-Wan, and Yoda. A boy and a girl were born. In her final breaths, Padmé named them "Luke" and "Leia."

As his children were born, Vader was being reconstructed at the Grand Republic Medical Facility on Coruscant. Vader received new legs, a new arm, mechanized lungs, and other "replacement parts." He was dressed in black armor, a face mask was sealed tightly, and his helmet was fitted. Darth Vader began to breathe through his mask. Most, if not the entire surgery was carried out in true dark-side form, with Vader wide awake and apparently unanesthetized, leaving him moaning, screaming, and writhing in excruciating agony.

With Padmé's final breath, she insisted that there was still good in Anakin. She died still believing in the man she loved, before his violent acts against the Jedi Order and the Separatist Council. Obi-Wan watched her pass with sadness.

Vader was raised to a standing position, his surgery complete. Vader began to speak through his vocabulator to the Emperor, asking about Padmé. Sidious, seeking to sever Vader's last tie to his old life and permanently solidify the dark side in his heart, lied to Vader, telling him that he had accidentally killed his wife while Force choking her. With his last shred of hope and love extinguished and his mind shattered by the realization that he himself had killed the person he wanted to save, Vader tore himself free of the operating table and unleashed a powerful scream of rage, shame, and grief through the Force, destroying the droids and equipment. Vader screamed "Nooo!" in anger and despair, while the Emperor looked on with an evil grin.

On board the Tantive III, docked at Naboo, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail Organa sat at a conference table. They agreed to maintain Padmé's pregnant appearance, thus faking the children's deaths. For their safety, Luke and Leia would be separated in the hope that the Sith would not sense their presence. Leia would be adopted by Bail Organa, and Luke would be sent to his father's step family on Tatooine. Obi-Wan and Yoda would watch and wait until the time was right for the Skywalker children to fulfill their destiny. Yoda instructed Obi-Wan to study the technique Qui-Gon had learned to achieve immortality.

Bail Organa entrusted R2-D2 and C-3PO to the care of Captain Raymus Antilles of the Tantive III. He ordered a memory wipe of the talkative protocol droid.

On Naboo, Padmé's funeral was held in a solemn ceremony in Theed. Her hands clasped the japor snippet given to her by Anakin following his departure from Tatooine some thirteen years prior. To protect her children, her body was made to appear still pregnant.

In a deleted scene, Yoda traveled to Dagobah to begin his self-imposed exile, partly as penance for his failure to defeat Sidious.

On the bridge of a gray-hulled Imperial Venator, Vader, the Emperor, and Governor Wilhuff Tarkin oversaw the construction of a moon-sized battle station.

On Alderaan, the infant Leia was brought by Bail Organa to his wife, Queen Breha.

On Tatooine, Obi-Wan brought Luke to his new family: his uncle, Owen, and his aunt, Beru. Obi-Wan departed on an eopie, heading to his exile in the Jundland Wastes. As the movie and prequel trilogy concluded, Owen and Beru, holding the infant Luke, gazed out at the horizon and watched the setting of Tatooine's twin suns.

A piece of concept art that Lucas approved for use as a starship in the film was initially described as a "Republic Clone Sky Fighter," but the ship was ultimately excluded from the final cut. This design was later repurposed for the Star Wars: The High Republic multimedia initiative, much to the delight of its creator, Warren Fu. Fu is also known for creating the concept art for the "Droid General" character who eventually evolved into Grievous. One of his earlier Grievous designs was used for the MagnaGuards.

Principal photography for Revenge of the Sith spanned from June 30 to September 17, 2003. The majority of the filming took place at Fox Studios, Sydney. An additional period of studio photography occurred in late 2004 at Shepperton Studios and an Elstree Film Studio, both located in the UK. A brief end sequence was filmed at Chott el Jerid in Tunisia during the filming of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones in 2000 to avoid returning to the country for a single scene. Second unit filming took place at Grindelwald in Switzerland, Guilin in China, Phuket in Thailand, and Mount Etna in Italy.

Revenge of the Sith's premiere for charitable causes occurred across multiple cities including Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Miami on Thursday, May 12, 2005. Following this, on May 13, 2005, George Lucas's hometown, Modesto, hosted two more charity showings. That same day, MTV's Total Request Live featured the film with a performance by Good Charlotte. The official premiere of the movie took place at the Cannes Film Festival (outside of the competition) on May 15, 2005. The general release in most other countries followed on May 19. Projections indicated that the US economy would face a $627 million USD loss due to employees calling in sick or taking the day off for the Revenge of the Sith premiere.

Due to its mature themes, including scenes of devastation and violence (notably Anakin's graphic immolation and the deaths of Dooku and Grievous), Revenge of the Sith was the first Star Wars film to be rated PG-13 by the MPAA. All previous installments in the series had received a PG rating. In contrast, A New Hope was initially rated G, but this was intentionally changed to attract a wider audience and due to the inclusion of the charred remains of Owen and Beru Lars.

Matthew Stover penned a novelization of the film, which contains significantly more dialogue compared to the movie. The duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin is expanded and dramatized further. The novel also incorporates numerous references to characters from the Expanded Universe, such as Raith Sienar and Garm Bel Iblis, and presents different interpretations of events, such as Shaak Ti's demise and Captain Needa's presence at the Battle of Coruscant. However, beyond the Anakin and Obi-Wan duel, the book's final portion is condensed, contrasting with the extensive coverage of the opening space battle, which constitutes the book's first third.

Dark Horse Comics released a comic book adaptation of the movie in March 2005. Additional related books include the prequel novel Labyrinth of Evil and the sequel novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader.

A video game based on the film was launched on May 5, 2005, preceding the film's release by two weeks. The game largely mirrored the film's narrative, incorporating scenes directly from it. However, the game also featured unique content, including cut scenes and entirely new sequences. The gameplay primarily revolved around lightsaber combat, allowing players to control Obi-Wan or Anakin/Vader. A standout feature was an alternate ending, which impacted both the game and movie's context. In this ending, Obi-Wan warns Vader about the high ground, but Vader evades Obi-Wan's attempted Mou kei and fatally stabs him. Vader then kicks Obi-Wan's body down the slope, Palpatine arrives to congratulate Vader, who then kills Palpatine with a red lightsaber, declaring the galaxy to be his own.

The film's soundtrack was distributed by Sony Classical on May 3, 2005, more than two weeks before the film's debut. John Williams composed and conducted the music, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices. A music video titled A Hero Falls was produced for the film's theme, "Battle of the Heroes," and included footage from the movie.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith became available on DVD on November 1, 2005 in Canada and the United States. The DVD edition, a two-disc set, presented enhanced picture and sound quality derived from the original digital source. It featured a new, comprehensive documentary, along with two featurettes that explored Anakin Skywalker's prophecy as the Chosen One and the film's stunt work. The set also included the "Making Episode III" web documentary series, which consisted of 15 parts, and a playable Xbox demo of Star Wars: Battlefront II, which was released concurrently with the DVD.

This release marked the first time a Star Wars film (and a major film in general) was not widely released on VHS (though it was in Australia). This decision sparked discontent among fans who collected both DVD and VHS versions, as their VHS collections would remain incomplete without Episode III. Both the DVD and VHS versions contained a single alteration from the theatrical cut: a straight cut replaced a wipe transition between Obi-Wan's departure from Mustafar and Vader's emergence from the lava. (The wipe was later restored for the Blu-ray release.)

Disc 1:

• DVD Menu themes are based on planets from the movie: Coruscant, Utapau, and Mustafar
• Subtitles available: English
• Audio Tracks available: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Commentary provided by writer-director George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, animation director Rob Coleman, and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll and Roger Guyett
• A hip hop Yoda music video, an easter egg featuring a non-canonical performance by Yoda and clone troopers from the 41st Elite Corps (in phase II armor) in the Jedi Temple. [9] (This was the first release without a blooper reel as an easter egg.) The video shows Yoda dancing and break-dancing in the Jedi Temple with clone troopers. To activate this easter egg, insert Disc 1, select "Options," highlight the THX logo, and enter "11," [10] "3," and "8," waiting for the pause after each number.

Disc 2:

• The main DVD Menu's theme is based on the Invisible Hand
• Deleted scenes with introductions by George Lucas and Rick McCallum
• "Within a Minute" documentary about the making of the Mustafar battle
• "The Chosen One" featurette: George Lucas traces the myth of Darth Vader through episodes 1-6
• "It's All for Real: The Stunts of Episode III"
• A 15-part collection of Lucasfilm Ltd. 's Web documentaries
• Star Wars: Battlefront II trailer and Xbox game demo
• Star Wars: Empire at War PC game trailer
• "A Hero Falls" music video
• Poster and print campaign
• Trailers and TV spots
• Production photo gallery
• DVD-ROM content includes a free trial of Hyperspace: The Official Star Wars Fan Club

Wal-Mart stores included an exclusive bonus disc, titled The Story of Star Wars, with some copies of Revenge of the Sith. As with previous Star Wars "history" featurettes, it is hosted by R2-D2 and C-3PO. Presented in full frame with Dolby Digital 2.0 sound and running for one hour, it was originally produced and released in 2004 as a 3-disc collection for the VideoNow Color personal video player. The DVD version contains content from the first two discs: The Story of Anakin Skywalker and The Story of Luke Skywalker. The footage does not include scenes from Revenge of the Sith or changes from the 2004 DVD Special Edition releases.

Other retailers offered collector's items. Target offered a collector's coin featuring Darth Vader on one side and the Mustafar duel on the other. A $5 gift card featuring Vader, with lights and sound, was also given. Finally from Target, a bonus CD-Rom came with the Episode III soundtrack. Best Buy Rewards Zone members received a Star Wars print by Shepard Fairey.

Revenge of the Sith was released on Blu-ray in September 2011.

On April 7, 2015, Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm jointly announced the digital releases of the six released Star Wars films. Since Lucasfilm retained digital distribution rights to Episodes I to III and V to VI, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released Revenge of the Sith for digital download on April 10, 2015.

Despite the Walt Disney Company's 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. and rights to future Star Wars films, Fox retained original distribution rights to Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which they co-produced and co-financed, in perpetuity. Fox also retained theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video rights worldwide for the franchise's subsequent five films, produced and financed by Lucasfilm, through May 2020, after which ownership would transfer to Disney. This relationship created an obstacle for any boxed set comprising all nine films. On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced its acquisition of most of Fox's parent company, 21st Century Fox, including the film studio and rights to A New Hope. On March 20, 2019, the deal was completed. On April 12, 2019, a Blu-ray box set containing the nine main installments of the Star Wars saga remastered in 4K was announced for a 2020 release.

George Lucas stated in interviews that George Bush did not influence the movie's writing. He developed the story outline in the 1970s during the Vietnam War, thinking of President Richard Nixon. At Cannes, he said, "The parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable." Lucas added that the story represents how any democracy can become a dictatorship with popular consent, like Caesar of Rome and Napoleon I of France.

Revenge of the Sith has become a significant source of internet memes. Kenobi's greeting to Grievous, "hello there," is a famous Star Wars meme referenced in official works, including Kenobi's greeting to Luke Skywalker in the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series, where Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen reprised their roles.

Six deleted scenes were included on Disc 2 of the DVD:

• "Grievous Slaughters Shaak Ti" - The death of Shaak Ti by General Grievous on board the Invisible Hand . Deleted due to time constraints and a story change where Grievous left Shaak Ti alive on Coruscant.
• "A Stirring in the Senate" - The First Meeting of the Rebel Alliance . Deleted because it detracted from Anakin Skywalker's central plot.
• "Seeds of Rebellion" - The Second Meeting of the Rebel Alliance. Deleted because it detracted from Anakin Skywalker's central plot.
• "Confronting the Chancellor" - The Presentation of the Delegation of 2000 to Palpatine . Deleted because it detracted from Anakin Skywalker's central plot.
• "A Plot to Destroy the Jedi?" - Mace Windu senses the destruction of the Jedi Order . Deleted due to time constraints and because the point was already known.
• "Exiled to Dagobah" - Yoda lands on Dagobah . Deleted to avoid cluttering the endings; Rick McCallum considered this the biggest loss and hopes to see it on a future edition.

Other scenes were also cut from the film:

• Obi-Wan visits Senator Amidala to discuss Anakin and reveal his knowledge of their marriage. This scene appears in the script, novel, and comic book adaptation.
• Obi-Wan selects Boga from the other varactyls . An animatic of this scene was put on StarWars.com in November 2007.
• The Deaths of Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee . This scene was never shot.
• The Order 66 "death" of Quinlan Vos . This scene was never shot.
• The Order 66 death of Mina Podia . This scene was never shot.
• Another death of Shaak Ti , elaborated in the novelization: Ti is stabbed in the back by Darth Vader during his raid on the Jedi Temple while she is meditating. She asks Anakin what happened to Windu, Fisto , Kolar , and Tiin . Skywalker replies by stabbing her in the back (a similar death of Shaak Ti appeared in LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game ).
• Obi-Wan eluding the Nos monster , a natural predator of Utapau , after falling into the sinkhole on Utapau.
• Talk scenes between Aayla Secura and Bly , and Plo Koon and Jag .
• An ambush scene by Yoda , Tarfful , and Chewbacca . A Clone Walker passes by a lake. Tarfful is lying dead on Wookiee boat. The clone stares at him for a moment and a furry creature covered in mud all over comes out of the water onto the boat. The clone asks the creature if anything is there. "Wookiee good, eat Wookiee," replies the creature. The clone decides it is just a native Kashyyyk creature and decides to leave. Immediately, Chewbacca jumps out of the water and pulls the clone underwater, killing him. Then Tarfful wakes up and the creature reveals itself to be Yoda. He tells the Wookiees to give him a second to bathe. Yoda jumps into the water and scrubs all the mud off. Yoda emerges and puts on his robes. They then continue towards the emergency escape pod.
• A scene in which Yoda speaks to the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn's spirit . Yoda dedicates himself to Qui-Gon's teachings. This scene was featured in the novelization .
• Darth Vader kills Wat Tambor .

In the DVD commentary for Revenge of the Sith, Lucas mentioned that the Death Star in the film's final moments was the same one from A New Hope, jokingly attributing its 19-year construction time to "union disputes and supply problems." The canon novel Tarkin by James Luceno, set five years after Revenge of the Sith, explores the Death Star's construction. Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel, also by Luceno, details the Republic's secret initiation of the project and its expansion under the Empire. Thrawn and Thrawn: Treason also show some aspects of the production and supply issues of the Death Star. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story further clarifies the construction of the Death Star and how the Rebel Alliance obtained the Death Star plans.

Within the Legends continuity, Kevin J. Anderson's novels Jedi Search and Champions of the Force explain that a prototype Death Star was built in preparation for the construction of the first Death Star in A New Hope. These conflicting accounts were retconned in The New Essential Chronology, which stated that the former was a testbed prototype for the superlaser to be installed on the latter. The Chronology also mentions the fact that in order to ensure protection from sabotage, the construction site was moved to various locations throughout the nineteen-year gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, indicating that there were various attempts by unknown persons to disable or even destroy the massive battle station, a theory supported by a line from A New Hope where Vader proclaims that "There will be no one to stop us this time" in regard to the Death Star and its plans. The another Legends novels The Dark Nest Trilogy, written by Troy Denning, explore the continuity pieces about the holographic recordings of Anakin, Padme, and Obi-Wan in R2's memory banks. Although the Skywalker family saga comes full circle, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo still don't know their mother's identity, but Luke has stumbled on a memory of R2-D2's that contains her image, even he watches a hologram of Anakin Force-choking Padmé, as well as his and Leia's birth. Denning shows Artoo's desire to hide these recordings from Luke – no doubt feeling he will learn something hurtful – while couching it in the fact that the astromech droid has developed quirks in his circuitry.

The Legends video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed revealed that Galen Marek greatly damaged the Death Star while infiltrating the station to rescue Rebel leaders. This was held to be a partial explanation for why it took so long to build the Death Star as well as Vader's line "There will be no one to stop us this time."