The Inspiration Behind John Williams' Luke & Leia Love Theme in Star Wars

In a recent interview, Star Wars composer John Williams shared why he mistakenly composed a love theme for siblings Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. The revelation that Luke and Leia are actually twins was a shocking plot twist in Return of the Jedi. Prior to this, the original Star Wars trilogy hinted at a potential romantic connection between Luke and Leia, leading up to the unexpected twist.

John Williams, known for his work on the iconic Star Wars films, admitted in an interview with Variety that he also misunderstood the relationship between Luke and Leia. He explained that he, like many others, was confused about their connection.

I accidentally wrote a love theme for Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. Later, I found out they were brother and sister, so it was a mistake to have a love theme for them. But George Lucas never mentioned there would be a second film!

Of course, we can't really blame John Williams for this misunderstanding. Before the big reveal in Return of the Jedi, it really did seem like Luke and Leia had romantic feelings for each other, not realizing they shared parents in the Skywalker family.

Did Even George Lucas Know Luke & Leia Were Siblings?

Luke and Leia speak to one another in Return of the Jedi - Did Even George Lucas Know Luke & Leia Were Siblings?

Star Wars' love for keeping secrets makes it hard to know who was aware of the twist about Luke and Leia being siblings and when they found out. It's a known fact that this wasn't always the original plan, as evident in the first film (later titled A New Hope) where Luke shows romantic interest in Leia and sees Han Solo as competition. However, George Lucas had a reason for making Luke and Leia twins, even if it wasn't his initial intention.

Luke Skywalker managed to maintain his composure despite learning that Darth Vader was his father. This meant Lucas needed a compelling reason for Luke to finally lose control and attack Vader. Ultimately, he believed that the most logical motivation for this moment would be a threat to Leia. By making Leia his sister, the familial bond would intensify the emotional impact of the situation.

This moment, with Vader threatening to try to tempt Leia to the dark side, fills Luke with so much fury that he goes back on his commitment to not fight his father, proving that attachment is a great threat to one's Jedi path. More than a disturbing plot point, though, this laid the groundwork for the prequel trilogy to demonstrate how dangerous attachments can be, which, of course, it ultimately did.

Star Wars follows up on this beautifully with Anakin Skywalker's arc in the prequel movies, but it's a shame that things had to become so awkward along the way.

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