Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a certified box office hit, breaking a number of records in the movie industry. Moviegoers have been raving about it for more than 2 weeks now, referring to it as the new Star Wars, Star Wars 7, The Force Awakens, or simply TFA. But many do not know that the movie was supposed to have another title.
According to The Verge, the 7th movie of the Star Wars saga was initially referred to as 'Shadow of Empire.' Star Wars geeks are not new to the title as it is almost the same title as the novel written by Steve Perry, 'Shadows of Empire.' The book published in 1996 narrates events that transpired between 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi.'
The book synopsis reads, "It is a time of crisis. Han Solo, frozen in carbonite, is being taken to the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt. As Princess Leia mounts a rescue mission and Darth Vader scours the Galaxy for Luke Skywalker, another sinister figure emerges. Cunning and ruthless, leader of a powerful crime syndicate, he will pit himself against Vader for the favor of their mutual master...the dreaded Emperor."
The novel is one of the products launched under a multimedia project by Lucas Ltd. on the same year. The project included a six-issue comic series, a soundtrack, a line of action figures and vehicles, a video game, trading cards toy figurines, and a role playing game, among others. Lucasfilm maximized its commercial possibilities without having to release an actual movie.
The continuation of the saga eventually got 'The Force Awakens' as its final title. A very suitable title it seems, because according to its director, J.J. Abrams, it refers to the awakening of the two sides of the force. It is the realization of scavenger and a former stormtrooper that they too could be heroes, and the coming of age of a new dreadful villain who is capable of all things cruel.
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