Summary
There are a lot of iconic locations inStar Wars’galaxy far, far away, but few seem to hold the same importance as the planet Tatooine. The sandy, desolate planet may not be much to look at when those two suns aren’t setting or rising, but that hasn’t kept it from appearing prominently across the series. With how often it appears, audiences can’t be blamed for thinking that it isa gravely important planet.
A case can be made for Tatooine being an important planet. But on the other hand, it could also be said that it’s a relatively meaningless planet, on which important people happen to spend time. Regardless, Tatooine has been and likely will continue to be one of the core planets ofStar Warsthat the series will always return to. The familiar is always a treat, but maybe it’s time to move on from Tatooine.
2
3
200,000
Major Cities
Mos Eisley, Tosche Station, Anchorhead
The simple answer depends on perspective. Tatooine might be an important planet thanks to the fact that many events take place on it, and many key figures have lived there for years. Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, and even Obi-Wan Kenobi all take residence on the planet at different times. Obi-Wan engages in various battles on this planet while he protects a young Luke Skywalker, including a duel to the death against Darth Maul. It’s also important to note that withouta visit to Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn, the series of events that shaped theStar Warsuniverse would never have ended up happening.
The opposing argument is that none of that has to do with the planet itself. These events could have occurred on any planet in the galaxy, and nothing would have been different. In reality, Tatooine is one of the most unremarkable planets in the entirety of theStar Warsuniverse. However, that’s not to cast negatives onthe homeworld of the Skywalkers. It is Tatooine’s unremarkability that makes it remarkable. The planet’s desolate, boring nature acts as a catalyst to send Luke out on his adventure, ultimately resulting in his defeat of the Empire.
Why Does The Series Spend So Much Time On Tatooine?
It is fair to wonderwhy the series has chosen to spend so much time on Tatooine, and there are a variety of potential reasons why. Even Luke Skywalker can admit that the planet isn’t anything special, as he states inA New Hope:
“If there’s a bright center to the universe, you’re on the planet that it’s farthest from.”
One reason is the connection that the planet has to the core characters of the series thus far. Despite not appearing in the sequel trilogy, Tatooine has appeared in almost every other movie in some form. It is also featured frequently in television series and video games,making for a rich history. This is all because of the Skywalker connection to the planet. Anakin grew up there and came to hate it, and Luke grew up there and then left the planet behind. Obi-Wan also spent years on the planet protecting Luke. His time on Tattooine has been the subject of various comic stories and, of course, theObi-Wan KenobiDisney+ series.
There is something simple and appealing about something familiar. Going back to Tatooine allows new composers to play with familiar scores, lets fans bask in the nostalgia of certain shots, and lets people think about what happened in certain areas during different decades. But the planet has been done to death at this point. That might be why the sequel trilogy chose to avoid having the heroes return to the planet – even ifRey’s homeworld of Jakku is more or less the sameon a visual level.
Are There Any Planets That Are Important To Star Wars?
Regarding the planets ofStar Warsand the major events that occur on them, there are a variety of planets that could be considered far more important to the series than Tatooine. Planets like Kamino (home of the Clones) and Geonosis are key to the Clone Wars. Yet, they are barely touched on, despite having massive histories and unique stories to be told across the decades.
One of the most interesting and significant planets, Mustafar, has mostly been forgotten afterRevenge Of The Sith. This is the planet on which the Clone Wars officially ended. It is the planet on which Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have their fated duel, and the planet on which Darth Vader later builds his own fortress. There is untapped potential for storytelling on Mustafar, which could be explored ina dedicated Darth Vader series or game.
Another contender for an important planet is none other than Mandalore. Just about everyStar Warsfan will, at the very least,be familiar with what Mandalore isand the capable fighters that come from the planet. This is another planet with tons of lore and a lot of potential for storytelling, especially if the Mandalorian War is brought back into theStar Warscanon.
Star Warsis available to stream on Disney+.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise originally created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy of movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other media like comics, video games, tv shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.
