Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith hides a shocking Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader detail on Mustafar, the location of Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s iconic lightsaber duel and, eventually, Vader’s castle. Mustafar is a pivotal location in Star Wars movies and TV shows. In fact, in a sense, Mustafar is responsible for Vader needing his iconic suit, as Vader sustained his life-threatening burns because of the molten planet. Even had Obi-Wan still dismembered Anakin, another planet would not have led to such severe suffering.
Moreover, Mustafar is the last place Anakin ever saw Padmé alive, and, in many ways, was the location of the end of both their relationship and the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan. However, even in light of all this significance, there is more to Mustafar than initially meets the eye. Specifically, Mustafar’s name hides a pivotal connection to Anakin Skywalker—one that proves George Lucas’ subtle brilliance.
Mustafar’s Name Ties Perfectly To Anakin Skywalker’s Fate
The name ‘Mustafar’ is derived from the Arabic word مصطفى, or ‘Mustafa,’ which means chosen or appointed. In addition to this meaning, the name is one name used for the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Clearly, this choice of name for the planet was very intentional by Lucas, as it directly ties into the identity of Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One.
This choice is particularly interesting, as it suggests that the planet of Mustafar and all that transpired upon it was key to Anakin’s path as the Chosen One. That title/identity has been questioned over the years, as Anakin’s turn to the dark side and brutal massacre of not only the Jedi (including the younglings) during Order 66 but also the Tusken Raiders before that seemed at odds with the person who would destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force. However, Lucas’ choice of this name suggests that Anakin’s fall and suffering were essential to his path.
The “Chosen One” Always Had To Suffer In Order To One Day Be Redeemed
Lucas’ choice to use this name could easily be a controversial one because of its religious importance. Yet, this is far from the only example of Lucas tapping into religion to construct the Star Wars story. After all, even before Mustafar was named, there was always something very Messianic about Anakin. In fact, the religious associations, perhaps more than anything else, reveal why Anakin’s complex, at times brutal path to bringing balance to the Force truly makes him the Chosen One.
There was always something very Messianic about Anakin.
The notion of the Chosen One, in multiple religions, is associated with suffering. Certainly, that was the case for Anakin, although, again, his violence and destruction make this more complicated than the story of many Messiahs. Even so, it’s true that he suffered not only following his dismemberment and near-death experience on Mustafar but also before that, with a childhood enslaved on Tatooine and with the terrible loss of his mother in such a brutal way.
George Lucas’ Prequel Trilogy Drew Ideas From So Many Different Religions
Anakin’s very origins are also proof of the extent to which George Lucas pulled from religion to develop the Star Wars story, particularly in the prequels. Controversially, Lucas introduced Anakin as a young boy in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, which surprised many viewers following how menacing Darth Vader had been in the original trilogy. However, what created even more backlash was Lucas’ decision to reveal that Anakin was essentially immaculately conceived. That is, in The Phantom Menace, Shmi Skywalker told Qui-Gon Jinn “there was no father,” implying that Anakin’s had been a virgin birth.
Of course, this immediately calls to mind the Christian story of Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary. In fact, this is yet another connection to Anakin Skywalker’s status as the Chosen One, as Anakin was meant to bring balance to the Force and destroy the Sith. In the end, he did so, but it cost his life—a story not all that dissimilar from the story of Jesus dying for everyone’s sins. Again, there are massive disparities between the two, in that Anakin became one of Star Wars’ most powerful Sith—a far cry from the story of Jesus.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that Lucas drew direct inspiration from Christianity for Anakin’s origin story. Moreover, Lucas has explicitly addressed the ways in which Buddhism influenced his concepts for Star Wars, which can be seen in the Jedi Order and their many practices focused on peace, selflessness, and compassion. Clearly, religion played a shockingly major role in George Lucas’ Star Wars plans. In particular, Mustafar was very intentionally named in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, revealing even more about Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader.