It's hard to imagine that Disney hasn't at least played with the idea of making a Darth Vader movie. Fans are starved for one after Vader's appearances in Rogue One and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yes, Anakin was the focus of an entire trilogy of movies, but it still doesn't explore the most interesting part of Anakin/Vader's story: his life after the events of Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith.
Accumulatively, Vader doesn't have much screen time throughout his appearances in Star Wars movies and shows. In the original trilogy alone, he doesn't even reach forty minutes of screen time across all three movies combined. Yet, to many, that may feel low. He possesses such a presence when he is onscreen that it feels like he's been there longer than he really is. That is partially why it's a shame that he hasn't had more time on screen, let alone an entire movie to himself. Yes, it's worthwhile when he's there, but Star Wars's most iconic villain deserves much more than he's been given.
Why Vader Needs His Own Film
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
To say the least as to why Vader deserves his own Star Wars movie, he is one of the most iconic villains of all time. His fan base is easily willing to shell out $20 for a ticket to see him again on the big screen — and Disney never shies away from an easy payday. Vader has often been used in small roles, usually with the apparent intention of bringing in more audience members. He is only in Rogue One for a couple of minutes, and isn't even the antagonist with the most screen time in Obi-Wan Kenobi. That's disappointing as Vader is one of the biggest reasons fans get excited for anything that he shows up in. It is smart to use him in this way from a business standpoint, but it's not very rewarding for audiences.
Of course, it's not guaranteed that giving Darth Vader more screen time in a movie would make money and/or work. But it's worth noting that villains like the Joker and Venom have gotten their own movies that have even spawned sequels. It would be foolish to think that a Vader movie wouldn't work simply because the character is an antagonist and not a protagonist. In fact, this may even be the main reason why it would do well. Vader once being a protagonist as Anakin adds a built-in conflict that villains rarely possess. He has a history of being good; it was his trauma and inner demons that drove him to the dark side. That inner monologue isn't something fans have seen much of in his past appearances.
Source Material Exists For A Great Vader Movie
That inner conflict is what makes Vader such a compelling villain, and that's what that comic book writer Keiron Gillen did so well with his 2015 Darth Vader comic book. Although adaptations of older media aren't seen very much in the Star Wars Universe, Disney isn't new to comic book adaptations. Perhaps Gillen's run could and should be used as a base model for a Darth Vader movie.
As mentioned before, Vader doesn't have much screen time in existing films and shows. But when it comes to comic books and novels, he has been at the center of many great stories. Gillen's run gives Vader fans exactly what they want from a Vader story. There's drama, action, and new characters — some of whom offer a dark sense of humor to round up the whole book. It offers a look into what Vader is thinking about and doing after the events of A New Hope.
Perhaps what is most impressive about Gillen's run is the emotion Vader displays, even though he is wearing the helmet. The story's emotional moments would affect anyone, but they hit differently when it's with Vader. For example, at one point, Boba Fett is hired to hunt for Luke, and later, Fett reveals to Vader that Luke's last name is Skywalker. The last page shows Vader looking through a broken window out to his fleet of ships, saying that everything, including Luke, will be his. This moment tells fans everything they need to know about Vader's inner workings, and how it all leads into The Empire Strikes Back. The comic is very good at illustrating where Vader's head is regarding the Emperor and Luke following the destruction of the Death Star.
But that isn't the only reason the book would make for a good movie adaptation. The new characters alone are worth a read and/or viewing. The book has its own droid duo, BT-1 and 0-0-0. They are near exact copies of R2 and C3PO, except they are much darker. 0-0-0 has all the abilities that C3PO has, but is also excellent at torture. BT-1 is R2, but with a lot of weapons instead. Most importantly, this book introduces Dr. Aphra, who has become a fan favorite in the Star Wars comics world. She's a rogue archeologist who has gotten into some of the best adventures in the Star Wars comics, and her introduction in Gillen's Darth Vader has her serving his every whim.
The chances of this book being adapted into a movie are slim. But everything already stated and more proves this book worthy of a read and more appreciation than it has received.