Star Wars: Darth Vader’s death put in heartbreaking new light by THIS emotional discovery

Episode 6 of the saga saw Vader finally meet his maker, after a showdown with Emperor Palpatine and Luke Skywalker that remains one of the most poignant moments of the entire series.

Now, an excerpt from the novelisation that describes Vader’s death in heartbreaking detail – exploring his inner thinking in his final moments – has appeared on the franchise’s SubReddit and become an instant hit.

When Disney took over the Star Wars name before the launch of the latest sequel trilogy, vast swathes of lore – including novelisations – were wiped from canon; so it’s unlikely that this interpretation of the death scene still officially stands.

But it’s still a very interesting and somewhat moving new way to look at one of the films’ most iconic moments.

It sees Vader wrestling with memories of his wife Padmé and his soured friendship with Obi-Wan, and of “golden lava, crawling up his back.”

But it goes on: “This boy [Luke] had pulled him from that pit. How, now. With this act. This boy was good. The boy was good and the boy had come from him.

“So there must have been good in him too? He smiled up again at his son and for the first time loved him.

“And for the first time in many long years, loved himself again.”

This certainly helps to illustrate Vader’s apparent softening before he passes away, and the fact that Anakin then appears as a Force Ghost to Luke at the end of the movie.

The Skywalker Saga will finally come to an end in 2019 with the release of Episode IX, which went into production at the start of the month.

Luke Skywalker was seen dying at the end of Episode 8, The Last Jedi, but actor Mark Hamill is confirmed to return – so the notion of a Force Ghost will presumably be revisited once again.

Also back are Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran and Lupita Nyong’o; plus Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian.

Carrie Fisher’s Leia will also be seen, courtesy of unused material the late actress filmed for the last two films.

The move comes after LucasFilm boss Kathleen Kennedy initially said Leia will not appear in any capacity in the trilogy finale, despite her brother Todd wanting otherwise.

JJ Abrams is back at the helm for the new film, taking over from Colin Trevorrow, who left the project last year.

Star Wars: Episode IX is out in December 2019.