The first Sith Lord ever to be seen onscreen was Darth Vader in Star Wars, but fans of George Lucas's 1977 sci-fi opus didn't know it at the time. The term "Sith" wouldn't be used until over two decades later in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, after Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn encountered Darth Maul in the desert wastes of Tatooine.
Secretive and elusive, the Sith have always fascinated Star Wars fans, and they learned more about them as more Star Wars films arrived and the franchise was expanded with novels, animated series, comics, and video games. Though the Sith capitalize on mystery, these illuminating pieces of concept art showcase the facets about them fans love most, from their powerful presence to their iconic aesthetic.
10 AND NOW SKYWALKER, YOU WILL DIE
The great Ralph McQuarrie, who lent his illustrating talents to so many early pieces of concept art for George Lucas's original trilogy, had a very distinct idea of what Emperor Palpatine would look like when he was revealed in Return of the Jedi.
Seen here blasting Luke with his Force lightning, he appears like an ancient gnome or wizard, his skin a pale blue, his body thin and exaggerated, his eyes a pulsating red. He certainly epitomizes the unique hybrid of fantasy and science-fiction that Star Wars occupies.
9 LORD VADER
Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith was a pivotal film in the Skywalker Saga. It showed the greatest fall from grace of Anakin Skywalker who, consumed by the dark side, would eventually see his former identity "killed" and assume the mantle of Darth Vader.
Early on in the production of the film, it wasn't known quite how Anakin would look when he became an agent of evil, and this concept of his appearance was drafted with an eye to have him look more like a traditional Sith lord. This look would later become an inspiration for Kylo Ren's visage in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
8 GRAND ENTRANCE
Ralph McQuarrie was assigned to develop the final appearance of many of the characters from the original trilogy, and Darth Vader was one of the most memorable. He is recognized for his salient use of samurai armor for inspiration in the Sith Lord's suit.
This concept art, meant to convey the intimidating presence of Lord Vader when he boards the Tantive IV, appears to also take imagery from medieval knights. Stormtroopers are seen carrying shields and even their own lightsabers. Even with their added accouterments, Vader remains an undeniably terrifying sight.
7 ASAJJ VENTRESS
The Nightsisters were first introduced in the now retconned novel The Courtship of Princess Leia, but were made canon by Disney through Star Wars: The Clone Wars in a storyline concerning Darth Maul Asajj Ventress, who had long before the series been considered for the apprentice of Darth Sidious in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.
This piece of concept art reveals a Nightsister very much based on Ventress's appearance, though from Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans have seen several different looking Nightsisters. If Ventress had been Sidious's apprentice, she might have been the first female Sith lord to appear onscreen.
6 FALLEN JEDI
In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans got a brief glimpse of what Rey might have looked like as a Sith, complete with black robes and hood, and a double-bladed red lightsaber. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a Force vision amidst the ruin of the second Death Star.
In this image from The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, fans can see what she might have looked like choosing to take Kylo Ren's hand in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, eventually ruling beside him as an enforcer of their combined will for the galaxy.
5 THE RETURN OF MAUL
Early in the progression of Darth Maul's appearance for Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, he was depicted as having long hair and no crown of horns. Creature concept artist for Jake Lunt Davies used that inspiration to make these images of Maul as he could have appeared in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
The idea that Maul might shave his head, and that if left alone he could be capable of growing long, stringy hair is fascinating and adds to his mystique. The concept art is certainly powerful, though ultimately the film chose to go with the continuity from Episode I.
4 KYLO REN
As the newest and most important villain in the Disney sequel trilogy, there was an immense amount of pressure on Kylo Ren's character to occupy the same position of fear and intimidation as Darth Vader had in the original trilogy.
These images of early concept art for the character depict him in armor and masks similar to Vader's, and it's clear had he appeared in them it would have given even more cause for derision than he already faced. The right image depicts him carrying multiple lightsabers, which might have been from opponents he bested in battle.
3 SUPREME LEADER SNOKE
Production designer Rick Heinrich worked on making Supreme Leader Snoke a formidable villain who could echo Emperor Palpatine without being a carbon copy (a point which becomes ironic given the plot of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker).
Originally he was intended to be much more alien than humanoid, as evidenced by this piece of concept art for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which seems to borrow some inspiration from the Hunter in Predator.
2 DARTH VALUM
In Colin Trevorrow's Episode IX leaked script, there was a character whom Kylo Ren encountered called Valum, a Dark Lord of the Sith that would have revealed to him the secrets of the Sith holocron (or "wayfinder" as it came to be called).
Seen here, Darth Valum looks like a multi-eyed Arcona, residing on a decaying planet designed by Salvador Dali. It's possible Disney felt that introducing a new Sith lord character so late in the Skywalker Saga would be imprudent, and so this character was discarded in favor of a much more recognizable Sith lord's return.
1 THE JEDI KILLER
Prior to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, fans were enthralled with every piece of leaked information they could get their hands on leading up to the premier. No one was more mysterious than the eventual villain,a Sith Lord who in early drafts when by the name "Jedi Killer" and "Grave Robber".
Seen here communing with the charred mask of Darth Vader, the figure resembles an amalgamation of Marvel's Dr. Doom and Ultron and certainly strikes an intimidating figure. Ultimately, the character was changed into a more human figure, and fans came to know him as Kylo Ren.
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