Anakin or Luke — Who Is the Chosen One in Star Wars?

Originally published on April 29, 2025. This article explains why Anakin Skywalker is the Chosen One in the Star Wars franchise.

---

Listen to this article:

Both the original Star Wars™ trilogy and its prequels center around a certain prophecy. That makes sense for a hero’s journey. In this story structure, a character must be destined for greatness. Then they stumble and eventually rise. Good triumphs over evil.

Although set in space, Star Wars follows the greatest plot arc of all time. Yet because of it’s non-linear progression, it’s difficult to track who exactly is the Chosen One of legend — both diagetic (in world) and non-diagetic (known to the viewers). So, who was the Chosen One in Star Wars, really? Was it Anakin Skywalker or Luke Skywalker? The debate rages on. I’m here to settle it.

---

The Chosen One was destined to bring balance to the Force

According to Jedi lore, the Chosen One was a being who channeled pure Force energy. They would be more powerful than any Force-wielder in history — potentially more powerful than anyone before and after their own birth or demise. Many Jedi were perplexed by this concept. How could anyone be more powerful than Master Yoda? Other Jedi philosophers such as Qui-Gon Jinn held fast to their belief, looking for signs in remote parts of the galaxy.

When Qui-Gon Jinn found Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine, he believed he found the Chosen One. The young enslaved boy had no father. Shmi Skywalker had immaculately conceived and given birth to the boy, who was innately connected to the people and place around him. Qui-Gon Jinn tested Anakin’s midichlorian count (basically the measure of Force sensitivity in someone’s blood) and found it overwhelmingly high. The Jedi Master was convinced Anakin was the child of legend.

---

Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One

Obviously, Anakin Skywalker’s power was undeniable. From his first fight as a pilot to his time serving in the Clone Wars, he stunned those around him. Unfortunately, he attracted the wrong kind of attention. Emperor Palpatine took Anakin under his wing, polluting his mind against the Jedi and planting doubt and anger in order to cloud Anakin’s judgment. But the Jedi also didn’t help, discouraging Anakin’s passions and holding him at arm’s length. Having lost his mother so young, Anakin turned toward the affection he was offered — no matter who it came from.

---

Revenge of the Sith showed Anakin’s fall…

How could a villain bring balance to the Force? In Revenge of the Sith™, Anakin Skywalker turned toward the dark side. His fear of losing Padmé Amidala and their children led him to explore means of unnaturally extending life. With that desire also came a thirst for power and a skewed moral compass. As Darth Vader, he became greedy and gruesome, cutting down children and even fighting against his friend and mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

During their famous battle sequence, Obi-Wan screamed that Anakin was supposed to be the Chosen One. To Obi-Wan, Anakin’s descent toward madness meant the man could not fulfill the prophecy. He joined the Sith when he was supposed to destroy them! So, Obi-Wan cut off Anakin’s arm and legs and left him for dead. But Obi-Wan could not predict the transformation that followed.

---

…While Return of the Jedi redeemed Darth Vader

Ultimately, Anakin Skywalker’s entire character was always motivated by love. He adored his mother, but could not save her. That failure planted the first seeds of uncontrollable hatred in him as he lashed out against the Sand People. Anakin also loved Padmé and his unborn children, but could not reconcile his feelings with how scared he was of them eventually dying. Finally, Anakin loved Obi-Wan, but despised his Master for not joining him to rule the galaxy.

Thus, Darth Vader, cold and calculating, entered the Empire. The cyborg antagonist left destruction in his wake. He massacred without mercy, approved the torture of Leia Organa, and chopped off his child’s hand. Yet when Luke Skywalker and Emperor Palpatine duel, Darth Vader saw the light. Horrified by Luke’s plight, Darth Vader intervened to keep his son alive. By saving Luke Skywalker and destroying Darth Sidious, Darth Vader — by then reverting back to Anakin Skywalker — did indeed bring balance to the Force.

Light and dark need equal balance

Of course, “balance” doesn’t mean the good guys unequivocally win. The two Sith, Darth Sidious and Darth Vader, died. Meanwhile, two Jedi, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, lived. But Leia declined to train, and her son, Ben Solo — later known as Kylo Ren — was seduced by the dark side. Highly emotional and volatile, Ben took after his grandfather to an alarming degree. As the parallels increased throughout the sequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker’s role and influence were even more undeniable.

---

But Luke Skywalker did shape the galaxy

It’s called the Skywalker Saga for a reason! Beginning with the Skywalker twins in the original trilogy, these family members have completely shaped the galaxy — for better or worse. Anakin Skywalker’s impact is obviously indelible. But Luke had his moment among the stars, from destroying the Death Star to training a new generation of Force wielders and more.

Even Rey, protagonist of the sequel trilogy, took on the Skywalker name in the end. Eschewing both the Jedi and the Sith, Rey forged her own path with a yellow Lightsaber and a chosen name. And if that isn’t the perfect tribute to the Chosen One Anakin Skywalker, I don’t know what is.

---

Did you know Anakin Skywalker was the Chosen One in Star Wars? Deep dive into all the lore with other fans at side.show/geekgroup or in the Sideshow Social Network. And don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!