The Star Wars universe is literally built on the idea of the dark side and the light side, and it’s full of characters who find themselves caught between those two extremes. Some of the galaxy's most iconic villains were not always evil; given the right circumstances, they could have been heroes. Let’s explore six Star Wars characters whose paths were defined by conflict, and how different choices could have sent them on proverbial hero’s journeys.
1. Darth Revan: The Hero Who Was Always at War With Himself
Darth Revan (one of my personal favorite characters) is one of the most complex characters in Star Wars. Originally a Jedi Knight, Revan was a heroic leader during the Mandalorian Wars but was seduced by the dark side after the Jedi Council refused to intervene in the conflict. As Darth Revan, he sought to conquer the galaxy, only to be betrayed by his own apprentice and later have his memory wiped.
When he regained his memories, Revan returned to the light, seeking redemption and ultimately sacrificing himself to stop a greater threat. Revan's back-and-forth journey between the light and dark sides makes him one of the most tragic figures in Star Wars. Given his wisdom, leadership, and eventual redemption, Revan was a hero at heart, torn apart by the galaxy’s politics and his own inner demons.
2. Darth Maul: A Victim of Revenge and Betrayal
Darth Maul’s tragic arc could have been one of redemption if not for his overwhelming thirst for revenge. As a Sith Lord, Maul was trained to be a weapon of the dark side from a young age. His fierce loyalty to Darth Sidious and his brutal combat skills made him one of the most fearsome figures in the galaxy. However, after being cut in half by Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace – after Qui-Gon Jinn’s tragic death – Maul’s shocking survival allowed him to reflect on his life, leading to his search for vengeance.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars hinted at his redemption as he showed a desire to rebuild his life and lead Mandalore, though his obsession with revenge ultimately led to his downfall. Had Maul not been manipulated by Sidious or consumed by rage, he might have become a Dathomirian force for good.
3. Kylo Ren (Ben Solo): The Skywalker Who Could Have Chosen the Light
Kylo Ren, born Ben Solo, is yet another Star Wars character who walked the line between hero and villain throughout his life. The son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, Ben was born with the potential for greatness, but the darkness of his grandfather, Darth Vader, loomed large over him for decades. Kylo’s descent to the dark side was influenced by his struggle for identity, much like Anakin Skywalker before him. Ultimately, Kylo was redeemed through the love and influence of Rey, who helped him see the good within himself.
Had he chosen a different path at his Uncle Luke’s Jedi Temple earlier in his life, Kylo Ren might have become the hero the galaxy desperately needed, rather than the harbinger of Supreme Leader Snoke and the First Order's tyranny.
4. Count Dooku: A Jedi Who Became a Sith for the Greater Good
Count Dooku, also known as Darth Tyranus, was once one of the Jedi Order’s most respected and powerful members. His fall from grace began with his growing disillusionment with the Jedi Council’s dogma and the Republic’s corruption. Dooku was an idealist who believed that the galaxy needed to be freed from its systemic problems, but his path led him down a dark road when he turned to the Sith.
As Tyranus, he played a pivotal role in the Clone Wars, manipulating both sides for his personal vision of peace, which ended up backfiring horribly. However, Dooku’s core belief was that the galaxy needed a stronger, more just government, and he truly believed that he could bring about the changes he desired. Had he remained a Jedi, Dooku’s wisdom and power could have been used for the greater good, instead of succumbing to the seductive allure of the dark side.
5. Asajj Ventress: A Sith Assassin Who Could Have Been a Jedi
Asajj Ventress’s journey is one of the most dramatic tales of potential redemption in Star Wars. Trained as a Sith assassin by Count Dooku, Ventress was ruthless and skilled in combat. Her path to the dark side was marked by betrayal and loss, as she was left behind by her Sith master when he no longer had use for her. However, her time away from Dooku led to moments of self-discovery and doubt about her allegiance to the dark side of the Force.
In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Ventress briefly embraced the light, working with Jedi Quinlan Vos to fight against the Sith. At one point, she even turned against her former master. Ventress’s struggle to leave behind her dark past remains compelling, and she would have made a fantastic Jedi. Most recently, fans saw Ventress in Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, a series of shorts set after The Bad Batch and before Jedi: Fallen Order.
6. Boba Fett: A Bounty Hunter with a Code of Honor
Boba Fett is one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars, but his journey could have been far different if he had not been consumed by the bounty hunter lifestyle. Raised by Jango Fett and trained in the ways of combat and survival, Boba grew up on Kamino, then trained to become a merciless bounty hunter. His role in the Skywalker saga, especially in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, is defined by ruthlessness as he hunts Han Solo for Jabba the Hutt.
However, even at his most heartless, Fett’s adherence to a code of honor set him apart from many other villains. He was loyal to those he worked with and never took unnecessary risks unless required. His journey in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett shows that even someone with a dark past can seek redemption and carve out a new future.
The Star Wars galaxy is filled with complex characters who could have easily walked the path of a hero. These six characters are perfect examples of how circumstances, choices, and destiny shape who we become in any galaxy. In a world as vast and varied as Star Wars, there is always room for redemption, and sometimes, the greatest heroes are the villains who were simply lost, waiting for the right moment to change.