Star Wars has a plethora of deleted scenes that can be found online, each offering a glimpse into what the movies might've been. When put together, they usually offer around 15 minutes of new footage per movie. However, the young Star Wars actor Jake Lloyd claims there was a six-hour cut of Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace, and that it was "mind-blowingly awesome."
Best known for portraying young Anakin Skywalker, Jake Lloyd has had a rough relationship with the Star Wars franchise. Due to The Phantom Menace's rocky reception, Jake was bullied during his youth and stepped away from acting. Yet that didn't stop him from embracing the kinder side of the fandom, as he used to enjoy appearing at conventions and talking Star Wars with fans.
The Phantom Menace Was Six-Hours Long
During a 2011 interview with That Shelf, Jake talked about auditioning for The Phantom Menace at just six years old. The conversion then turns to fan edits of the movie, and he's asked, "If you were to cut your own, what would you change?" And Jake replies, "Well, I'd have to ask for the original six-hour cut... Matthew Wood, the guy who did the voice of Grievous, he was one of the first people to watch the six-hour cut and said it was 'mind-blowingly awesome.'"
Most movies have a longer version before being cut down, such as Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, which was originally four hours long before the opening sequence was trimmed for time. Although, six hours does sound incredibly long for a movie cut. It was likely a mix of repeated takes and placeholder effects, plus Lloyd may be misremembering the exact length as he was only 10 at the time. But either way, it's interesting to think what The Phantom Menace would look like if it was double the length.
Star Wars' Deleted Scenes Might've Improved The Phantom Menace
George Lucas had a clear vision for what he wanted the prequels to be but was somewhat limited by a movie's runtime. The galaxy introduced in The Phantom Menace is vast and detailed, but the blend between adventure and politics created a clash of tones. Yet if more time was spent immersed in the world, it would likely make audiences appreciate it far more. Unless, of course, Lucas only included more of his awkward jokes and gags.
Fifteen minutes of deleted scenes have already been released for The Phantom Menace. Most of them were understandably cut, often including unnecessary traveling and conversations. Although, some scenes of value are to be found, such as Qui-Gon teaching Anakin to tolerate those with different opinions and Darth Maul's probe droid being discovered. But still, most of it includes extra pod-race shots, which add nothing of substance. Seeing as no one else on the production team has ever mentioned a 6-hour cut, it's likely it was never a complete and watchable movie. But there's no doubt that an extended cut once existed, and fans are left wondering what it included to become "mindblowingly awesome."