\n\t\t\t\t\t\t | Published 47 seconds ago\t\t<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/starwarscelebrate-900x506.png\")
<\/p>\n
Often, when fans say they could have done a better job than someone perceived to have ruined the object of their devotion, it\u2019s just a lot of hot air. Just fans being fans without any real way (or ability) to back up the claims at all.<\/p>\n
Unless, of course, that fan is That 70s Show\u2018s Topher Grace, who in 2012 made major waves when he actually showed something that few have tried to pull off. He made an 85-minute recut of the Star Wars<\/a> prequels. <\/p>\n Topher Grace re-edited George Lucas\u2019 three prequel films (which run a collective 418 minutes) into one coherent feature-length film. And it\u2019s good. <\/p>\n In addition to slashing the running time (and making those cuts while still maintaining a coherent storyline), Grace shifted and refocused things a little from the prequels we know and argue over. Gone are all the pod racing, unnecessary exposition, and obnoxious CGI characters that clutter Star Wars: Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace. Instead, Grace begins his film with the end of that one: with the final showdown between Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, and Darth Maul<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hilarious to think that most of The Phantom Menace could effectively be eliminated without causing any real confusion in the overall story. Not a great look for George Lucas and company, but it does speak to the problems fans had with the first prequel when it originally hit theaters.<\/p>\n Topher Grace kept much of the action from the Lucas films but eliminated any lightsaber battles unless they were relevant to the actual storylines he emphasizes. Those are largely about the Anakin-Padme relationship and Obi-Wan\u2019s search for the individuals trying to assassinate politicians. <\/p>\n Scenes like the one where Padme brings Anakin home to meet her family, which were deleted from Lucas\u2019 films, but shed light on characters and relationships, are reinstated. In this way, Grace extracted relevant pieces of the story that could find their way into the original final cut.<\/p>\n Grace provides a smooth transition to the original trilogy by ending his film with an image of the menacing Darth Vader<\/a>, sans that much-maligned \u201cNooo!<\/p>\n This is yet another example of less is more, especially when it comes to Star Wars. True fans already understand the depth of the pain here; it didn\u2019t need to be hammered home in such an obvious (and kind of silly) way.<\/p>\n Of course, it\u2019s not without its drawbacks. Cutting over 300 minutes from a series will leave a few holes and move things at a pace that might feel strange to those familiar with the originals. However, according to those few who have ever been allowed to see it, Grace\u2019s film is thematically tight, action-packed, and enjoyable.<\/p>\n Topher Grace\u2019s cut, first completed in 2012, went on to inspire others to take up the Star Wars editing mantle in the years that followed. Topher Grace even helped produce and splice a 5-minute cut<\/a> of the entire franchise, trailer-style, that brings in elements from nearly every Star Wars production having to do with the original timeline and characters.<\/p>\n His 5-minute cut beautifully encapsulates the franchise\u2019s central ethos while also setting the stage for movies like\u00a0Solo,\u00a0Rogue One, and, of course, the other timeline movies.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Topher Grace\u2019s 5-minute Star Wars cut<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Topher Grace\u2019s 85-minute Star Wars cut won\u2019t be coming to a big or small screen near you soon (or ever). Disney<\/a> would never allow it.<\/p>\n Topher Grace doesn\u2019t plan to hold any more public screenings or distribute the film, even though thousands of Star Wars fans would probably jump at the chance to see the prequels without Jar Jar Binks. He\u2019s probably too afraid of being sued by Disney.<\/p>\n \t![\"Topher](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tophergrace-starwars_0000_Layer-3-900x506.jpg\")
Topher Grace<\/p>\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tophergrace-starwars_0001_Layer-2-900x506.jpg\")
How Topher Grace\u2019s Star Wars prequel begins<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tophergrace-starwars_0002_Layer-1-900x506.jpg\")
Anakin visits Padme at home<\/p>\n