Star Wars: The Lesser Evil

Star Wars: The Lesser Evil is a fan film made by indie film producer Iron Horse Cinema. It was screened at the ''Star Wars Celebration Anaheim on April 18, 2015 and later uploaded on theIron Horse Cinema YouTube channel on May 4, 2015 as well as on StarWars.com. It was followed and preceded by several other films based on popular media franchises, including Star Wars: The Force Prevails.

The film takes place an unspecified time before Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. It is centered around Jedi Master Corran and his Padawan Aleco, who are sent out by the Jedi Council to confront the terrible Darth Zeanis. Corran hires the bounty hunter Kyler who aids them in their battle against the powerful Sith Lord.

At the Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards 2015, The Lesser Evil was awarded the Filmmaker Select Award by Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.

Synopsis
Jedi Corran and Padawan Aleco land on an unknown planet where Darth Zeanis is presumably hiding to meet with a bounty hunter. Aleco is not very happy about her Master's decision to hire a bounty hunter for the mission, claiming that his kind would have no qualms to work for the Sith if the price is right. Corran answers that this is a necessary precaution against a deadly foe such as Zeanis. He then reveals that he did not inform the Council that a bounty hunter is accompanying them, which upsets Aleco. Corran tells her that she should be more concerned about the Sith Lord. The young Padawan however does not believe there is need for concern as she she has been taught well in the Force by her Master, to which he replies that experience in battle is more important than knowledge, and that he is starting to regret taking her with him on such a dangerous mission. Still, Aleco believes herself prepared for everything to come, only to be taunted by a suddenly approaching Kyler, who is the bounty hunter and an old friend of Corran. Angrily, she snaps at him that she does not need to be assisted by someone like him but is told by Corran to calm down. Kyler explains that he saw Zeanis' ship land nearby and that he is probably aware of their presence. This turns out to be true, as the Sith Lord suddenly appears, using the Force to knock Kyler from his feet and declaring that he considers it insulting that the Council would only send two Jedi and a bounty hunter after him. The Jedi and the Sith start fighting each other with their lightsabers, until Zeanis lands a strike at Corran, severely wounding him. Horrified, Aleco continues fighting, but she is overwhelmed and loses her lightsaber. Kyler comes to his senses again and picks up the lightsaber, using it in conjunction with his blaster to engage Zeanis in battle, and then continues fighting using only the lightsaber after his blaster is destroyed by a deflected blaster bolt. Aleco finds that the Sith is too powerful and tries to move Corran back to their ship, but he refuses to leave, urging her to stop Zeanis. He gives her his lightsaber and she proceeds to fight Zeanis together with Kyler. Zeanis commends Kyler's fighting style and says that it would be a shame to see his talent wasted. He implores the bounty hunter to embrace the dark side of the Force and join him as his apprentice, to which he just replies "You Sith don't know when to shut up!". With combined powers Kyler and Aleco manage to subdue the Sith Lord after Kyler cuts off his sword arm. Aleco orders him to yield, but he yells "Never!" and attacks them with Force lightning, prompting Kyler to decapitate him.

Kyler gives Aleco her lightsaber back as she is kneeling beside her unconscious Master. While Kyler goes back to his ship to contact the Jedi Council, Aleco asks him what his name is. He says that she already knows his name, but she says she wants to know his real name, to which he responds: "Skywalker." Pensive, she says: "I don't know why, Master, but I sense great things are to come with this name."

Production
According to Sy Cody White, the team of Iron Horse Cinema began making the movie out of love for Star Wars and film-making and at first they did not know that LucasFilm Ltd. was going to host another Star Wars Fan Film Award after the discontinuation of the Awards in 2011, but "after we found out it was going on, we knew we wanted to be part of it".

Like with all other participating film teams, LucasFilm Ltd. officially endorsed the production of The Lesser Evil and provided Iron Horse Cinema with lincensed music to use for their film, including the "Star Wars Main Title" heard during the opening crawl.