David Corenswet, who stars as Superman in one of this summer’s biggest sci-fi films, has revealed a distinctively different way to watch the Star Wars saga that could change how fans experience the franchise. Each year, Corenswet rewatches the series, and his preferred viewing order places the prequel trilogy in the middle of the original trilogy, offering a new perspective on the storyline and characters.
Corenswet’s passion for Star Wars runs deep, so much so that every New Year’s Eve he times the start of Return of the Jedi so the second Death Star’s explosion coincides with midnight. His devotion recently surfaced in a discussion with Brittany Broski on her Royal Court podcast, where he outlined his unconventional watch order, sparking both intrigue and debate among fans.
Corenswet’s Star Wars Viewing Sequence Explained
According to David Corenswet, the best way to introduce new viewers to Star Wars begins with episodes four and five, A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. He argues these two films establish the most compelling foundation. Following those, the three prequel films—The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith—should be watched to provide essential backstory and context for key characters. Finally, the saga rounds out with episode six, Return of the Jedi, which delivers a climactic conclusion.
“You preserve the twist of — spoiler alert — Darth Vader is [Luke’s] father … And then you watch one through three as a flashback essentially. And then six is, it’s not as strong as four and five as a film, but it’s a great culmination to the whole thing. It brings it all together. The stakes are bigger if you’ve seen one through three. It feels more like a saga.”
—David Corenswet, Actor
This ordering method allows viewers to keep the famous Darth Vader revelation intact while using the prequels as a kind of flashback. Corenswet’s approach also attempts to give a stronger narrative arc by showing Vader’s transformation after the emotional impact of episode five, leading into the conclusion in episode six.
While this sequence breaks from tradition, Corenswet’s reasoning highlights the narrative flow and character development that may feel more cohesive to some viewers, especially those unfamiliar with Star Wars lore. However, this order diverges from conventional practices and might feel disjointed given the different visual styles and tones between the original and prequel trilogies.
Full List of Corenswet’s Recommended Watch Order
1. Episode IV — A New Hope
2. Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back
3. Episode I — The Phantom Menace
4. Episode II — Attack of the Clones
5. Episode III — Revenge of the Sith
6. Episode VI — Return of the Jedi
The Two Most Recognized Ways to Watch Star Wars
The debate over the proper Star Wars viewing order is longstanding, with timelines and storytelling styles offering fans plenty to discuss. While Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi once advised,
Only a Sith deals in absolutes,
most experts agree there are only two truly practical ways to watch the saga: by release date or by chronological story order within the galaxy.
Watching the films in their release order captures how the franchise evolved over decades, including technological advances and shifts in storytelling. Conversely, viewing them chronologically—from the events of the prequels through the originals and sequels—provides a comprehensive understanding of character arcs, especially Anakin Skywalker’s fall and redemption.
Both approaches made sense before Disney expanded the Star Wars universe with numerous movies and shows set before, during, and after the original trilogy timeline. This sprawling catalog complicates release order viewing, as fans must jump between vastly different times and storylines. In such cases, chronological order often feels clearer and more intuitive for following character development and overarching plots.
David Corenswet’s Dream Role Within Star Wars
During promotional interviews for Superman, David Corenswet revealed his enthusiasm for joining the Star Wars universe as an actor. In a Vanity Fair lie-detector segment, his co-star Nicholas Hoult asked whether Corenswet would prefer to reprise Superman or portray a Jedi Knight in Star Wars. Despite his lead role as the Man of Steel, Corenswet emphatically chose Star Wars and expressed a desire to play an X-Wing pilot, citing his love for aviation.
His passion for Star Wars suggests he would be right at home among the franchise’s many pilots and heroes, whether in future films or series. With Star Wars constantly expanding its cast of characters, Corenswet’s potential involvement excites both fans and insiders, especially with projects like Patty Jenkins’ upcoming Rogue Squadron movie, which centers on elite pilots.
Beyond flying roles, Corenswet could fit into the charming smuggler archetype, following in the footsteps of iconic characters like Han Solo and Lando Calrissian. His serious approach to roles combined with his enthusiasm for the franchise signals a promising future if he does venture into Star Wars.
