STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Was Almost Titled "Shadow of the Empire"
When the title for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was initially announced, it was well-received by almost all fans of the saga. The Force Awakens had a healthy dose of mysticism mixed with subtlety and a though-provoking tone. But most of all, it definitely conveyed a message and a promise for something grander. However, there was a time when the seventh movie almost inherited a title from a book that used to be canon.
Pablo Hidalgo, Creative Executive for the Lucasfilm Story Group, told Jedi News:
"For longest time, the TFA title was the same as an old novel. Thankfully it changed. :) With so many books, it's inevitable... it was Shadow (singular) of the Empire for a while."
The book Shadows of the Empire took place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. In my personal opinion, if the new Star Wars movie had been called Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire, it would have sent much more confusing signals to fans, and I don’t really think it would have matched the plot and the spin of actions the way The Force Awakens does.
Source: Movieweb