STAR WARS: UNDERWORLD – A SERIES THAT NEVER WAS BUT COULD HAVE CHANGED EVERYTHING
Unearth the untold story of “Star Wars: Underworld,” a tantalizing glimpse into the darker side of the galaxy, envisioned by George Lucas for a mature audience, teeming with smugglers, bounty hunters, and the criminal underworld between “Revenge of the Sith” and “A New Hope”. With over 60 intricate scripts, this ambitious live-action series was set to challenge the very fabric of the Star Wars universe, offering visceral experiences that were dark, sexy, and violent—elements that could have upended the franchise as we know it. Despite the captivating vision, soaring production costs of around $40 million per episode ultimately quashed the project, leaving fans to wonder about the deeper, more complex stories that remain untold. Imagine the possibilities, as this shelved masterpiece held tantalizing links to other endeavors like the video game “Star Wars 1313,” forming a grand transmedia saga around Boba Fett’s early years. Yet, with technological strides and a new generation of Star Wars on-screen tales, could this elusive project be reborn, offering us a chance to explore the shadowy corners of a galaxy far, far away?
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Quick Takeaways:
- Star Wars: Underworld was a canceled live-action series conceptualized by George Lucas.
- The show was aimed at a mature audience and featured themes of crime and corruption.
- Over 60 scripts were written, but high production costs led to its cancellation.
- It was set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, exploring the criminal underworld.
- The project was tied to the canceled video game Star Wars 1313.
- Some elements of Underworld may still influence modern Star Wars content.
The Lost Project: Star Wars: Underworld
Among the many Star Wars concepts that never made it to screen, Star Wars: Underworld stands out as one of the most ambitious. This live-action series, envisioned by George Lucas, promised a darker and more mature take on the universe. Producer Rick McCallum described it as a groundbreaking project, stating, "We had over 60 scripts, third-draft scripts…the most wonderful writers in the world on it. These were dark, they were sexy, they were violent, just absolutely wonderful, complicated, challenging…it would have blown up the whole Star Wars universe, and Disney definitely would have never offered to buy that. It's one of the great disappointments of our lives."
Despite the excitement surrounding the project, it never moved beyond the script stage due to the immense cost of production.
A Gritty Look at the Star Wars Underworld
The series was meant to shift focus away from Jedi and Sith, centering instead on smugglers, bounty hunters, and crime syndicates. Set in the years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, it would have explored the rise of the rebellion and the corruption within the Galactic Empire from a new perspective.
This era offered rich storytelling opportunities, but the scale of production posed a major issue. Each episode was expected to cost around $40 million, a figure that was unsustainable at the time. McCallum explained, "The problem was each episode was bigger than the films…the lowest I could get it down to with the technology that existed then was about $40 million an episode."
Connections to Star Wars 1313
The planned series wasn't the only project exploring this side of the galaxy. The video game Star Wars 1313 was in development as part of a broader story, focusing on Boba Fett's early years as a bounty hunter. The show and the game were intended to interconnect, expanding Star Wars storytelling across different formats.
Unfortunately, both projects were canceled following Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012. Budget concerns may have played a role in the decision, as McCallum suggested that Underworld’s high costs could have made the company a less appealing purchase.
Could Underworld Influence the Future of Star Wars?
While the series never premiered, its influence can still be seen in recent Star Wars productions. Shows like The Mandalorian have successfully portrayed the grittier side of the galaxy, something Underworld originally aimed to do. Advances in technology have also made high-budget television more feasible, raising the possibility that some of Underworld’s concepts could one day resurface.
The project remains an intriguing "what-if" in Star Wars history, leaving fans to wonder what could have been.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did George Lucas really create 60 unaired Star Wars episodes?
Yes, George Lucas developed and scripted around 60 episodes of a live-action Star Wars TV series called *Star Wars: Underworld*. Though production never moved forward, the episodes remain part of Lucasfilm’s archives.
What was *Star Wars: Underworld* supposed to be about?
*Star Wars: Underworld* was intended to explore the criminal underbelly of the galaxy between *Revenge of the Sith* and *A New Hope*. It would have followed bounty hunters, smugglers, and the early days of the Rebellion.
Why were the 60 Star Wars episodes never released?
The primary reason was budget concerns. Lucasfilm found that producing a live-action show with movie-quality visual effects would be too expensive at the time, leading to the project’s indefinite shelving.
Will Disney and Lucasfilm ever release the lost George Lucas Star Wars episodes?
There has been no official confirmation, but Disney has revived old Star Wars projects in the past. With advancements in technology and streaming platforms like Disney+, it’s possible some elements or concepts from *Star Wars: Underworld* could resurface in future shows.
Have any details or footage from *Star Wars: Underworld* been released?
Yes, test footage and scripts from *Star Wars: Underworld* have leaked online, showcasing its gritty, cinematic style. Lucasfilm has never officially released full episodes, but some concepts influenced later Star Wars projects.
Could elements from *Star Wars: Underworld* appear in future Star Wars shows?
Yes, several Star Wars series like *The Mandalorian* and *Andor* have incorporated themes and ideas similar to those found in *Star Wars: Underworld*. It’s possible future projects may adapt more unused storylines from these 60 lost episodes.
Filipino Translation:
Sa laki ng Star Wars universe, ang daming projects na hindi natuloy, pero isa sa pinaka-interesting ay ang Star Wars: Underworld. Itong canceled na live-action series na naisip ni George Lucas ay supposedly para sa mas mature na audience at could have changed the whole franchise. Sabi nga ng producer na si Rick McCallum, "We had over 60 scripts, third-draft scripts…the most wonderful writers in the world on it. These were dark, they were sexy, they were violent, just absolutely wonderful, complicated, challenging…it would have blown up the whole Star Wars universe, and Disney definitely would have never offered to buy that. It's one of the great disappointments of our lives."
Ang series na ‘to dapat ay mag-focus sa mga less mainstream na kwento sa Star Wars universe—mga smugglers, bounty hunters, at yung crime underworld. Timeline-wise, nakatakda itong mangyari somewhere between Revenge of the Sith at A New Hope, kung saan nagsisimula pa lang ang rebellion laban sa Galactic Empire. Pero dahil sobrang ambisyoso nung concept at ang taas ng production costs, hindi talaga siya natuloy. Ang estimated budget per episode? Around $40 million! Masyadong malaki kahit para sa Lucasfilm nung time na ‘yon. Sabi pa ni McCallum, "The problem was each episode was bigger than the films…the lowest I could get it down to with the technology that existed then was about $40 million an episode."
Kahit hindi siya natuloy, interesting pa rin yung Star Wars: Underworld sa history ng franchise. May mga magiging connections sana ito sa ibang projects, like yung canceled game na Star Wars 1313, kung saan si Boba Fett ang bida nung early years niya as a bounty hunter. Actually, part ito ng isang mas malaking transmedia project na mag-uugnay sana ng game at series into one cohesive story.
Na-shelve yung project bago pa mabili ng Disney ang Lucasfilm noong 2012, at may hints si McCallum na yung sobrang laki ng production cost nito could have played a role kung bakit hindi ito kasama sa binili ng Disney.
Pero ngayon na mas advanced na ang technology at sa success ng mga shows like The Mandalorian, may chance pa rin na baka may elements ng Underworld na balikan ulit. If ever mangyari yun, baka makita natin ang mas malalim at mas complex na side ng Star Wars universe.
I Can’t Believe Lucasfilm Is Sitting On 60 Star Wars Episodes From The George Lucas Era (Will We Ever See Them?) was first published here.
