George Lucas’ Original Sequel Trilogy Would Have Made Darth Maul the Godfather of Star Wars Crime
Imagine a Star Wars universe where Darth Maul isn’t just a phantom menace but the ultimate crime lord, ruling the galaxy’s underworld with an iron fist as the Empire crumbles. George Lucas’s bold, unrealized vision for the Star Wars sequels would have thrust Maul, resurrected with cybernetic legs, into the spotlight, controlling the vast swaths of the galaxy’s seedy underside. Alongside him, Darth Talon, a new Sith apprentice lifted from the pages of Star Wars comics, would bring a fierce, fresh energy as his deadly enforcer, echoing the sinister presence of Darth Vader. Lucas plotted a riveting shift from the well-trodden battlefield of Empire versus Rebellion to a thrilling saga immersed in the shadows of crime and villainy, promising a gripping and unpredictable journey for fans. What would the galaxy look like under Maul’s criminal reign, and how would this uncharted path redefine the Star Wars legacy? These questions remain tantalizingly unanswered, leaving fans to wonder about this bold narrative direction that could have been.
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Quick Takeaways:
- George Lucas had a very different plan for the Star Wars sequels
- Darth Maul was meant to return as a powerful crime boss
- Maul would have had a new apprentice, Darth Talon
- The story would have focused on the criminal underworld instead of the Empire
Lucas’s Alternative Direction for Star Wars
Before Disney acquired Lucasfilm and took Star Wars in a new direction, George Lucas had mapped out a sequel trilogy of his own. This version didn’t include a new First Order or Supreme Leader. Instead, Lucas wanted to bring back Darth Maul, who would step fully into the role of a galactic crime lord.
Maul’s Rise After the Empire
According to Lucas, Maul would survive, gain cybernetic legs, and grow more powerful. As the Empire fell, he would step into the power vacuum across the galaxy. The idea was that Maul would become a controlling force in the criminal underworld, shaping a darker narrative apart from the political and military battles of past trilogies.
A New Generation of Sith
Lucas planned to pair Maul with an apprentice: Darth Talon, a striking Sith Lord introduced in the Star Wars comics. Talon was envisioned as a new take on the Darth Vader character—deadly, mysterious, and central to much of the conflict. Lucas said, “Most of the action was with [Talon],” highlighting her importance in the story as Maul's enforcer.
Shifting the Star Wars Focus
This approach would have taken Star Wars in a very different direction. The focus would move away from classic battles between rebels and empires. Instead, the central conflict would come from syndicates, power struggles, and the rise of new Sith threats in the criminal underworld. This change would have broken from the traditional Star Wars structure, offering a darker and more grounded struggle for control of the galaxy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did George Lucas plan to replace Darth Vader in the sequel trilogy?
Yes, George Lucas originally had plans for a new villain to take center stage in the sequel trilogy, shifting focus away from Darth Vader after his redemption and death in “Return of the Jedi.”
Who was supposed to be the new villain after Darth Vader?
George Lucas envisioned a new antagonist named Darth Maul returning as a major villain, along with a female Sith apprentice who would rise in the power vacuum left by Vader and the Emperor.
Why did George Lucas want to move past Darth Vader?
Lucas believed Darth Vader’s arc was complete by the end of the original trilogy, so he wanted to explore new threats and characters in the evolving Star Wars universe.
What were George Lucas’s original plans for the sequel trilogy?
Lucas originally planned a story focused on rebuilding the Republic, expanding on the Force’s mystical elements, and introducing new Sith villains, rather than revisiting the old ones like Vader or Palpatine.
Did George Lucas want Darth Maul to replace Darth Vader?
Yes, in Lucas’s early sequel concepts, Darth Maul was envisioned to survive and become the central villain, effectively replacing Darth Vader as the galaxy’s main threat.
How different was George Lucas’s sequel trilogy from the one Disney made?
Lucas’s planned sequels would have centered more on politics, rebuilding governments, and new Sith characters, whereas Disney’s trilogy focused more on remixed legacy elements and the return of the Emperor.
Filipino Translation:
Sobrang astig sana ng plano ni George Lucas para sa Star Wars sequels—kaso nga lang, ‘di na-push sa big screen. Imbes na mga bagong Emperors at First Orders, balak ni Lucas na ibalik si Darth Maul, this time bilang ultimate crime boss ng galaxy. May cybernetic legs na siya, tapos mas malakas na siya ngayon. Sabi nga ni Lucas, Maul would become "the godfather of crime in the universe because, as the Empire falls, he takes over."
Ang cool pa d’yan, may apprentice pa si Maul—si Darth Talon na galing sa Star Wars comics. Super striking ‘tong character na ‘to, and para kay Lucas, siya dapat yung magiging "new Darth Vader." Sabi pa niya, "most of the action was with [Talon]." Si Talon sana yung magiging powerful enforcer ni Maul, habang si Maul yung mastermind ng buong underworld.
Kung natuloy ‘tong version ni Lucas, ibang-iba dapat yung direction ng Star Wars. Imbes na classic na laban ng Empire vs. Rebellion, magiging focus na yung galactic underworld at ang paglitaw ng mga bagong Sith villains. Yung underworld mismo ang magiging center ng gulo—super layo sa usual na formula ng Star Wars movies, ‘no?
George Lucas Had Surprising Plans to Replace Darth Vader in the Sequel Trilogy was first published here.
