Star Wars Underworld was set to be a groundbreaking television series created by George Lucas that would explore the criminal underworld of the Star Wars universe. The ambitious project was developed in the mid-2000s with plans for a darker, more mature take on the franchise. The show was ultimately canceled in 2012 due to prohibitively high production costs, with reports suggesting it would have required billions of dollars to produce the planned 100 episodes.
The series would have shown parts of the Star Wars universe rarely seen in films, focusing on the gritty criminal elements rather than Jedi and Sith conflicts. Star Wars: Underworld had scripts for 50 episodes written before its cancellation, with the production team describing it as “dark” and “sexy.” The project’s timing coincided with Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, though the cancellation was primarily due to budget concerns rather than content issues.
The canceled show did make some contributions to Star Wars canon, including changes to Emperor Palpatine’s character. Additionally, the video game Star Wars: 1313 was originally conceived as a tie-in to Underworld before also being canceled. Despite never making it to screens, the concept demonstrated Lucas’s interest in expanding the franchise beyond its traditional storytelling approaches.
The Rise and Fall of Star Wars: Underworld
For over a decade, Star Wars: Underworld was whispered about in fan circles as one of the most ambitious and mysterious canceled projects in the galaxy far, far away. Originally conceived by Star Wars creator George Lucas, the live-action series aimed to explore the criminal underbelly of Coruscant, focusing on bounty hunters, crime syndicates, and political intrigue. It was meant to fill the narrative gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, offering a darker, grittier take on the Star Wars universe.
Yet, despite having over 50 completed scripts and groundbreaking technology in development, the project never saw the light of day. After years in limbo, Disney has now officially shelved Star Wars: Underworld, marking the end of one of Star Wars’ most ambitious unrealized projects.
George Lucas’ Ambitious Vision
Back in 2005, Star Wars: Underworld was announced during Star Wars Celebration III. George Lucas envisioned a show that would be unlike anything seen in the franchise before—an interconnected, episodic story delving into the politics, corruption, and power struggles of Coruscant’s seedy lower levels. The show was described as Star Wars meets The Godfather and Blade Runner, an ambitious hybrid of crime drama and space opera.
Writers, including Battlestar Galactica‘s Ronald D. Moore, were brought in to flesh out a bold narrative. The plan? A multi-season arc that would introduce new characters while intertwining with major events and figures in the existing Star Wars timeline.
The scripts reportedly included an appearance by Emperor Palpatine, a young Han Solo, and the origins of characters like Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett. However, Lucas also wanted to push the boundaries of filmmaking. His idea was to develop new digital technology that would allow a TV show to look as cinematic as The Empire Strikes Back—but at a fraction of the cost.
The Budget Problem That Killed Underworld
Despite the exciting concept, Star Wars: Underworld faced one major obstacle: cost. At the time, Lucas estimated that each episode would cost around $10 million—an astronomical figure for TV production in the late 2000s. Unlike today, where streaming platforms like Disney+ can justify such expenses, there was no feasible way to fund such a high-budget project without cutting corners.
Lucasfilm did extensive testing, even producing a full test reel with Battlestar Galactica‘s producer Rick McCallum to demonstrate how virtual sets and advanced CGI could reduce costs. Some of this test footage eventually leaked online in 2020, offering fans a glimpse at what Underworld might have looked like.
However, in 2012, Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.05 billion, and the future of Underworld became uncertain. Disney chose to prioritize new movies (The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker) rather than reviving Lucas’ TV project.
Disney’s Approach to Star Wars on TV
After acquiring Lucasfilm, Disney pivoted away from Underworld and instead developed animated series like Star Wars Rebels and later live-action shows like The Mandalorian, which debuted on Disney+ in 2019. Ironically, The Mandalorian adopted many of the technological advancements Lucas originally envisioned for Underworld, utilizing virtual production techniques with ILM’s StageCraft technology.
In some ways, the spirit of Star Wars: Underworld lives on through shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Andor, which also explore the darker, more grounded side of the galaxy. However, the specific stories and characters of Underworld will likely never be seen as originally intended.
Could Star Wars: Underworld Ever Be Revived?
With Disney now fully committed to its Disney+ Star Wars slate, the chances of Star Wars: Underworld being resurrected in its original form are slim. However, elements of the series have already seeped into current Star Wars canon.
For example, some plot ideas originally developed for Underworld reportedly influenced Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Andor, particularly in their depictions of rebellion, espionage, and the underworld of the galaxy. Additionally, The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch have touched on criminal organizations like the Pyke Syndicate, which were central to Underworld’s premise.
Fans may still see remnants of the show in future projects, but Star Wars: Underworld as Lucas envisioned it is officially over.
Key Takeaways
- Star Wars: Underworld was canceled in 2012 mainly due to its massive production costs estimated in the billions of dollars.
- The series would have featured a darker, more adult-oriented story set in the criminal underworld of the Star Wars universe.
- Despite never being produced, elements from Underworld influenced other Star Wars projects and made lasting contributions to the franchise’s canon.
Development and Cancellation
Star Wars: Underworld went through years of development before ultimately being shelved. The ambitious television project faced multiple obstacles despite significant work invested by George Lucas and his creative team.
Origins and Creative Process
Star Wars: Underworld began as George Lucas’s vision to expand the Star Wars universe to television with a live-action series. The show was planned to take place between Episodes III and IV, focusing on the criminal underworld of Coruscant. Lucas assembled a team of writers who reportedly created nearly 50 scripts.
The creative process was extensive, with writers developing characters and storylines that would explore darker, more mature themes than the films. Interestingly, the show would have humanized Emperor Palpatine, portraying him as a more sympathetic figure before his rise to power.
Test footage was filmed to demonstrate the show’s potential visual style. Some of this footage was later shown at Star Wars Celebration events, giving fans a glimpse of what might have been.
Challenges and Shutdown
The primary obstacle for Star Wars: Underworld was its ambitious budget. Each episode would have required film-level production values at a time when television budgets couldn’t support such costs. Lucas himself stated they were “waiting for technology to catch up” to make the show financially viable.
The video game Star Wars: 1313 was initially developed as a tie-in to Underworld but later became its own project before also being canceled. Both projects faced uncertainty when Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012.
After the acquisition, Kathleen Kennedy and the new leadership shifted focus to developing new Star Wars films. The Underworld project was officially shelved, though some concepts and ideas from the show have reportedly influenced later Star Wars productions like The Mandalorian and other Disney+ series.
Legacy and Influence
Though Star Wars: Underworld never made it to screens, its development process and concepts left a lasting mark on the Star Wars franchise. The show’s creative elements and themes influenced later projects and represented a significant “what might have been” moment in Star Wars history.
Impact on Other Star Wars Projects
Several modern Star Wars productions show traces of Underworld’s DNA. The gritty, crime-focused elements planned for Underworld eventually found their way into shows like The Mandalorian, which explores the galaxy’s criminal underworld. The concept of examining the seedy side of the Star Wars universe also influenced films like Solo and Rogue One, which both featured criminal elements and morally gray characters.
The show’s planned focus on Palpatine’s background reportedly changed how the character was portrayed in later works. This influence can be seen in projects like The Rise of Skywalker, which expanded on the Emperor’s backstory.
The technology developed for Underworld didn’t go to waste either. Production techniques created for the show were later adapted for other Star Wars media.
Unrealized Potential in Expanded Universe
Underworld’s cancellation left many compelling storylines unexplored. The show planned to feature:
- Complex criminal organizations operating beneath the Empire’s notice
- Deeper exploration of how ordinary people lived under Imperial rule
- New perspectives on established characters like Boba Fett
The canceled game Star Wars: 1313, originally conceived as a tie-in to Underworld, represented another lost opportunity. This game would have explored the notorious Level 1313 of Coruscant, taking players into the planet’s criminal underbelly.
Some of Underworld’s creative team moved on to other successful projects. Reports suggest that Cory Barlog, who later directed God of War, worked on the series before its cancellation, showing how the project attracted talented creators despite never reaching production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Star Wars: Underworld faced several challenges that led to its cancellation, leaving fans with many questions about what might have been. The series had ambitious plans that were ultimately shelved.
What were the main reasons behind the cancellation of Star Wars: Underworld?
The main reason for canceling Star Wars: Underworld was financial. The show’s budget requirements were too high for television production at the time.
George Lucas described the series as being too expensive to produce with the technology available. Each episode would have required feature film-level production values.
Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 also contributed to the decision, as the new ownership shifted focus to different Star Wars projects.
How many episodes of Star Wars: Underworld were in production before it was canceled?
According to reports, around 50 scripts were written for Star Wars: Underworld before production stopped. These scripts were completed but never filmed.
The show had reached the screenplay development stage, with writers finishing many episode scripts. However, actual production never began on any episodes.
The extensive writing process showed serious intent to create the series, even though filming never started.
What impact did the cancellation of Star Wars: Underworld have on the franchise?
The cancellation left a gap in Star Wars storytelling between Episodes III and IV. This period was later explored through other media like novels, comics, and animated series.
Some ideas developed for Underworld reportedly influenced other Star Wars projects. Elements may have been incorporated into shows like The Mandalorian and Andor.
The concept of exploring the criminal underworld of Star Wars eventually made its way into other productions, though in different forms.
Were there any completed episodes of Star Wars: Underworld, and will they be released in the future?
No completed episodes of Star Wars: Underworld exist. The project never reached the production phase where episodes were filmed.
Some test footage was reportedly shot to demonstrate the visual style and technical approach, but no full episodes were created.
The chances of seeing this test footage or the scripts adapted for screen are extremely low, as Disney has moved in different directions with the franchise.
Did the departure of Benioff and Weiss from the Star Wars universe affect the fate of Star Wars: Underworld?
No, Benioff and Weiss were not involved with Star Wars: Underworld. Their brief involvement with Star Wars came years after Underworld had already been shelved.
Underworld was a George Lucas project that was canceled before Disney acquired Lucasfilm. Benioff and Weiss were hired by Disney for different Star Wars projects that were later canceled.
The two cancellations were unrelated events occurring during different eras of Star Wars development.
What differences, if any, were there between the envisaged storyline of Star Wars: Underworld and the projects that succeeded it?
Star Wars: Underworld planned to focus on crime syndicates and the seedy underworld of the galaxy. It would have shown how the Empire affected ordinary citizens and criminals.
The series would have featured darker, more mature themes than typical Star Wars content. It was often described as “Deadwood in space” or similar to The Godfather.
While shows like The Mandalorian and Andor have explored some similar territory, Underworld would have been more focused on criminal elements and had a grittier tone than anything that has succeeded it.
