‘Star Wars: Underworld’ Secrets That Could Have Changed Everything

I recently came across some fascinating details about a Star Wars project that never saw the light of day. It’s called Star Wars: Underworld, and it was a bold idea from George Lucas himself.

Let’s dig into what could have been a game-changer for the franchise, based on what I learned from a podcast episode of Young Indy Chronicles featuring Peter and Daniel, along with producer Rick McCallum.

This canceled show was set to be unlike any Star Wars story we’ve seen before. Imagine a darker, more intense Star Wars with a mature edge—something that felt sexy and even violent.

It was meant to push boundaries, showing a side of the galaxy far removed from the family-friendly adventures we’re used to. The plan was to explore the gritty underbelly of this universe, and it sounds like it would have been a wild ride.

The project had some serious talent behind it. John Williams, the legendary composer who gave us the iconic Star Wars music, was on board to create the score. That alone would have made it feel like a true part of the saga. And the scripts? They were almost ready—60 of them were nearly finished, which means they had a clear vision for where the story was going.

But here’s where things get jaw-dropping. Each episode was budgeted at a massive $40 million. That’s a huge amount, even by today’s standards, and it shows how ambitious this project was.

They wanted to make something that looked and felt like a big-budget movie every single week. Unfortunately, that price tag is exactly what killed the project. It was simply too expensive to produce, and the show got scrapped before it could even start filming.

Producer Rick McCallum shared some bold thoughts about what Star Wars: Underworld could have meant for the franchise. He said, ‘It would’ve blown up the whole Star Wars universe… Disney wouldn’t have bought it after.’

That’s a huge claim. It suggests the show would have taken the series in such a daring direction that it might have changed the entire future of Star Wars—including Disney’s decision to buy Lucasfilm in 2012.

Looking back, it’s interesting to think about what might have been. The Young Indy Chronicles podcast also touched on other projects like Young Indy, which gave us a glimpse into the early adventures of Indiana Jones, and the Harrison Ford-led film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which came out in 1989.

Those stories showed George Lucas’s love for exploring new corners of his universes, and Star Wars: Underworld would have been another daring step in that direction.

I can’t help but wonder how fans would have reacted to this darker take on Star Wars. It might have been a hit with those who wanted something fresh, but it could have also been a risky move for a franchise known for its wide appeal. Either way, it’s a shame we’ll never get to see what George Lucas had in mind with this one.