George Lucas' Ambitious 'Star Wars: Underworld' TV Series Remains an Unmade Vision

The scrapped live-action series was set to explore the galaxy's criminal underbelly with a massive budget and mature themes, but never made it past development.

Originally announced in 2005, 'Star Wars: Underworld' was planned as a live-action series set between the Prequel and Original trilogies, delving into the galaxy's criminal underworld on Coruscant.
The series was envisioned with darker, more adult themes, featuring complex storylines and a mix of new and legacy characters like Boba Fett and Darth Vader.
Over 60 scripts were completed, with contributions from acclaimed writers like Ronald D. Moore, but the series was never greenlit due to its unprecedented $40 million per-episode budget.
Producer Rick McCallum revealed that the series' ambitious scope and cost were major factors in its cancellation, as technology at the time couldn't accommodate Lucas' vision affordably.
Elements of 'Underworld' have influenced later Star Wars projects, including plot points in 'Rogue One,' 'Solo,' and Disney+ series like 'The Mandalorian' and 'Andor.'