George Lucas' Scrapped 'Star Wars: Underworld' Would Have Cost $40 Million Per Episode

The ambitious live-action series, planned before Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, was halted due to its immense budget and darker tone.

George Lucas developed 'Star Wars: Underworld' as a live-action series set between the prequel and original trilogies, exploring the galaxy's criminal underworld.
Producer Rick McCallum revealed that over 60 scripts were written, featuring mature, complex, and darker themes compared to the original films.
The estimated production cost was $40 million per episode, making it financially unfeasible with the technology available at the time.
McCallum stated that the series' tone and scope could have disrupted the established 'Star Wars' universe and potentially impacted Disney's decision to purchase Lucasfilm.
Elements of 'Underworld' may have influenced later Disney 'Star Wars' projects, such as 'Rogue One,' 'The Mandalorian,' and 'Andor.'