George Lucas once planned a Star Wars television series that would have chronicled the rise of Emperor Palpatine by modeling his political ascent on the history of Adolf Hitler. Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed the character in the films, revealed at Spacecon 2026 that Lucas personally pitched him the project, which was intended to explore the Emperor’s path to power and potential assassination attempts.
What was the planned Emperor Palpatine series?
The project, which McDiarmid described as a “speculative” television endeavor, was envisioned to bridge the narrative gap between Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope. According to McDiarmid, the series would have examined the Emperor’s “progress,” explicitly drawing parallels to Hitler’s rise to power. The actor noted that Lucas even invited him to direct an episode, though the project never reached production.
Before the current era of Disney-produced streaming content, the concept of a live-action Star Wars television series was considered highly experimental and risky for the franchise.
How did Star Wars Underworld compare to modern production?
While McDiarmid did not explicitly name the project, industry reports suggest it was the long-gestating Star Wars Underworld. Producer Rick McCallum previously stated that the show was “doomed” by its own ambition. McCallum noted that each episode was planned with a scope exceeding that of a feature film, with estimated costs hitting $40 million per episode—a figure that would have been financially unsustainable given the production technology available at the time.
Budgetary contrasts in the Disney era
The financial hurdles that stalled Underworld contrast sharply with the current state of Lucasfilm’s television output. Following the release of high-budget series like The Acolyte and The Book of Boba Fett, Disney has significantly curtailed spending on the franchise. Currently, only the second season of Ahsoka remains in active production, marking a shift toward more measured financial oversight compared to the expansive, high-risk vision Lucas originally proposed.
Why did the project never move forward?
The primary barrier to production was the sheer scale of Lucas’ ambition. According to McCallum, the project required technical capabilities and budgets that did not align with the industry standards of the time. Lucas eventually sold the rights to the franchise to Disney, leaving the scripts for the 60-episode series unproduced. The only public evidence of the project remains a short leak of test footage depicting a gritty, detailed version of the planet Coruscant.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Was the Palpatine series ever filmed? No, the project remained in the development phase and never entered production.
- Who was meant to star in the show? Ian McDiarmid confirmed that George Lucas approached him to play the Emperor and potentially direct an episode.
- What was the name of the cancelled series? While not explicitly confirmed by McDiarmid, it is widely identified by industry observers as Star Wars Underworld.
- Why is it not being made now? Disney has shifted its strategy to prioritize more controlled production budgets following the performance of recent projects.
What do you think about a series focused on the dark rise of the Empire? Share your thoughts in the comments below or explore our archives for more deep dives into Star Wars history.
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