"Star Wars: Underworld Cancellation Due to High Costs"

The revelation about the cancelled Star Wars series, Star Wars: Underworld, has left fans reeling. Rick McCallum, the producer behind the Star Wars prequels, disclosed that the ambitious project would have required a staggering $40 million per episode, ultimately leading to its demise due to budget constraints.

In an enlightening interview on the Young Indy Chronicles podcast, McCallum elaborated on the financial hurdles: “The problem was that each episode was bigger than the films. So the lowest I could get it down to with the tech that existed then was $40 million an episode.” He further expressed his deep disappointment, noting that the inability to bring the series to life remains “one of the great disappointments of our lives.”

The project boasted an impressive 60 “third draft” scripts, described by McCallum as showcasing the Star Wars universe in “sexy, violent, dark, challenging, complicated, and wonderful” ways, penned by some of “the most wonderful writers in the world.” With a budget potentially exceeding $1 billion, even George Lucas couldn't muster the funds needed in the early 2000s.

McCallum hinted at the series' potential impact, stating, “\[It\] would’ve blown up the whole Star Wars universe and Disney would’ve definitely never offered George to buy the franchise.” The project was officially cancelled after Disney acquired Lucasfilm and George Lucas stepped down.

While specific plot details remain under wraps, fans speculate that Star Wars: Underworld would have explored the timeline between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. McCallum previously shared that the series would introduce a fresh cast of characters, significantly expand the Star Wars universe, and target an adult audience.

First announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2005, and with test footage surfacing in 2020, Star Wars: Underworld remains a tantalizing "what if" in the Star Wars saga. Unfortunately, it seems the series may never see the light of day.