"Star Wars: Underworld Cancellation Due to High Costs"

The revelation from Star Wars prequels producer Rick McCallum about the cancelled series, Star Wars: Underworld, is a tough pill to swallow for fans. McCallum disclosed that the ambitious project would have required a staggering $40 million per episode to produce, ultimately leading to its cancellation due to budgetary constraints.

In an interview on the Young Indy Chronicles podcast, McCallum shared that "each episode was bigger than the films," and despite his efforts, the cost couldn't be reduced below $40 million per episode with the technology available at the time. He expressed that the failure to bring this project to life remains "one of the great disappointments of our lives."

The series had an impressive foundation, with 60 "third draft" scripts penned by some of the world's most talented writers. These scripts promised to explore the Star Wars universe in ways described as "sexy, violent, dark, challenging, complicated, and wonderful." However, the financial implications were astronomical—60 episodes at $40 million each would have pushed the total cost well over $1 billion, a figure even George Lucas couldn't muster in the early 2000s.

McCallum noted that the series "would’ve blown up the whole Star Wars universe," suggesting it might have deterred Disney from acquiring the franchise. The project was ultimately shelved after Disney took over Lucasfilm and George Lucas stepped back from the helm.

While McCallum refrained from revealing specific plot details, the general consensus among fans is that Star Wars: Underworld would have bridged the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. McCallum had previously mentioned the series would introduce a new cast of characters, significantly expand the Star Wars universe, and cater to an adult audience rather than focusing on teens and children.

First announced at Star Wars Celebration in 2005, and with test footage leaking in 2020, Star Wars: Underworld seemed poised to redefine the franchise. Unfortunately, it appears that the dream of seeing this project come to fruition may remain just that—a dream.