Star Wars: Underworld’s Sky-High Costs Could've Changed Everything

Star Wars: Underworld, a long-canceled series, was set to be a groundbreaking addition to the Star Wars universe, but its astronomical budget of $40 million per episode led to its ultimate demise. Producer Rick McCallum revealed that each episode was designed to be more elaborate than the films, which raised significant financial hurdles. With 60 completed scripts that explored darker and more complex themes of the galaxy far, far away, the project would have transformed the franchise into something more adult-oriented. McCallum expressed regret over the series's cancellation, suggesting that it could have redefined the Star Wars narrative, especially between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, the series was officially shelved, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.

The cancellation was primarily due to its exorbitant production cost of $40 million per episode, which made it financially unfeasible despite having a wealth of material and scripts ready for development.

Star Wars: Underworld was initially announced back in 2005, and fans were eager for a series that promised to dive deeper into the lore and complexities of the Star Wars universe. The series aimed to target an adult audience with mature themes, showcasing a fresh take on established narratives within the franchise. The leaked test footage in 2020 reignited interest in the project, but the obstacles proved too great for its realization, marking a significant missed opportunity for Star Wars storytelling.