Lucas' canceled star wars series would have explored palpatine's rise like hitler's

Star Wars fans have long been curious about the cancelled television series that George Lucas pitched to Ian McDiarmid, the actor who played Emperor Palpatine. In a recent interview, McDiarmid revealed that Lucas wanted to chronicle Palpatine's rise to power, drawing parallels with Adolf Hitler's ascent to tyranny.

Palpatine's path to power

According to McDiarmid, Lucas discussed the project with him over lunch, envisioning a series that would follow Palpatine's progress as he consolidated his power and manipulated others to serve his interests. The Emperor's journey would have included a failed assassination attempt, setting the stage for his eventual triumph.

Lucas' ambition for the show was immense, with plans for at least 60 episodes bridging the gap between Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV - A New Hope. The project, initially known as Star Wars: Underworld, would have required a massive budget to bring its epic scope to life.

Despite the canceled series' promise, Lucasfilm ultimately sold the Star Wars franchise to Disney, putting an end to Lucas' vision. The brand has since spawned several new television shows, though their high costs and mixed reception have led to a more restrained approach in recent years.