Summary
- George Lucas had his own version of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but Disney chose not to use his scripts.
- Lucas' trilogy would have featured Darth Maul as a crime boss and explored the concept of midi-chlorians in more depth.
- Leia Organa would have been the true Chosen One and played a crucial role in bringing peace to the galaxy.
George Lucas created his own version of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, one that would have been very different to Disney's. In May 2011, Disney CEO Bob Iger approached George Lucas to discuss the idea of acquiring Lucasfilm. Unfortunately, as Iger recalled, Lucas overestimated the value of his company. He wanted what he called the Pixar Deal, meaning a similar sum, but he didn't have any films in development or a production pipeline. It seems likely this was when Lucas seriously began working on scripts for his own Star Wars sequel trilogy, presumably feeling they would be a valuable part of the deal.
In the end, Disney chose not to use Lucas' Star Wars sequel scripts. That said, it does seem as though Disney took note of some of Lucas' ideas, because there are some striking similarities. Here are the main points of similarity and difference, according to the little that is publicly known.
10 Difference - Darth Maul Would Have Been The Villain Of George Lucas’ Sequel Trilogy
In Lucas’ original ideas for the sequel trilogy, Darth Maul would have taken over after the fall of the Empire, filling in whatever cracks the Galactic Republic could not reach. He would have been less an Emperor than a crime boss, but he wouldn't have been the only villain. He would have taken on the Twi'lek apprentice Darth Talon, a character originally designed for the comics, whose design Lucas liked.
9 Similarity - George Lucas Would Have Had Luke In Exile Too
Although Luke Skywalker is not really seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the entire premise of the movie is to complete a map to his location. Later, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it is revealed that he exiled himself after his attempt to restart the Jedi and his failure to protect his nephew Ben Solo from the dark side. Lucas’ sequels would have seen Luke in a similar situation, recruiting youngsters into his new Jedi Order and taking over a more nomadic, sage-like role.
8 Difference - George Lucas’ Trilogy Would Have Delved Into Midi-chlorians
George Lucas introduced midi-chlorians in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, microscopic organisms that allow their host to use the Force. These received a controversial reception, and Lucas chose not to explore them further in the prequels; but he intended to double down on them in the sequels. In fact, he considered focusing so much on these tiny lifeforms that he toyed with the idea the protagonist would shrink down to their size and interact with them directly.
7 Similarity - Both Ideas For The Sequels Question Destiny
Star Wars: The Last Jedi directly challenged the idea of prophecy and destiny, although Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ultimately moved away from this approach with the introduction of the Force Dyad. Lucas' Star Wars sequel trilogy would have explored similar themes, notably questioning the role of the Chosen One. This was a logical approach, ensuring the sequels continued the ongoing narrative.
6 Difference - Leia Organa Could Have Been The Actual Chosen One
In fact, in Lucas' view Leia would become the true Chosen One. Lucas would have framed a lot of the narrative around Leia, and her role in the New Republic - one that culminated in Leia becoming Supreme Chancellor. By taking leadership of the galaxy and defeating the criminal underworld, Leia would be the one to fulfill the prophecy of the Chosen One by finally bringing peace to the galaxy. This is very different to Disney's Star Wars sequels, in which there is more of a focus on the new cast of characters.
5 Similarity - Leia Organa Was Always Going To Be An Important Leader
Despite the fact that Leia is not the leader of the Galactic Republic in Disney’s sequel trilogy, she is still a very important leader. She is the General in charge of the Resistance, and arguably the one that has kept them alive for so long against the First Order. Even though she is not the leader of the Galactic Republic she is still a fantastic leader in her own right, proving that her character was always going to be an incredible leader no matter where the story went.
4 Difference - The Empire Would Resurface To Rebel Against The Galactic Republic
In Lucas’ version of the sequel trilogy there was no First Order. Instead, Stormtroopers and Imperial sympathizers would gather, hidden on scattered planets, before rising up to rebel against the Galactic Republic. This would have been an interesting inversion of what happened in the original trilogy, where the Rebellion rose up against the Empire. It feels tonally different to the First Order, adding a fascinating new dimension to Lucas' Star Wars sequels.
3 Similarity - There Would Have Always Been A Focus On Darth Vader’s Grandchildren
Ben Solo is easily one of the most memorable characters in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, but Lucas has indicated that he too would have focused on Darth Vader's grandchildren. He hasn't gone into any real details on this point, though, so it's difficult to say whether there would be further parallels. It's entirely possible Lucas, too, planned for the son of Leia and Han to turn to the dark side.
2 Difference - This Trilogy Would Have Taken Place Only A Few Years After Return Of The Jedi
Oddly enough, there's a sense in which Lucas' Star Wars sequel trilogy would have been more like the story currently being told in The Mandalorian and Ahsoka - a tale of an infant New Republic, one struggling to assert its authority on the galaxy. Lucas planned his sequels to take place relatively soon after the end of Return of the Jedi, although it's unclear how he'd have handled the actors' ages. Vader’s grandchildren, either through Luke or through Leia, would have been much younger than Ben Solo was in his movies.
1 Similarity - Even Lucas’ Ideas For The Sequels Would Have Divided Fans
Disney's Star Wars movies have proved incredibly polarizing. Just as many people love the films for their bold choices as hate them for the decisions made about Luke and Darth Sidious' characters, and Lucas too would surely have come in for quite a bit of flak. His decision to focus on midi-chlorians would have surely generated a backlash, meaning fan reactions would have been just as negative. The sad truth is that it would probably have been impossible for Star Wars to make these movies without controversy.