George Lucas' Unmade Star Wars Series Would Have Redefined a Villain

WHO:

Collider - Ian McDiarmid, actor known for portraying Emperor Palpatine, revealed details about George Lucas' plans.

WHAT:

Collider - George Lucas had plans to create a Star Wars TV show focusing on Emperor Palpatine's rise to power.

Coming Soon - The series would have taken a dark direction, according to McDiarmid.

WHEN:

Coming Soon - The canceled Star Wars show was intended to be released before Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars IP in 2012.

(UPDATED June 19, 2026 19:29 UTC)

Ian McDiarmid, the actor famous for his role as Emperor Palpatine, recently shared insights about George Lucas' ambitious plans for a Star Wars TV show centered on the character's rise to power. According to McDiarmid, the series was set to take a darker turn, exploring themes that fans might not expect. Unfortunately, this project was shelved before Disney acquired the rights to the Star Wars franchise in 2012.