George Lucas Pitched a 'Hitler-Like' Palpatine Series, Ian McDiarmid Reveals

Ian McDiarmid, the iconic actor behind Emperor Palpatine, just dropped a bombshell: George Lucas once planned a terrifyingly dark Palpatine TV series. Before the Lucasfilm sale to Disney in 2012, Lucas envisioned a standalone show charting the villain's rise to power. McDiarmid revealed the shocking detail at a recent Star Wars panel.
Lucas’s pitch wasn't subtle. He wanted to parallel Palpatine’s ascent with that of a "20th century dictator, like Hitler." The series would explore the Emperor's calculated manipulation, complete with failed assassination attempts. McDiarmid, clearly thrilled by the idea, even recounted Lucas offering him a directing gig. Imagine: Palpatine, the ultimate puppeteer, dissecting his own origins.
This vision was part of Lucas's broader, pre-Disney plans, which included his own Episode VII-IX concepts and the famously gritty Star Wars: Underworld TV series. Could this Palpatine story have been an arc within Underworld? Fans have long speculated about Lucas's original trajectory for the saga. This scrapped series paints a picture of a far darker, politically charged Star Wars, a stark contrast to what we've seen since. It's a tantalizing glimpse into a path not taken for the galaxy far, far away.
“We could sort of follow the Emperor's progress, like Hitler's, some of that.”
Catzye Take
This revelation completely reshapes how we view George Lucas's original Star Wars vision. It’s a bold, mature direction that makes you wonder what truly dark, politically charged stories we missed out on. Fans should definitely consider the implications for the saga's overall narrative.
Newsletter
Stay in the loop
Weekly digest of the top manga & anime stories. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
People & Places
Want to learn more?
Read our complete Manga guide →





