George Lucas served as the primary creative force behind the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy of Star Wars. However, Lucas did not have any creative input in the sequel trilogy that was produced after Lucasfilm was sold to Disney. However, that hasn’t stopped Lucas from sharing his plans for what would have been his own take on the sequels.
During an interview, Lucas revealed that he was once planning to focus on the stormtroopers in his sequels. As a result, the sequel trilogy would have done something that neither the original trilogy nor the prequels attempted. At the same time, Lucas’ plans hint that the sequels could have been improved products if they followed his scrapped plan.
George Lucas’ Scrapped Star Wars Sequel Trilogy Plans Included More Focus on Stormtroopers
George Lucas originally planned to make a sequel trilogy in his globally popular Star Wars franchise. After Lucasfilm was acquired by Disney, his plans were scrapped and the studio took a new creative direction. However, Lucas once detailed his plans for the sequels in the book The Star Wars Archives 1999–2005: Episodes I-III (via SFFGazette.com).
In the book, Lucas revealed that he originally intended for the sequels to have an additional focus on the plight of the stormtroopers. Lucas explained that after the Rebels won, the stormtroopers would have been disbanded. He said:
“After the Rebels won, there were no more stormtroopers in my version of the third trilogy.”
Lucas added that his plans for sequels would have taken inspiration from the Iraq War’s aftermath. The stormtroopers would have gone on their different path and made a fresh start elsewhere in the galaxy.
“The stormtroopers refuse to give up when the Republic wins. They want to be stormtroopers forever so they go to a far corner of the galaxy, start their own country, and their own rebellion.”
Lucas made the above statement explaining how he wished to expand upon the stormtroopers and their story in his original plans for the sequels. Given that the earlier trilogies simply treat stormtroopers as soldiers in the war between Jedi and Sith, an added focus on them would have been unprecedented in the franchise.
George Lucas Teased Luke Skywalker’s Mission in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
In the same book, Lucas also highlighted his plans for Luke Skywalker in the sequels. Lucas explained that he intended for Luke to rebuild the Jedi order. The filmmaker added that Luke would have encountered the offshoot stormtroopers in the galaxy’s underworld. At the same time, he would have struggled to rebuild the Jedi order. He stated:
“The Jedi have to grow again from scratch, so Luke has to find two- and three-year-olds and train them. It’ll be 20 years before you have a new generation of Jedi.”
Lucas confirmed that his sequels would have taken place shortly after Return of the Jedi, implying that we would have seen Luke during his prime as a Jedi Master. At the same time, the rebuilding of the Jedi order would have been a long process. This version would have likely resonated better with fans considering the polarizing reaction to Luke Skywalker who failed to rebuild the Jedi order in the Disney-produced sequels.
The Star Wars films are streaming on Disney+.
