Star Wars: Underworld

The Star Wars: Live-Action TV Series is a TV series confirmed to be made in the near future by Star Wars creator, George Lucas. This announcement was made at the Star Wars Celebration III by him, following the completion and success of his Star Wars films in 2005. The show will be set sometime in the 19-year timespan between the films, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. It will focus on minor characters of the Star Wars galaxy, rather than the main ones seen prominently in the films.

Release
This show is to be released, along with the 3-D Clone Wars animated series, in order to keep Star Wars alive in the minds of the fans and the general public. It is unknown at this point exactly when either of the series will be released, however the Live-Action series is likely to be released in 2007 or 2008, based on a comment by George Lucas. He stated at April 2005's Celebration III, that, referring to the 3-D animated Clone Wars series, "we probably won't start that until sometime next year." This would lead fans to believe that since production will begin, according to his remarks, in around April 2006, the following year, production could end later that same year and the show could air that year. Lucas also said that "we will probably do the animated series first," and he later confirmed this statement. This further proves the idea. The Live-Action show should air some time after the 3-D Clone Wars show, once production on the first season has completed, which should be some time in 2007. If the production doesn't take long, that could mean that the show could air that year. But, if there is a longer production scedule, or conflicts, its release could be pushed up to 2008. Lucas should reveal the release year soon. Lucasfilm will likely wait to release the Live-Action series also, until a time has passed since the 3-D Clone Wars series has aired, in order to maximize fan and public anticipation, and ultimately, the profit made.

Facts

 * The series will focus on minor characters in the Star Wars films, ones who viewers have seen on screen before in the films themselves.
 * The entire series will be set in the 19-year time period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
 * No winning battles by the Rebels will be shown due to the opening text of Episode IV, "the Rebel Alliance has won its first battle against the evil Galactic Empire."
 * It will last 100 episodes.
 * Each episode will be 1 hour long.
 * Boba Fett is a possible, though not necessarily main, character for the series; Daniel Logan, who played the young Boba Fett, has been asked by Lucas to reprise his role for the new series.
 * Lucas will write the entire first season all at once.
 * Lucas will direct the first season.
 * Lucas will get the show started with his work on the first season, and then "hand it off from there."
 * The style of the series will be in a similar style to Lucas' Young Indiana Jones TV series.
 * Lucas will be organizing all casting and getting together the complete crew to fill the various positions required for the show.
 * Cameos by main characters are not totally out of the question.
 * The show is still in its early planning stages, so many plot and/or story elements may change, as Lucas has shown to change his mind easily.
 * The show will be shot on consumer-level digital cameras, according to series creator, George Lucas.
 * George Lucas has stated on production of the show, that, "we will do what would typically cost $20 million, for $1 million."
 * Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), and Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett/clonetroopers) have expressed their interest in occasional appearances.

IGN announcement
On September 15th, 2005, the website IGN FilmForce released the following statement:


 * ''IGN FilmForce can exclusively report that Lucasfilm is seeking screenwriters for its planned TV series based on George Lucas' Star Wars film saga.


 * ''Keeping with Lucas' penchant for security, the show will be scripted at the bearded one's secluded Skywalker Ranch. Work will commence this January. Lucas and his colleague Rick McCallum will produce the still untitled show.


 * ''The series is slated to run 50 hours and will be a mixture of live-action and CGI. Principal photography will begin in 2007 with filming to take place in Australia.


 * While the show will apparently revolve around imperial bounty hunters, there could be other directions taken. The series will take place after the Empire has risen to power.

Link to Statement

Episode III DVD release interview
On October 6th 2005, at an interview for the upcoming release of the Episode III DVD, Rick McCallum stated that, in relation to Episode III, the show "...is going to be much darker, much grittier, it's much more character-based." McCallum also repeated that the show will have an 100 hour-long episode format, and also announced that Expanded Universe characters will appear in the show. He went on to talk about the filming of the show:


 * "Principal photography will take place all around the world, probably with a base in Sydney. And, yes, we will be shooting in hi-def. Or, if anything else evolves within the next 12 months, you know, that would replace hi-def. I don't see that happening, but there may be new and more, or less expensive cameras with more optical imagery or optical discs that we record on. But basically it will be hi-def, yes."

Ian McDiarmid, who was also there, said that although he has not been approached to reprise his role as Palpatine, he would be willing to if asked.

Rob Coleman, special-effects animation specialist, said that CGI characters in the show are a certainty, although they haven't started working on them yet.

Link to Source

TheForce.Net reports
Based on this link, TheForce.Net reports here that:

"Star Wars TV scoop

This is one of those “My best friend's cousin” stories, but apparently it is legit, a report of the new STAR WARS tv show sent by one of our regular spies from a thespian pal, who writes:

“I just wrapped principle shooting on a new Star Wars project called ”Forced Alliance“--basically, it's a 30-minute short film that George Lucas wants to use as a template for where the franchise is headed from here. In a nutshell, Luke Skywalker is now an old man & has trained a whole new generation of Jedi knights--but these aren't the old-fashioned, pure & chaste Jedi. These Jedi have good hearts but sordid pasts--and their fighting style is a combination of The Force & good old street smarts.”

According to this spy, the climactic scene of the pilot is a light-saber duel between a former pirate/smuggler/gambler turned Jedi villain Darth Teros, silhouetted against a giant window that looks out onto the starry universe.

Thanks to James Powell for the link."

Rumors and Speculation

 * In addition to the above, it is also speculated that Wayne Pygram (Tarkin) would be likely to have occasional appearances, due to his large role on the cult science fiction show Farscape.
 * Kevin Smith may write or work on the show in some way eventually.
 * Matthew Newton, of "Farscape," "Queen of the Damned," and "Blurred," is likely to be cast as some character in the series. The word is that Lucas has crossed path with this man before, even considered him as Anakin at one point, and is now interested in him for the TV series. The rumor going around has been that he will play Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, since it would be difficult to get Hayden Christensen back for the part, and Newton was Lucas's rumored second choice. It is also rumored that he may not play Anakin/Vader at all, and will play some as of yet, unknown character.
 * The show is likely to be broadcast on FOX or one of its subsidiaries, due to the past business moves of Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox.
 * The show is likely to be produced in widescreen.
 * It may show a young Luke at one point, according to Rick McCallum.
 * It may show the beginnings and forming of the Rebel Alliance.
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda may appear, based on Lucas's comment on the possibility of guest stars.
 * The show may depict Leia as she grows to adulthood.
 * The series might focus on the Jedi (other than Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda) who survived Order 66 and are on the run from the newly-formed Empire. It might depict their persecution and elimination by Imperial agents.
 * The show might show a cold opening of each episode.