Star Wars the Epic Continues Concept Art
Star Wars has got to be one of the most prolific and prominent media franchises. From movies to TV to video games, the galaxy far, far away has found its way into virtually every area of the entertainment industry.
With so many projects over the years, it seems inevitable that a few don't become a reality. Some are probably better off canceled, but what about those that could've been great? Star Wars has plenty of cool projects that will never see the light of day, from video games to movies.
'Battle of the Sith Lords'
Even before his revival in The Clone Wars animated series, Darth Maul has stood as one of the franchise's most beloved characters. In 2010, fans would have finally been given control to play as him in his own game.
Heralded by Red Fly Studios, who handled the Wii port of The Force Unleashed II, the game would've focused on Maul working alongside expanded universe character Darth Talon as they fight Darth Krayt and his army of Sith. The game would ultimately be canceled in 2011, in a move largely attributed to the impending sale of Lucasfilm to Disney. Much of what is known about the game comes courtesy of Game Informer, who have shared numerous pieces of artwork and story elements from its development.
'Scandal of Blood'
Fans are probably a little more than familiar with the story of the galaxy discovering Leia Organa was Darth Vader's daughter, as it was a key plot point in the 2016 novel, Bloodlines. However, according to Lucasfilm executive Pablo Hidalgo, the story was initially the focus of an entire animated short.
Intended to release alongside The Force Awakens in 2015, Scandal of Blood would've been an animated short film focused on this pivotal moment in the lead-up to the film. Described as the Star Wars version of House of Cards, the short was pitched in 2012 but never materialized.
'Battlefront IV'
Everyone knows about Free Radical's Battlefront III. The canceled follow-up to Pandemic's original Battlefront games would've allowed players to travel seamlessly between ground and space combat. However, few know that there was already a sequel to that game before it was canceled, simply titled Battlefront IV.
The fourth entry would have flipped the entire Star Wars universe on its head if its concept art is anything to go by. Players could take control of dark side versions of heroes like Luke Skywalker or a redeemed Darth Vader. Customization would have been a significant component in the game, eschewing the class system the series was known for. Alas, when Battlefront III was canned, so too was Battlefront IV.
'The Epic Continues'
Star Wars and toys go together like peanut butter and jelly, yet the action figures have rarely ever directly impacted the canon of the series. That would've all changed with 1986's The Epic Continues.
A new line in the classic Kenner series of figures, the storyline revolved around the new character Atha Prime, the mastermind behind the Clone Wars, who seeks to conquer the galaxy following the Emperor's death. If that wasn't bad enough for the rebels, Grand Moff Tarkin returns as well, now controlling the remnants of the Empire. While Lucasfilm enjoyed Kenner's pitch, they ultimately rejected it, feeling it was incongruent with their plans at the time. Kenner's Star Wars line would end shortly afterward.
Untitled Droids Movie
After Star Wars became a smash hit in 1977, George Lucas became hard at work at not just sequels to the original film but spin-offs as well. One of those planned offshoots would have focused entirely on the droids.
The movie would be based solely on the lives of C-3PO and R2-D2, with no humans to appear in the film at all. While George discussed the film in a few interviews following the release of A New Hope, never again would it be brought up after The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters. Though the movie was canceled, it seems like the upcoming Disney+ animated movie A Droid Story may fill that droid-shaped hole in all our hearts.
'Episode VII: Shadows of the Sith'
After Revenge of the Sith was released in 2005, Lucas was adamant that there would be no further movies in the Star Wars saga. He didn't say anything about video games, though!
Pitched sometime in 2004, Episode VII: Shadows of the Sith would have followed the son of Luke Ben Skywalker (pictured above) on a journey that saw him become more powerful in the force, culminating in a battle against one of the Solo children. The project didn't survive past the pitching process, but gameplay aspects were incorporated into The Force Unleashed games.
'The Force Unleashed III'
The Force Unleashed remains one of the more popular video game series set in the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, the second game in the series left fans on a cliffhanger, with no conclusion in sight even over a decade later. However, there were plans for a third entry that would've closed out the trilogy.
As explained in a Twitch stream with series creator Haden Blackman, the third game would've seen Starkiller team up with his former master, Darth Vader, against a new threat created by the Emperor. Co-op was also discussed, allowing players to fight together as the saber wielders. There was even the potential for the game to feature an open-world component. Sadly, Blackman left Lucasarts before the game entered development, taking his vision of the story with him.
'Star Wars Underworld'
At the Celebration III fan convention in 2005, Lucas appeared to announce two new projects that would expand the Star Wars universe. One, a full-length animated series, became Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The second, a live-action series, had a different fate.
Dubbed "Star Wars Underworld," the show was to take place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope and would focus on various characters and storylines in that timeframe. From Boba Fett to Han Solo, no two stories in the show were the same. The series had an impressive set of writers, including names like Chris Chibnall (Doctor Who) and Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica). Sadly, the show was shelved in 2010 due to budget problems, and it appears unlikely that it will ever be revisited.
'Star Wars: 1313'
It wouldn't be a Star Wars project if it didn't have its tie-in media. As it appears, Star Wars: 1313 would have been a tie-in video game to the aforementioned Underworld series.
The game would have starred a young Boba Fett, still trying to make it as a bounty hunter, as he explores the lower depths of Coruscant. The gameplay and narrative would have been significantly influenced by the Uncharted video games. It was canceled in 2013 following Disney's closure of Lucasarts, but various pieces of gameplay and artwork have leaked over the years.
'Duel of the Fates'
Before The Rise of Skywalker, Duel of the Fates was the original Star Wars: Episode IX. Helmed by Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World), the movie would've featured a completely different story than the movie we got.
In this script, Finn would've led a revolution on the planet Coruscant, a location that was featured prominently in the storyline. Rey would now wield a dual-bladed lightsaber, while Kylo Ren learns more about the force from Darth Plagueis' master, Tor Valum. Rey and Ren would eventually clash one last time on the planet Mortis, a place strong in the force. However, after Trevorrow departed from the film in 2017, J.J. Abrams quickly came on board, leaving little from this version of the film in the one we got.
Source: https://collider.com/coolest-cancelled-star-wars-projects-youll-never-see/
0 Response to "Star Wars the Epic Continues Concept Art"
Post a Comment