The Lost World of Star Wars Underworld: Ronald D. Moore on Writing for George Lucas’ Unmade Series
March 2025 has become an unexpected haven for Star Wars Underworld discussion, a period where whispers of the legendary, never-realized live-action television series have resurfaced with a vengeance. Following Star Wars producer Rick McCallum’s recent remarks regarding the show’s demise due to insurmountable budgetary constraints, another key figure has emerged to shed light on the project: Ronald D. Moore, the acclaimed writer and producer known for his work on Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and For All Mankind.
Moore, during an appearance on The Sackhoff Show, hosted by none other than Katee Sackhoff (the actress who brought Bo-Katan Kryze to life in the animated and live-action Star Wars universe), offered a fascinating glimpse into his experience contributing to Star Wars Underworld. The discussion revealed a unique period in Star Wars history, a time when George Lucas envisioned a gritty, character-driven exploration of the galaxy’s criminal underbelly and assembled a team of talented writers to bring his vision to life.
Moore recounted the circumstances that led to his involvement, explaining that he received a call from Lucas during the period when Battlestar Galactica was concluding and Caprica, its prequel series, was beginning. The call invited him to meet with Lucas and producer Rick McCallum to discuss a potential live-action Star Wars series.
According to Moore, Lucas harbored a specific vision for the project. He wanted to create an international writers’ room, bringing together diverse perspectives and creative voices from across the globe. Moore, representing the American contingent, was joined by writers from the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
The collaborative process was structured around intensive writing retreats at Skywalker Ranch, Lucas’ iconic creative haven. Moore described these gatherings as "long weekends" or even week-long sessions where the team would convene with Lucas in a conference room to develop the foundational stories for the series. Following these collaborative sessions, the writers would disperse for approximately six weeks to independently pen scripts, subsequently reconvening to review notes, provide feedback, and refine the material. This iterative process of gathering, breaking, writing, and regrouping continued for an extended period, spanning "a year or two or something," as Moore recalled.
The sustained effort resulted in a substantial body of work, with Moore estimating that the team produced "something like 48 or 50 episodes… It’s definitely in the 40s." This significant output highlights the commitment and investment that Lucas placed in the Underworld project, demonstrating his desire to establish a robust and expansive narrative universe beyond the Skywalker saga.
Moore revealed Lucas’ ambitious plan for the finished scripts. The creator intended to finance the production independently, effectively bypassing the traditional network approval process. Lucas envisioned a scenario where he would present the completed series to a network with a "take it or leave it" proposition, asserting complete creative control and resisting any external interference or revisions. He would produce the entire show on his own dime and then go to a network to purchase the whole show as is.
McCallum’s prior comments, however, paint a different picture, outlining the immense financial obstacles that ultimately prevented Lucas’ vision from materializing. The sheer scale and complexity of the Underworld project, coupled with the cost of achieving Lucas’ demanding visual standards, rendered the series prohibitively expensive. The scripts remained unproduced, relegated to the annals of Star Wars history. The article doesn’t state it, but many speculate the show would have used the digital sets and extensive special effects as seen in the prequel movies.
The eventual sale of Lucasfilm to Disney marked the definitive end of any potential resurrection for Star Wars Underworld, at least in its original form. While Disney has since explored similar themes and settings in series like The Mandalorian and Andor, the unique vision and creative direction that Lucas and his team had established for Underworld remain largely unexplored.
Despite the project’s ultimate cancellation, Moore emphasized that he personally cherished the experience of contributing to the series, particularly the opportunity to engage in creative debates with George Lucas himself. He wrote two of the scripts, and the overall experience clearly left a lasting impression.
Moore shared a humorous anecdote, describing the surreal experience of transitioning from a state of awe and reverence to a more grounded and argumentative dynamic within the writers’ room. He recounted a moment when he found himself disagreeing with Lucas on a specific detail regarding Darth Vader, leading to a moment of self-awareness and disbelief: "Oh my God, what am I doing? Where am I?" Despite the initial shock, Moore embraced the opportunity to challenge Lucas’ ideas and contribute to the shaping of the Star Wars narrative. He felt comfortable enough to argue plot points with the creator of the universe.
Moore even offered a spot-on impression of Lucas, capturing the filmmaker’s distinctive voice and mannerisms, further illustrating the close and collaborative nature of their working relationship. The story of Ronald D. Moore’s involvement in Star Wars Underworld serves as a compelling reminder of the countless untold stories and unproduced projects that exist within the Star Wars universe, each offering a unique glimpse into the creative process and the evolving vision of the galaxy far, far away. The clip of the interview offers more information on the series than had previously been known.
