Now that Star Wars is, by all means, “back,” it seems only logical that a live-action series based on the saga would be greenlit any day now. Afterall, between ABC airing Marvel shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter while Netflix streams Daredevil and Jessica Jones, why wouldn’t a similar arrangement be carried out for Star Wars? Apparently it’s not all that easy.
According to TVLine, Lucasfilm has decided to focus their attention on the films for the moment along with their animated series Star Wars Rebels. However, you may remember rumblings of a Star Wars live-action show called Star Wars: Underworld over a decade ago that was developed by George Lucas and others. Not only has a lot of work been done on that show (some reports even indicate that as many as 50 scripts were written for it) but it’s also apparently quite good, with one Lucasfilm producer likening it to “Deadwood in space.”
When Slashfilm asked Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy about the possibility of resurrecting the Underworld project or some version of it, she said it would be, “something we would very much like to explore.” Additionally, rumors are swirling that Disney might be in negotiations with Netflix to produce a Star Wars series. Perhaps the Underworld scripts could give the two companies a jumping off point for development?
Even if that were to happen, there’s still one more wrinkle to deal with: who would lead the show? As you’re likely aware, The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams knows a thing or two about TV (see: Lost, Alias, Felicity), making him a seemingly natural fit. Unfortunately, Abrams and his company Bad Robot currently have an exclusive television production deal with Warner Bros. making his involvement in any Star Wars series that much more unlikely.
Overall, it seems that, even if a live-action Star Wars series were to emerge, it would have to be a while down the road. Basically, file this one under “Will Probably Happen… Someday.”