Today’s L.A. Times has an article about George Lucas’ upcoming Star Wars TV series:
Attention, TV executives: The Force may soon be with you.
Filmmaker George Lucas said Tuesday that he has “just begun work” on a live-action television series rooted in the “Star Wars” universe, which is huge news not just for fans of the science-fiction epic but also for networks looking for a piece of the Lucas magic that has grossed $4.3 billion in theaters worldwide.
There is a caveat, though: The proposed series doesn’t have anyone named Luke or Anakin in it, a story path that Lucas concedes is “taking chances” as far as connecting with an audience expecting the familiar mythology.
“The Skywalkers aren’t in it, and it’s about minor characters,” Lucas said in an interview. “It has nothing to do with Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader or any of those people. It’s completely different. But it’s a good idea, and it’s going to be a lot of fun to do.”
Lucas joked that the series would be about “the life of robots” but wouldn’t let any details slip about the true premise. The “extended universe” of “Star Wars” has come to life already in Lucas-sanctioned novels, comics and games that chronicle the history of the Jedi and tell the tales of bit players in the films, such as the bounty hunters from “The Empire Strikes Back.”
It will be interesting to see what Lucas comes up with, but a show that has only a small connection to the movies may not generate the mass appeal that some TV executives might hope.
