Ian McDiarmid Reveals George Lucas Almost Created a Palpatine-Focused ‘Star Wars’ Series

Before Disney+ became the go-to platform for major ‘Star Wars’ shows, George Lucas was already contemplating bringing the galaxy far, far away to television. According to Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed Emperor Palpatine, Lucas once envisioned a TV series that would delve into the rise and influence of the iconic Sith villain.

McDiarmid shared this intriguing story during his appearance at Spacecon San Antonio 2026, as reported by The Popverse. He recounted that Lucas approached him years ago with a concept for a series that would explore the behind-the-scenes events surrounding Palpatine.

At that time, a ‘Star Wars’ television series was an unexpected notion, making Lucas’ idea feel quite distinct from the franchise’s current trajectory.

During a lunch meeting, McDiarmid recalled a conversation with Lucas. “[George Lucas] was talking about, I think I can tell you now, a television series,” the actor shared. “At the time we didn’t think about ‘Star Wars’ in terms of television series. Very speculative.”

According to McDiarmid, Lucas envisioned the show following Palpatine’s journey as Emperor, exploring his political ascent. The actor likened the concept to the narratives of historical dictators and their methods of gaining and maintaining power.

“We had lunch one day, and he said I’ve got this idea, and I hope you might want to be involved. We could sort of follow the Emperor’s progress, like Hitler’s, some of that,” McDiarmid explained. He mentioned that the story could have included significant events, such as assassination attempts on Palpatine. “There might be an assassination attempt, and of course it wouldn’t succeed. It sounded really exciting,” he said.

The project could have held special significance for McDiarmid, as Lucas also suggested he might direct an episode of the series. “And he also said that maybe you could direct one, and then I fainted. But sadly, that didn’t come to pass,” the actor shared.

It remains uncertain whether this Palpatine series was linked to another unfinished Lucas project titled ‘Star Wars: Underworld.’ That planned series was expected to unfold between the prequel and original trilogies, focusing on crime and politics in the galaxy. However, McDiarmid’s comments suggest that Lucas may have had a distinct idea centered solely on the Emperor.

While fans never witnessed Lucas’ Palpatine series, some aspects of that concept have emerged in later ‘Star Wars’ projects. For instance, the Disney+ series ‘Andor’ examined the inner workings of the Empire and its political landscape, although Emperor Palpatine himself did not appear in the show.

McDiarmid has reprised his role multiple times since the original films, appearing as Palpatine in the Disney+ series ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ and later in the film ‘Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.’

The ‘Star Wars’ franchise continues to grow, with more movies and shows on the horizon. Upcoming major projects include the second season of ‘Ahsoka,’ expected in early 2027, and ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu,’ which will bring these beloved characters back to the big screen.

Although Lucas’ Palpatine series never materialized, the concept illustrates that stories exploring the darker aspects of the ‘Star Wars’ universe were being considered long before the current streaming era.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!