Ronald D. Moore’s Journey With Star Wars

Recently, Star Wars producer Rick McCallum discussed the legendary unreleased show, while writer/producer Ronald D. Moore shared his unique experiences with the project on The Sackhoff Show, hosted by Katee Sackhoff, known for her role as Bo-Katan.

The Call from George Lucas

Moore reflected on his unexpected call from George Lucas during a pivotal moment in his career. “Galactica was winding down, and Caprica was just starting when I received a call about a potential collaboration on a live-action Star Wars series,” he recalled.

He explained that Lucas envisioned an international team of writers, and he was one of several assembled at Skywalker Ranch for collaborative story development. “We’d gather for weekends or weeks, break down stories, and then take time to draft scripts before regrouping to refine our work,” Moore elaborated.

The Ambitious Scope of Star Wars Underworld

Over the course of one to two years, the team crafted an impressive number of scripts, totaling around 48 to 50 episodes. Moore noted, “At one point, George was ready to produce the scripts out of pocket and then take them to a network, offering them a finished product with no revisions allowed.”

The Challenges of Production

Unfortunately, the financial feasibility of the series posed significant challenges, which led to its eventual cancellation. After Lucas sold Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise to Disney, the dream of bringing Star Wars Underworld to life faded away.

Memorable Experiences in the Writer’s Room

Despite the project’s status, Moore values his time writing for Star Wars, particularly the dynamic he had with George Lucas. “At a certain point, you move beyond the initial awe and engage in creative debates over storytelling elements, even challenging Lucas on aspects of iconic characters like Darth Vader,” he shared, laughing at his own impression of the legendary creator.