Pablo Hidalgo Talks About the Star Wars Cartoon That Never Was.
It’s no secret that The Clone Wars got increasingly dark as it went on, and a fan-favorite story arc involving Jedi Younglings was a lighthearted, welcome respite from what was becoming an increasingly serious show. What you might not know is that those four episodes were originally envisioned as a potential launching pad for an animated spin-off aimed at younger audiences, a decision which was considered (but ultimately rejected) by George Lucas himself.
Lucasfilm Story Group maestro Pablo Hidalgo recently had a series of tweets discussing the odd nature of production numbers for the episodes of The Clone Wars – with the short of it being that there are more episodes in the show’s production seasons (25-26) than there were in the actual broadcast seasons (22), thus leading to a discrepancy in viewing order. Nearly half of the episodes in Season 5, for instance, would have been included in a Season 4 broadcast if these numbers had been the same. If you’re interested in finding out more about technical details behind the development of that show, then you can check the beginning of the tweetstorm here. However, the important part, regarding the animated spin-off that ultimately didn’t happen, starts here:
George put them together as a movie & sat in on a “test” screening of them at Celebration, a screening that encouraged parents & kids to go
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) November 24, 2016
Whoops. One important typo. Production season is 26 episodes, not 25. Sorry about that.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) November 24, 2016
@Halabrew Who knows? At that point, you’re kind of at the mercy of the broadcast outlet and what it is they buy.
— Pablo Hidalgo (@pablohidalgo) November 24, 2016
The event in question that this story-arc-turned-pilot-movie-turned-story-arc-again would have aired at most likely would have been Celebration VI – which, for frame of reference, was the Celebration where fans were excited about a different animated series (Star Wars Detours) which would later be cancelled before a single episode was aired. That another animated series was being considered for development around the intended midway point of broadcasting The Clone Wars isn’t necessarily that surprising, but the fact that Lucas was in the process of negotiating a deal with Disney while this was happening is probably the most interesting detail. Had things gone a bit differently, perhaps they could have worked out a deal where they would finish all of the remaining episodes of The Clone Wars before The Force Awakens had been released. In any case, it has been good to see The Clone Wars Legacy give closure to many of the stories that were not fully animated.
Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.
“Had things gone a bit differently, perhaps they could have worked out a deal where they would finish all of the remaining episodes of The Clone Wars before The Force Awakens had been released.”
Doubtful. The show was losing money and Lucas was keeping it afloat. Poor ratings and such.
Hmm… Rebels only gets half a million viewers per episode, Clone Wars had 1.5 – 2 million per episode. I think they were better off keeping Clone Wars alive, rating wise.
Well, there’s other factors there, such as Disney XD’s app and video on demand. They push those a lot.
Also, they might have streamlined the process so it costs less to make, but yeah, they clearly aren’t getting what they want out of it.
But like I said and Pablo has confirmed this: George was keeping Clone Wars alive out of his own pocket because it was a pet project. Disney wouldn’t do that.
The lousy ratings for Rebels is probably why it’s rumored that Disney wants to end it, and try another animated series that is “theirs”. (Rebels was in development prior to Lucasfilm being sold to Disney.) Supposedly, sales of Hasbro and LEGO toys connected specifically to Rebels haven’t sold well.
Source this: “Rebels was in development prior to Lucasfilm being sold to Disney.”
I’m pretty sure it wasn’t, by the way. I think it was thrown together after the sale of LFL to Disney, this I believe has been stated before when it came out – well not in those words – but Disney cancelled Clone Wars and wanted something more OT. I guess you get what you pay for when you want something quick, but at least it kept the animation department open – so hopefully whatever Dave is working on right now is better. They should just adapt the Marvel comics that take place after A New Hope! Half kidding.
I can see the toys and such not selling well, though, based on my impression passing the toy aisles.
George was paying for Clone Wars because he was the owner of the company, just like he paid to make the SW films after Episode 4. IF he lost money on the episodes, he certainly made it back with all the tie-in merchandise like toys, books, video games, ect. He was a smart business man.
Source this please. If you can.
The book: How Star Wars Conquered the Universe.
I asked Uncle Deadly to source it. i have no idea Drew if you are referring to the same source he was.
Regardless, is that an official book? I’d like to see the text/quote.
I believe our source is still the same. And yes it is an official book. I cannot find the quote but I did read it recently and yes it is in there.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Star-Wars-Conquered-Universe/dp/0465049893
I’m not disputing it is a book LOL. I’m asking if it was an official LFL/Disney book, which it is not. I’m not saying this isn’t true, but the fact it is an unofficial book doesn’t give much weight to the quote. I guess I’d have to see it. Especially since you didn’t read it recently and could be mistaking the quote to support your opinion.
Well the book is sourced from a bunch of other reports and accounts and the author’s own research but it’s solid as it gets. Just because it isn’t officially sanctioned by Disney/Lucasfilm doesn’t mean it isn’t true. It’s basically an autobiography of Star Wars.
Maybe. I haven’t seen it to judge and I just know sometimes these books play fast and loose.
Unless it’s got the words Disney/LFL on it I wouldn’t consider it as solid as it gets.
Well it doesn’t. It’s sourced. It’s fact. Star Wars wasn’t owned by Disney. There was been dozens of documentaries and others acccounts going back to before Star Wars was still the journal of the wills.
Whoa… fact? Like I said, unless it’s official I can’t say it’s fact or not, but since I haven’t seen it there’s no point arguing about it.
IT IS OFFICIAL! IT’S SOURCED WITH INTERVIEWS AND OTHER FACTS. MAKING IT FACT. IT DOESN’T NEED A DISNEY STAMP OF APPROVAL FOR IT TO BE TRUE. WHAT AREN’T YOU UNDERSTANDING?
WHY CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT OFFICIAL, IN MOST CIRCLES, MEANS RELEASED AND AUTHORIZED BY DISNEY/LFL. IT’S NOT THAT HARD.
You’re an idiot.
No, YOU’RE an idiot. It’s official.
Says the person who doesn’t understand actual facts, because Mickey Mouse didn’t rub his balls on the pages and give his stamp of approval. Keep working on that outlook, see where that leads you. Good day.
Wow this interesting news.
I’d have watched it. Those episodes were decent.
That was a “fan-favorite story arc”? Eesh, no. Maybe if the “fans” are all 5 years old. The story was aimed at the same audience who enjoyed the “Sunny Day in the Void” episode. Some of the LEAST favorites.
The LAST thing Star Wars needs is even more shows aimed at tots.
i’d personally prefer if they had a show for kids and a show for adults instead of trying to walk the line in between.
I would be up for that.
Star wars legos is the kids show. I would be a little more forgiving of rebels if it wasnt considered part of canon.
well there you go. now if they could just give us old fossils a netflix show we could all be happy. 😉
Great point. I have young kids who totally loved the younglings episodes but would hide their eyes during the Darth Maul shows. Same for the prequels … some parts are so cartoonish adults can’t watch but some scenes are too much for kids.
Nah i hated sunny day but the jedi youngling stuff was awesome.
Lucas was obsessed with turning Star Wars into a lame version of the Goonies by the end. I don’t get it.
the older fans had started to drift away by that point so he probably decided to double down on the generation that like the prequels.
His children were very important to him. He gave up on Directing to raise his kids. I get it. But still. Makes my head hurt.
no sense in getting a migraine over the past. we’re living in a post lucas world now. 😉
which hasnt really exploited any of its potential. its post-Lucas yet were feeding off rejected Lucas’ ideas or rehashes of the ones he commited to film in the late 70’s. shame really. i think Han Solo will be the first truly post Lucas foray into unknown in SW universe
i guess i should tell you that the solo movie was lucas’ idea too. 😉
that I know, but its Lord-Miller that make me hopeful. unlike Abrams or Edwards, they didn’t built their careers working off already estabilished ideas (MI, Star Trek, Godzilla) but rather developed their own style and vision within original feature films and tv series. i think Han Solo will be, despite being pitched by the Maker, the most out of the box and adventurous post2012 SW film yet
Oh man that was a great arc.
I would take this show over Rebels any second, any day.