George Lucas’s Crazy Star Wars Sketches Have Emerged

Although Star Wars is considered one of the biggest brands in cinematic history today, George Lucas’s initial ideas were quite different from what they are today. A 13-page draft of “The Star Wars,” prepared before the 1977 release of A New Hope, reveals just how different the series was at its beginning. Luke Skywalker’s name, Leia’s role, the Imperial threat, and even the core motivation of the story were very different from what we see in the final film.

Star Wars Drafts Told a Completely Different Story

One of the most striking details in George Lucas’s early draft was the mysterious substance called “aura spice.” In today’s Star Wars universe, spice is a significant concept associated with illegal drug trafficking. However, this first draft depicted an unnamed rebel princess carrying 200 pounds worth of “aura spice” while fleeing the Empire with her family. This structure was quite different from the story that begins with Leia carrying the Death Star plans in the final film.

In the draft, Luke Skywalker also appeared in a different light than he is today. Luke, portrayed as a figure protecting the rebellious princess, wasn’t yet fully connected to Jedi mythology or the concept of the Force. In fact, at this stage, the fundamental elements of Star Wars—the Death Star, the Jedi Order, and the absolute evil of the Empire—seemed unclear. This demonstrates the immense evolution of Lucas’s vision over time.

One of the strangest details is the inclusion of a rebel group of 10 young men planning an attack on the Empire. The description of how this group of youths, aged 15 to 18, would connect to the story was quite bizarre. Some of the language used in the draft is far removed from the classic Star Wars tone of today. The use of the phrase “strange and erotic aliens” in one scene clearly shows how raw and disorganized Lucas’s initial ideas were.

This early draft serves as a reminder of the immense creative process behind Star Wars’ current success. Although the initial ideas contained many bizarre and disjointed elements, over time concepts such as the Force, Jedi lore, the Death Star, Darth Vader, and the Empire took shape. Ultimately, this resulted in a universe that changed cinematic history. George Lucas’s early drafts stand as an interesting testament to how great ideas can sometimes originate from quite complex and crazy beginnings.

Read More: Horror Game Itch.io is Now Free