Are STAR WARS Shows Coming to Netflix?!


Lucasfilm-Logo

Back when Disney bought Lucasfilm for $4Bn in 2012 there was so much speculation about what they would do with the property. We knew another Star Wars trilogy was coming (completely setting the interwebs ablaze), but rather than rush into stuff for the sake of money we’ve seen that the company have taken their time with the character from a galaxy far, far away.

It was only last year that we got our first Disney-produced product: Star Wars Rebels, an (pretty good) animated series set inbetween Episodes III-IV. Following on this year is of course J.J. Abrams’ The Force Awakens, which I think just about everybody is excited for. As well as the new trilogy Lucasfilm are also ramping up production on a bunch of spin-off films dubbed “Anthology” movies. Rogue One hits next Christmas from Godzilla director Gareth Edwards and is about stealing the plans to the Death Star, and a Han Solo prequel is coming in 2018 from Phil Lord and Chris Miler, the Lego Movie guys. However, one thing which has been in gestation for quite a while but is yet to come to fruition is a live-action TV show.

A very long time ago George Lucas was working on a show called Star Wars: Underworld set inbetween Episodes III-IV (there seems to be a recurring theme here) about bounty hunters. It would be dark and gritty and hundreds of scripts were written but apparently the budget was too high. ABC were very interested in developing a TV show for some time. Earlier this year there were rumours that a live-action show is coming, but nobody at the studio knew when or how. Now that same site is reporting there won’t be just one live-action show – there’s gonna be three, and they’re all landing on Netflix.

star wars netflix

Apparently the idea is to strike a similar deal to what Marvel has – Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Defenders – because that first show was so successful that it convinced Disney to chat with the online streaming service rather than go with one of its own networks (like ABC). What will they be about? Well, Cinelinx has no idea, which is a shame.

Disney and Netflix have a pre-existing relationship, too. When The Clone Wars was axed the service agreed to broadcast its sixth and final season, and Marvel is obviously owned by Disney. Netflix represents opportunites to produce all kinds of shows with little to no restrictions on content; if it was on ABC then there would be a 24-episode order, the sets would look like plastic and most of it would be crap. I’m looking at you, Agents of SHIELD Season 1.

Even if this report is a load of bull then a Star Wars live-action TV show is probably in development, be it one show or three, on Netflix or on ABC. There’s just too much money to be made from it and Disney would be idiots to balk at the chance – which they’re not. I’m placing my bets on a program finding a home at Netflix, and I for one hope it happens much sooner rather than later.