Game of Thrones Creators Unveil Long-Awaited Insights on Abandoned Star Wars Projects

David Benioff and Dan Weiss, the showrunners of Game of Thrones, have decided to end their silence and discuss their mysteriously canceled Star Wars project. Despite their once thriving success with Game of Thrones, it seems like a distant memory as they were at the top of the world, steering the ship for HBO’s most successful property and a cultural phenomenon.

After their work on Thrones, D&D were set to partner with Disney and Lucasfilm for a new Star Wars project. Despite initially being given the go-ahead for their own trilogy set in the Star Wars universe, their progress came to a sudden stop. The duo remained silent for years, but in 2019 they left the franchise under unclear circumstances. Now, as they launch their first project since Thrones, Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, D&D have finally provided insight into the reasons behind the cancellation of their Star Wars endeavor.

Lucasfilm is taking the Star Wars franchise in a new direction with its upcoming films, but D&D will not be part of the journey.

“We wanted to explore The First Jedi,” Benioff shared in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, marking their first major interview in years. The first movie in their trilogy was reportedly aimed at depicting "the origins of the Jedi Order, its purpose, and the creation of the first lightsaber."

However, the project did not come to fruition at the time. Benioff claimed that Lucasfilm decided not to go in that direction, stating that they "ended up not wanting to do a First Jedi story."

If this all sounds familiar, you're not mistaken. Just months ago, during the 2023 Star Wars Celebration, James Mangold's project was announced. The film was described as a "biblical epic," set to follow the "dawn of the Jedi," 25,000 years before A New Hope. Essentially the same idea, Mangold's upcoming movie closely resembles what D&D were seemingly hoping to achieve years prior before being rejected.

“We had a very specific story idea in mind,” Benioff continued, “and ultimately they decided they didn’t want to do that. And we totally get it. It’s their company and their IP, but we weren’t the droids they were looking for.”

D&D’s return to the spotlight comes in the form of 3 Body Problem on Netflix.

D&D’s adaptation of the tale was canceled, while Mangold’s was confirmed for upcoming Star Wars productions. The reasons for this decision remain unclear and may never be fully understood. However, with D&D’s 3 Body Problem set to debut on Netflix soon, the duo is likely to regain attention, and more information may come to light in the future.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I'm intrigued by the recent revelations about the abandoned Star Wars projects of Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and Dan Weiss. It's fascinating to learn about their vision for a trilogy exploring the origins of the Jedi Order and the creation of the first lightsaber. The concept of a "biblical epic" set 25,000 years before A New Hope, as revealed in James Mangold's upcoming project, sounds incredibly captivating and aligns closely with what Benioff and Weiss had in mind. It's unfortunate that their specific story idea wasn't pursued, but I understand that Lucasfilm has its own creative direction for the franchise.

However, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment and curiosity about what could have been. Benioff and Weiss proved their storytelling prowess with Game of Thrones, and their unique perspective could have brought something fresh and exciting to the Star Wars universe. The fact that their project was canceled while a similar concept is now being developed by another filmmaker raises questions about the decision-making process at Lucasfilm. As a fan, I would have loved to see Benioff and Weiss's vision come to life, and I hope that more details about the cancellation and the reasons behind it will be revealed in the future.