The Mandalorian Season 3 Unveils an Epic Masterplan George Lucas Crafted in 1995

Content: The Mandalorian season 3 revisited Coruscant, the city-planet featured in Return of the Jedi and the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Despite being the capital of the Galactic Republic and the Empire, Coruscant has not been fully explored as originally planned. The city, with its towering levels built on the surface, is home to a diverse population from across the galaxy.

In The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3 "The Convert," Coruscant is shown in the New Republic Era for the first time. The episode reintroduces Dr. Pershing, who has benefited from the New Republic's amnesty program and now resides in the city. Many iconic elements from the prequel films, such as the Opera House and the air taxis, are brought back, adding familiarity and allowing the creative team to delve into the world designed years ago.

Coruscant May Have Been Important In The Prequels - But Lucas Had So Much More

According to Disney Gallery: The Making of the Mandalorian Season 3, it was revealed that George Lucas had initially drawn sketches of Coruscant in 1995 that were more extensive than what was shown in the prequel trilogy. Production designer Doug Chiang mentioned that he and Lucas had designed the majority of the planet. However, despite the exploration of the lower levels of Coruscant in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Bad Batch, not all of Lucas' original ideas for the planet have been incorporated.

In The Making of The Mandalorian Season 3, it was explained that the show required the development of seven different settings, including Coruscant. Despite having access to Lucas' designs, the size of the planet required the production designer, Chiang, and his team to select and develop only certain parts of it. Moreover, certain settings like Amnesty Housing were not included in Lucas' sketches, as they were likely designed with the prequels in mind. As a result, the designers for The Mandalorian had to not only adopt Lucas' creations, but also make modifications or additions to create the necessary settings for the episode.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Recreated Iconic George Lucas Ideas

In The Mandalorian season 3, the focus shifted away from familiar locations like the Senate and the Jedi Temple, opting instead to delve deeper into the everyday streets of Coruscant. However, a notable exception was Dr. Pershing's initial appearance at the Coruscant Opera House, which was a redesigned set from the iconic sequence between Anakin Skywalker and Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith. Director Lee Isaac Chung intentionally placed the cameras at similar angles to evoke a sense of familiarity and recognition for the audience.

Although Coruscant played a minor role overall in The Mandalorian season 3, it was crucial in concluding Dr. Pershing's storyline. Drawing on the expertise of production designers like Chiang was essential in reviving Coruscant, allowing the audience to explore previously unseen parts of the planet with the perspective of someone who had originally worked with Lucas in its creation. There is potential for Coruscant to make a return in future seasons of The Mandalorian, providing further opportunity for characters like Din Djarin or Carson Teva to delve deeper into this iconic location.