10 Best Star Wars Deleted Concept Art Scenes They Never Filmed

The first outing for George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away went through its fair share of alterations from initial gripping concept art to the eventual footage that would later change the game. And arguably one of the most interesting changes made to the series’ big bad unit came in the form of the weapons they would be using throughout the Original Trilogy.

As seen in concept art for A New Hope that was masterfully created by Ralph McQuarrie, a scene depicting The Empire’s hopeless Stormtroopers wielding the weapon of the Jedi and Sith, that being a lightsaber, was once pitched as a possibility for that first Star Wars flick.

It’s also worth noting that the other troopers in the shot also appear to holding impressive shields, another tool that was ultimately dumped by the time it came to shoot the 1977 film.

Having this sacred weapon be more generally utilised across the galaxy would’ve likely diluted the impressive lightsabers from the get-go. But at least we sort of finally got a big screen nod to this art in the form of former trooper Finn throwing around Luke’s blade in The Force Awakens.