8 Different Versions Of Star Wars Episode VII That Were Almost Made

6. A Sequel Trilogy Instead Of The Prequels

When Did It Almost Happen? Planned during the production of the Original Trilogy.

Much is made of a conversation Lucas had with Mark Hamill on set of the original Star Wars, where the director talked about making a set of sequels thirty years down the line, with Luke in an Obi-Wan-esque position. But while a sixty year old Luke in Episode VII was mooted back than, it wasn't the only planned Sequel Trilogy that would feature the Jedi Master later in life.

Lucas' biographer Dale Pollock was allowed to read George's original 12-part treatment for the Star Wars Saga and, after being bound by a confidentiality agreement for decades, in 2012 could finally talk about them.

He didn't reveal much, but did say the films would deal with Luke in his 30s and 40s. That places the Sequel Trilogy for a planned release of the '90s - when Lucas would eventually start making the prequels. After Return Of The Jedi stopped the series' forward momentum, ending the pressing story, it looked like Lucas was happy to leave the franchise behind, and this idea of a middle-age Luke with it, until an interest in telling the back-story (having kids likely influenced that) eventually brought him back.

What this practically means is that many of the non-essential elements of the Prequels could have turned up in a 1990's Episode VII - Darth Maul vs. Luke Skywalker, anyone?