Every Cancelled Star Wars Movie Ranked
4. Splinter Of The Mind's Eye Adaptation
What if, in an alternate universe, A New Hope flopped at the box office? What if the original trilogy never came to be? George Lucas anticipated this possibility, which is why the book Splinter of the Mind’s Eye exists.
Alan Dean Foster’s novel was intended for a movie adaptation if there wasn’t a budget for The Empire Strikes Back. The story follows Luke and Leia on the swamp-like planet of Mimban (eerily similar to Dagobah) looking for a Force-sensitive crystal while the Imperials hunt them down.
Foster wrote the story specifically on a misty planet to reduce set costs if adapted, with Han Solo and Chewie omitted due to their contracts not signed for new movies. It would have taken Star Wars down a vastly different path, reading more like a fantasy than sci-fi. It’s filled with intriguing moments, including Leia duelling against Darth Vader and Luke slicing his arm off.
As we all know, however, A New Hope was a smash hit, sinking the chances of this novel becoming a theatrical release. It’s incredible to have the mammoth series we have today, but it would be interesting to see how the Star Wars saga would have faired on a tighter budget.