51 Years Ago, George Lucas Finished the Starkiller Draft of Star Wars

Long before A New Hope changed cinema, Star Wars existed in a very different form.

On this day 51 years ago, George Lucas completed the second draft of his screenplay titled:

Adventures of the Starkiller, Episode I: The Star Wars

It’s one of the most fascinating “what if” moments in film history — a version of Star Wars that looks familiar, strange, and wildly ambitious all at once.

A Galaxy That Almost Was

This draft wasn’t just a stepping stone. It was a radically different blueprint for the saga.

Elements that would later define Star Wars were already present:

Jedi-like warriors
A galactic Empire
A young hero drawn into a larger conflict
A mystical energy field

But nearly everything was shaped differently.

Names, relationships, and roles shifted constantly in this era. Characters we now know as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Obi-Wan Kenobi existed in early forms — but not yet as the figures fans recognize today.

“Starkiller” Before Skywalker

One of the most famous relics from this draft is the name Starkiller.

Lucas would later drop it in favor of Skywalker, but the name never fully disappeared from Star Wars lore. Decades later, it would re-emerge in expanded storytelling, proving how long some early ideas lingered in the creative bloodstream of the franchise.

Enter Ralph McQuarrie

This draft marked another turning point: it was the first time Lucas’ script was paired with concept art from Ralph McQuarrie.

That collaboration changed everything.

McQuarrie’s illustrations didn’t just visualize the script — they helped shape the final film. His designs influenced:

The look of Darth Vader
The Empire’s aesthetic
The lived-in feel of the galaxy

In many ways, Star Wars as audiences know it was born from the fusion of Lucas’ ideas and McQuarrie’s visuals.

A Step Toward A New Hope

This second draft was still far from the final film.

The story was dense, politically layered, and more mythic than cinematic in structure. Over the next drafts, Lucas streamlined characters, simplified the narrative, and grounded the film into a more accessible hero’s journey.

But this moment — finishing the Starkiller draft — was when the saga truly began taking shape.

Why This Still Matters

Revisiting Adventures of the Starkiller is like looking at Star Wars in its conceptual form. It shows how fluid the mythology once was and how close the franchise came to taking a very different path.

It also highlights a truth about Star Wars creation:

The galaxy didn’t appear fully formed.
It evolved draft by draft, idea by idea, image by image.

And 51 years ago today, one of those crucial steps was completed.

Stay connected with the galaxy’s latest updates!

Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, bsky or Pinterest for exclusive content, mod guides, Star Wars gaming news, and more. Your support helps keep the Holonet alive—one click at a time.