ABC ‘Taking A Look’ At Star Wars Television Series

ABC is considering a live-action Star Wars television series.

ABC entertainment president Paul Lee has revealed that Entertainment Weekly that ABC is ‘taking a look’ at a Star Wars live-action television series. Such a series has been in the works for some time but has been stuck in development hell because of the price tag attached to the series. However, that maybe about to change as ABC decides to consider ordering a series.

Paul Lee told Entertainment Weekly ‘We’d love to do something with Lucasfilm, we’re not sure what yet. We haven’t even sat down with them. We’re going to look at the live-action series, we’re going to look at all of them, and see what’s right. We weren’t able to discuss this with them until [the acquisition] closed and it just closed. It’s definitely going to be part of the conversation. ”

Reportedly fifty scripts for the live action were were written with Battlestar Galactica showrunner Ron Moore involved with the project. The estimated cost of the series was a huge $5 million per episode!

A Star Wars television series (live action) is more likely to be commissioned by ABC given Disney‘s recent acquisition of Lucas Films – the company also owns ABC. As Disney owns both Lucas Films and ABC if the broadcaster were to order such a series there would be no licensing costs and it would also mean all the profits from the series – through over-seas sales and DVDs ect- would be retained by Disney.

However, the fact that Disney is working on a new Star Wars film trilogy may put pay to any television drama. The company will want to focus its attention, and the brand to, on the new films than divert resources to a television series. After all a new Star Wars film, or three, will likely generate more profit than a television drama.