A shocking discarded Star Wars plotline reveals that George Lucas once considered giving Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious) a love interest. This abandoned story, which would have completely redefined Palpatine’s character, was originally part of the canceled live-action Star Wars TV series, Star Wars: Underworld.
Given Palpatine’s ruthless nature and his role as Star Wars’ ultimate villain, the idea of him experiencing heartbreak and betrayal feels almost unimaginable. Yet, Lucas and his team of top-tier writers once crafted a version of Palpatine’s past that nearly made him a sympathetic figure.
Palpatine’s Love Story in Star Wars: Underworld
During an interview with GamesBeat, Cory Barlog, a former Lucasfilm employee, revealed that he had read the scripts for Star Wars: Underworld and was blown away by a storyline that painted Palpatine as a tragic figure:
“They made the Emperor a sympathetic figure who was wronged by this f*ing heartless woman. She’s this hardcore gangster, and she just totally destroyed him as a person. I almost cried while reading this. This is the Emperor—the lightning-out-of-the-fingers Emperor. That’s something magical.”**
Key Details from the Scrapped Storyline:
- Palpatine falls in love with a brilliant but ruthless gangster woman.
- She betrays him and “destroys him as a person.”
- The story would have humanized Palpatine, making him a sympathetic character.
- Writers from The Shield and 24 were involved in shaping this complex narrative.
How This Story Would Have Changed Star Wars
Turning Palpatine into a Tragic Figure – The Emperor has always been pure evil, manipulating and destroying everything in his path. Making him a victim of heartbreak would have dramatically altered his legacy.
Implications for Star Wars Canon – If Palpatine was “destroyed as a person” before becoming a Sith, it suggests that his transformation into Darth Sidious was driven by personal trauma rather than pure ambition.
Would It Have Made Palpatine More Relatable? – While Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, and Asajj Ventress have all been given tragic backstories, Palpatine has always been different—a villain with no remorse or redemption.
Why It’s Good That This Story Never Happened
While this concept could have been intriguing, it’s ultimately a relief that George Lucas scrapped it.
Not Every Villain Needs a Tragic Backstory – Star Wars has a pattern of redeeming its villains, but Palpatine works best as a purely evil force.
It Would Have Been Controversial – Even if executed well, fans likely wouldn’t accept Palpatine as a heartbroken romantic figure.
It Weakens His Power – The fearsome Emperor of the Galactic Empire should not be remembered as a man who was manipulated and broken by love.
Final Verdict: Palpatine’s Mystery Should Remain Untouched
While it’s fascinating to imagine an alternate Star Wars where Palpatine suffered heartbreak, his true power lies in his sheer, unwavering evil. This scrapped romance arc would have diminished his menace, making him less of a galactic puppet master and more of a tragic figure—which is not what Star Wars fans want from its ultimate villain.
