This Scrapped Star Wars Twist Would Have Drastically Changed Everything
George Lucas' original plans for this character were drastically different from the final result.
When Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith was released in 2005, fans were introduced to an intimidating new character.
General Grievous, a tall cyborg who commands the droid army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, first confronted Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi when they boarded his flagship to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the Battle of Corusant.
Though he first appeared in Genndy Tartakovsky's 2003 animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, most fans were not aware of him until his big screen debut.
With his menacing appearance resembling a walking skeleton, his hatred for the Jedi, and his unknown origin, fans were eager to learn more about the saga's new villain.
Though never fully explained in the film, Grievous was a disfigured warrior of the Kaleesh species, cybernetically enhanced and trained by Count Dooku to fight the Galactic Republic and its peacekeepers.
He quickly became a fan favorite due to his unique appearance, complicated backstory, and ability to wield four lightsabers at once.
But did you know that he was originally intended to be a completely different character?
Henry Gilroy, the screenwriter of The Clone Wars (2008) and Rebels, recently revealed in an interview with SlashFilm that George Lucas intended Grievous to be a disguised Darth Maul, a Sith Lord who was slashed in half by Obi-Wan at the end of Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
Although it would have made a great plot twist, fans are grateful that Lucas backed away from the idea.
Maul eventually became an integral part of The Clone Wars and Rebels plots, providing viewers with excellent story arcs that won over even those who were initially against his revival.
His dynamic with Kenobi and growth as a character was one of the best parts of both animated series, culminating in a quick and intense duel on the sands of Tatooine.
It also allowed Grievous to become a major character in his own right, with his own unique story, further expanding the storytelling possibilities of Star Wars.
This is not the only case of George coming up with bizarre ideas only to discard them.
Some fans may remember that the first idea for Luke's last name was Starkiller, which frankly does not sound right years later.
Or that Episode VI was originally called Revenge of the Jedi. Sometimes things that sound creative have to be removed to improve the overall quality of the project.