“[That name] was only supposed to be a nickname or call sign, not a proper name from the beginning,” a former LucasArts worker advised Game Informer in 2015, with one other developer who labored on The Force Unleashed recounting how the staff tried to persuade Lucas to present Starkiller a “Darth” moniker, a title that might give their sport’s important character “more credibility.” Although Lucas didn’t typically bestow the coveted “Darth” title to characters until they had been within the motion pictures (with a few exceptions), he agreed with The Force Unleashed staff. But what these builders didn’t count on was that his instructed “Darth” names can be so horrible.
“He threw out ‘Darth Icky’ and ‘Darth Insanius,’” the Force Unleashed developer advised Game Informer. “There was a pregnant pause in the room after that. People waiting for George to say ‘just kidding,’ but it never comes, and he just moved on to another point.”
Star Wars is after all identified for a custom of ridiculous area names however “Darth Icky” was the place the event staff felt the road needs to be drawn. According to Game Informer, the staff satisfied Lucas that they need to wait till a sequel to lastly give Starkiller a “Darth” title, placing the matter to relaxation. The topic was by no means revisited, per the outlet.
Whether Lucas was finally proud of Starkiller and The Force Unleashed is one other story. A developer at Red Fly Studio advised Game Informer in 2015 that earlier than the staff went to pitch their thought for a Darth Maul online game to Lucas, they had been advised “not to mention Starkiller” throughout the assembly. According to the outlet, Lucas most well-liked to solely check with Starkiller as “that guy.”
It’s no shock, then, that even on the time, The Force Unleashed was apparently by no means thought of a canon story inside Lucasfilm, as an alternative present outdoors of the continuity arrange by the flicks and TV collection. But even when Lucas later needed to throw the sport within the rancor pit, it’s by no means actually gone away. This week, it’s even getting a re-release on the Nintendo Switch.
Sam Witwer, the actor who portrayed Starkiller in each The Force Unleashed video games, in addition to Darth Maul in The Clone Wars and Rebels animated collection, has fond reminiscences of engaged on these video games.