ABC president Channing Dungey says that the network is having “conversations” about bringing the Star Wars universe to the small screen.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association, Dungey confirmed that she and ABC are actively interested in making a deal with Lucasfilm, EW reports.
“As a fan, I would absolutely love to say yes,” she says, adding that talks between ABC and the brains behind the Star Wars Universe are in fact underway.
“We have had conversations with [Lucasfilm] and will continue to have conversations with them,” Dungey says. “I think it would be wonderful if we could find a way to extend that brand into our programming.”
But Dungey, who replaced Paul Lee as president of ABC in February, admits that Lucasfilm’s fabled secrecy extends even to network big-wigs.
“It’s all a little bit hush-hush,” she says. “That company exists under a big shroud of secrecy. If you feel Marvel’s secretive, [Lucasfilm] takes it to a whole other level.”
Dungey adds that ABC does not “have an official timeline yet” for any potential collaborations, but says that talks are “ongoing.”
Star Wars already has a presence in television with Disney XD’s animated series Star Wars Rebels. But while Star Wars Rebels provides plenty of drama and intrigue, a live-action series on ABC would most likely take the galaxy far, far, away to a more visceral creative place.
A TV series set in the underbelly of Coruscant was conceptualized years ago by Lucasfilm producer Rick McCallum, but was unable to find a network or funding. Still, the existence of the project (which has dozens of already-written and top-secret scripts) has kept rumors afloat that live-action, televised Star Wars may be more than an esoteric Force vision.
Partnering with Lucasfilm for a Star Wars series would represent ABC’s second collaboration with a fellow sibling company owned by Disney. Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. begins its fourth season on Sept. 20.