Star Wars Officially Makes A 49-Year-Old, Previously Unused George Lucas Idea Canon

Decades later, Star Wars has officially made one of George Lucas’ unused ideas canon. When Lucas first began drafting ideas for the Star Wars galaxy, plenty of concepts and pieces of lore were discarded, only to then be used in the Star Wars Legends continuity. Though many of those stories are no longer part of Disney Star Wars‘ official canon, many elements have been adapted into Star Wars’ current continuity, and now, the Star Wars: The High Republic comics have done so once again. The High Republic era explores the history of the Jedi a few hundred years before the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

In both Star Wars Legends and Star Wars’ main continuity, kyber crystals are used to power a Jedi or a Sith’s lightsaber. They can also power other major weapons, however, such as the Death Star and Starkiller Base. While the Jedi find and essentially bond with their kyber crystals before forging their lightsabers, the Sith forcefully obtain them and “bleed” them instead, corrupting their essence, which turns the blades red. Though kyber crystals are now an essential part of Star Wars lore, George Lucas originally had a very different idea for these crystals, and now, Star Wars: The High Republic has adapted that idea in a new story.

George Lucas’ Original Kyber Crystal Plans Were Very Different

Lucas’ earliest Star Wars drafts included a version of the kyber crystal known as the “kiber” crystal. Instead of powering a Force-wielder’s weapon, it powers their connection to the Force instead. A small, diamond-like object, (much like current kyber crystals), the kiber crystal could amplify a Force-users’ power on either side of the spectrum, granting them immeasurable strength and abilities. Though this piece of lore was never implemented in George Lucas’ Star Wars movies, it later became an important part of a Star Wars Legends novel, Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster.

In the novel, Luke and Leia crash-land on a distant planet and stumble upon a Kaiburr crystal. This mysterious Force artifact can not only heal the sick and injured but magnify a Force-wielder’s connection to the Force tenfold, too, whether they be affiliated with the light side or the dark. Essentially, the kiber crystal is similar to the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings – an object that amplifies a wearer’s power. Though this specific story is no longer canon, The High Republic has now taken the general concept of the kiber or Kaiburr crystal and made it its own, honoring George Lucas’ earliest vision.

Star Wars: The High Republic Has Finally Made This Idea Canon

In the Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Quest of the Jedi one-shot comic book, an old archive file about a mysterious crystal is uncovered. This crystal was originally found on the distant planet of Angcord. There, the crystal was known as the Echo Stone, and it not only brought prosperity to the planet but gave some of its warriors access to the Force, as well. Naturally, things went awry, as the Echo Stone not only brought prosperity but darkness, too. Angcord’s leader was slowly corrupted by the dark side because of the stone.

What’s interesting about The High Republic’s interpretation of Lucas’ original idea is the fact that this crystal has, essentially, gone dark. Lucas has always viewed the Force as pure, with the dark side essentially an infection caused by selfish deeds and desires. In The High Republic, however, the Echo Stone is both light and dark. It offered prosperity and life but caused death and destruction, too. This would imply that the Force is made up of both light and dark at all times. As Star Wars expands, so too does its understanding of George Lucas’ original ideas, making the franchise all the more compelling.