Again, between Episodes III and IV. They wanted to combine customizable gadgets and weapons with a handful of Force powers. The hero described as "a former soldier who has mastered a wide array of weapons, and has learned to use them in combination with his innate and burgeoning Force abilities". The protagonist was inspired by heroes from classic spy movies, comic books, and even Westerns. He had access to gadgets galore, a tricked-out secret lair, several exotic vehicles, a handful of royal contacts, and a colorful rogue's gallery of villains.
The story revolved around two classic themes: revenge and redemption. The hero initially begins as an Imperial agent, hiding his connection to the Force while seeking out and defeating the Emperor's enemies. However, he is eventually betrayed by his handler, who reveals the hero's Jedi heritage to the Empire. The resourceful hero then goes underground, using his skills and powers to strike back. The Empire, in turn, sends an army of bounty hunters and other villains after the hero, intent on destroying him. While initially motivated by revenge, the protagonist's fight against the Empire inspires other freedom fighters, including Bail Organa and Princess Leia. After a series of successful strikes, the Alliance is officially born.
As part of the team's developing of the Rebel Jedi concept, they began their pre-visualization work, creating short animated sequences to convey the appeal of combining Force powers with weapon use. These animations included a sequence in which the armored hero ignites a stormtrooper with a flamethrower, then uses the Force to hurl that fiery Imperial into another group of enemies, setting them all ablaze. In another "pre-vis" animation, the protagonist freezes an enemy with a carbonite gun, then shatters the frigid statue with a well-placed Force push. They also designed a rich weapon customization system for creating a host of exotic arms and a viral reputation system, which would allow word of the hero's deeds to spread across the galaxy.
The concept was rejected by LucasArt's executive team. In trying to combine so many disparate elements, they had strayed too far from what many felt was the hear of Star Wars: the Jedi.
) so, here they are...
