Luke Starkiller Became Luke Skywalker

George Lucas originally named the main character of Star Wars Luke Starkiller, and scripts written between 1973 and March 1976 also used the surname for Luke's father. After production began, Lucas changed Starkiller to Skywalker because people on set associated the name with American cult leader Charles Manson and the murders committed by his followers. Lucas later said the name carried "very unpleasant connotations," while "Starkiller" could also sound like "celebrity killer" during renewed media coverage of Manson.

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