Maybe… but Skywalker was definitely originally called Starkiller back in the 70s before Lucas changed it to a more positive sounding name. It was in one of the original scripts.
EDIT, from Wiki:
George Lucas considered various characterizations for the protagonist of the original Star Wars film.[s] The possibilities included a 60-year-old grizzled war hero, a Jedi Master, a dwarf, and a woman.[5][6] Luke’s original surname was “Starkiller”, and it remained in the script until a few months into filming. It was dropped due to what Lucas called “unpleasant connotations” with Charles Manson, who became a “star killer” in 1969 when he murdered the well-known actress Sharon Tate.[7][8] Lucas replaced the problematic name “Starkiller” with “Skywalker”.[9]
Maybe… but Skywalker was definitely originally called Starkiller back in the 70s before Lucas changed it to a more positive sounding name. It was in one of the original scripts.
EDIT, from Wiki:
George Lucas considered various characterizations for the protagonist of the original Star Wars film.[s] The possibilities included a 60-year-old grizzled war hero, a Jedi Master, a dwarf, and a woman.[5][6] Luke’s original surname was “Starkiller”, and it remained in the script until a few months into filming. It was dropped due to what Lucas called “unpleasant connotations” with Charles Manson, who became a “star killer” in 1969 when he murdered the well-known actress Sharon Tate.[7][8] Lucas replaced the problematic name “Starkiller” with “Skywalker”.[9]
Did they have to rewrite some of the plot to account for the new name, since the hugely different connotation?