TMDb/Star Wars: Maul - Shadow TV Discover the surprising origin of Star Wars' lightsaber, from its "laser sword" name to its real-world inspiration in Arthurian legend and Excalibur. April 11, 2026 AceShowbiz - The lightsaber stands as the most iconic symbol of the Star Wars universe, eclipsing even droids and starships in cultural significance. Originally dubbed "laser swords" by George Lucas, the name was changed to "lightsabers" by Alan Dean Foster, the ghostwriter of the first Star Wars novelization and the 1978 tie-in novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye.