According to the trivia on IMDB, regarding the original “V” miniseries... The original premise that was pitched to the studio was that “V” would actually be set in Germany in the 30’s, and in fact be about the rise to power of the Nazis and the fascist takeover of Europe.
It wasn’t until later and more review, especially in light of the then recent blockbuster success of Star Wars that the show was re-pitched as a science-fiction story allegorical to the rise of fascism.
Interesting, I thought.