Dark Horse Comics publishing books based on rough draft of an original screenplay Lucas wrote in 1974
Dark Horse to adapt original 'The Star Wars' script into comic series
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Dark Horse Comics will release an eight-issue mini-series based on George Lucas’ original vision of “Star Wars,” each month starting in September that runs through April 2014.
The plot is based on a rough draft of an original screenplay, titled “The Star Wars,” Lucas wrote in 1974.It’s no April Fools’ prank! Dark Horse is honored to announce a dream project: working with J.W. Rinzler, executive editor at LucasBooks, and artist Mike Mayhew (Avengers) to adapt the rough-draft original screenplay which spawned the biggest franchise in film history!
Three years before his 1977 film, George Lucas put down on paper his first story set in a galaxy far, far away—a tale of fantastic adventures, daring escapes, “lazer swords,” romance, and monsters. A story of Jedi Annikin Starkiller and General Luke Skywalker, an alien named Han Solo, and evil Sith Knights. The screenplay was titled The Star Wars!
“I’m not sure where I first read about The Star Wars—it was years and years ago—but the idea of Luke Skywalker being an older Jedi General, and Han Solo being a six-foot-tall lizard, turned my Star Wars fan brain on its side,” said longtime Star Wars editor Randy Stradley. “I always assumed this would be one of those stories that would be ‘lost to history,’ so getting to work on bringing it to life is kinda like a dream come true.”
LucasBooks executive editor J.W. Rinzler adapted that version as the upcoming comicbooks with art by Mike Mayhew.
In the script and comics, Darth Vader is a general in the Imperial army; Han Solo is a six-foot tall lizard, and Luke Skywalker is an older Jedi general. There is also a character named Annikin Starkiller, evil Sith Knights and the use of “lazer swords.”It's no April Fools' prank! Dark Horse is honored to announce a dream project: working with J.W. Rinzler, executive editor at LucasBooks, and artist Mike Mayhew (Avengers) to adapt the rough-draft original screenplay which spawned the biggest franchise in film history!
Three years before his 1977 film, George Lucas put down on paper his first story set in a galaxy far, far away-a tale of fantastic adventures, daring escapes, "lazer swords," romance, and monsters. A story of Jedi Annikin Starkiller and General Luke Skywalker, an alien named Han Solo, and evil Sith Knights. The screenplay was titled The Star Wars!
Here's what Star Wars editor Randy Stradley had to say.
"I'm not sure where I first read about The Star Wars - it was years and years ago-but the idea of Luke Skywalker being an older Jedi General, and Han Solo being a six-foot-tall lizard, turned my Star Wars fan brain on its side. I always assumed this would be one of those stories that would be 'lost to history,' so getting to work on bringing it to life is kinda like a dream come true."
Here's what J.W. Rinzler had to say about getting George Lucas to give the OK for this project.
"While researching in the Lucasfilm Archives I've found many treasures - but one which truly astounded me was George's rough draft for The Star Wars. His first complete imaginings were hallucinating to read-mind blowing. While working with George on another book project, I once asked if we could adapt his rough draft. He was hesitant. Years later, with Dark Horse's invaluable help, we showed him a few drawn and colored pages of what it might look like. He gave us the okay."
The comicbook publisher has released a trailer for the event, revealing its interpretation of how Lucas first imagined the characters.
The graphic novel will be collected in hardcover and be released in June 2014. A trade paperback will be released later in 2014.
