George Lucas’ original-draft screenplay for "Star Wars" is set to become an eight-issue comic book series, Lucas Film and Dark Horse Comics announced on Monday.
Written in 1974, the original draft of what ultimately became the epic franchise's first screenplay is quite a different adventure than the one from the galaxy far, far away that was immortalized on screen. Luke Skywalker is an older Jedi general, while charismatic smuggler Han Solo is a lizard-type alien. The story’s main protagonist is named Annikin Starkiller.
There aren’t even light-sabers. Instead, there are “laser-swords.”
"This is not an April Fools joke," said Dark Horse Comics' Randy Stradley, who will edit the book. "This is a real thing; it's really happening."
The series will be illustrated by former “Avengers” artist Mike Mayhew and will be “adapted” by J. W. Rinzler, who has written several Star Wars-themed books, some alongside Lucas, over the course of his career. It was during one of these encounters with Lucas that led to the creation of the book, according to a Dark Horse Comics press release.
“I once asked (Lucas) if we could adapt his rough draft,” Rinzler said in statement. “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 series, entitled, “The Star Wars,” after the name of the original screenplay, is set for a September release.
