Star Wars Insider (Special Edition 2019)

FORCES OF DESTINY






12








I can’t think of a better message
at this point in time. Some things

are worth fighting for, and your
friends are probably at the top of
the list.
Which of Padmé’s friendships
will Forces of Destiny explore?
There are some Padmé and Anakin
moments, which make me very
happy, because I love seeing them
together. There’s also a great
friendship between Padmé and
Ahsoka, so it’s kind of like getting
the old gang back together! I’m
excited for fans because I know
they miss that from The Clone
Wars. We’re all excited to be giving
them a little taste of that again.

Is there a part of you that is like,
or tries to be like, Padmé?
She is pretty close to me in the
sense that I like the idea of being
a lady, but I also like the idea of
getting in there and fi ghting when
necessary. So she’s pretty true to
me in that sense. She likes to keep
things positive, but when the time
comes, she’s willing to get her
hands dirty. That’s pretty easy for 13
me to step into.

Do you think Forces of Destiny get so caught up that we 10 Ahsoka Tano The animation style of this series
will remind people that little acts forget about those human faces a haywire is so lovely. Padmé and Leia, who is
droid in “The
of kindness are just as important moments. That’s what Padawan Path.” voiced by Shelby Young, all of the
and heroic as the grander I love about Forces of (See left.) characters, I love the way they look.
conquests we often associate with Destiny. It’s about those It’s the kind of artwork that I would
11 Stormtroopers
Star Wars? little moments of human confiscate a child’s want to have framed and in my
I do, and I’m so glad you said that. contact and the differences loth cat (see left). house. That’s another thing that’s
It is exactly what I was saying they make. I’m really cool. It’s another version of Star
12 Discover more
before: it seems like we’re in such hopeful, especially for our about Jyn’s life in Wars that’s unique and creative,
a time of heightened anxiety and younger generation, and a “The Stranger.” but still has the same type of stories
heightened anger, and a lot of show like Forces of Destiny 13 Ahsoka must and characters that we love.
people are stressed and unhappy. reminds us that being protect Padmé
from an assassin.
One of the best ways to change a good friend and having Are you going to get a Forces
the world is day-to-day, when you courage goes a long way. of Destiny Padmé action fi gure?
interact with other human beings. Not just in making your life better, Are you kidding me? Am I going to
With social media and but in making the whole world a get one? I’m going to get as many
everything being in our faces, we better place for everyone to live in. as I can fi nd!



STAR WARS INSIDER / 51




30/10/2018 13:26
SWI2019_044-051_FEAT_ForcesOfDestiny_FINAL.indd 51 30/10/2018 13:26
SWI2019_044-051_FEAT_ForcesOfDestiny_FINAL.indd 51

JO DUFFY’S
JO DUFFY’S
FIVE FAVORITE MARVEL

STAR WARS COMICS!
STAR WARS COMICS!
MARVEL STAR WARS WRITER JO DUFFY:
“I frankly loved many, if not most, of my own issues. By and large, excusing the exceedingly rare
uncongenial collaboration or unexpectedly leaden execution, things turned out much as
I envisioned. I loved Star Wars, and those characters were like good friends to me,
if not a weird, extended family. Let’s face it: I was lucky enough to work
with an amazing array of wonderful artists.”








“SILENT DRIFTING” & “ELLIE”
(#24, JUNE 1979) (#80, FEBRUARY 1984)

















































My Ben Kenobi flashback solo story. I was so thrilled to be doing Much as I love drama, action-adventure, and comedy,
a Star Wars one-off, and even happier to be allowed to focus on sometimes you just want to tear people’s hearts out, throw
the fascinating General Kenobi. And then came the wonderful them on the floor, stomp on them, and just generally make
news that Carmine Infantino, who drew so many gorgeous comics yourself and everyone else cry, if you can manage to do it in
I read as a kid, was the artist. It was just a blast. a fair and un-manipulative way. These both accomplished that

52 INSIDER





30/10/2018 11:53
SWI2019_052_053_RED_FIVE.indd 52
SWI2019_052_053_RED_FIVE.indd 52 30/10/2018 11:53

JO DUFFY’S
FIVE FAVORITE MARVEL This is my personal love letter to Chuck Jones, and all of the wonderful Bugs Bunny
“MY HIROMI”
STAR WARS COMICS!
(#106, JULY 1986)


and Road Runner adventures, the insanely kinetic and well-crafted tales he created.
The Hiromi were just a blast, so convinced they were so smart and evil and deadly....
and such utter, craven buffoons. I loved whenever we could work them in, and it all
started here, the first time they appeared.


“RETURN TO STENOS”

#71, MAY 1983)

I almost felt guilty getting paid for this one! More than a bit of
“TAI” it was kind of autobiographical, being based on those crazy,
surreal, barely survivable bits of misdirection and “mess with the
(#103, JANUARY 1986),
tourists” malice Louise “Weezie” Simonson and I experienced
when we were doing either store signings or at cons a few
thousand miles from home. Weezie suggested it might make a
good Star Wars issue, and I had been dying to have some fun with
Lando. I laughed when I was writing it... and when Ron Frenz
turned the art in, I almost fell on the fl oor.










































for me at least; and I think in each case the narrative turned
in unexpected directions toward the end that made the whole
tale great. And Cindy Martin and Ron Frenz both turned in
some of their finest, most nuanced work.

Interview by
DE
DE
DE
D
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
I
I
I
I
DE
D
DE
D
DE
DE
R
5
E
E
5
5
5
53
5
DE
DE
DE
DE
E
E
E
E
E
I
N
N
N
N
SI
SI
N
N
N
N
IN INN INN INN IN INN IN IN INN INNSIDER 535
INSIDER 53
N
N
N
N
SI
SI
S
S
SI
I
I
SI
I
SI
SI
S
SI
SI
SI
S
SI
Mark Newbold
Photo: Alan Light
30/10/2018 11:53
SWI2019_052_053_RED_FIVE.indd 53 30/10/2018 11:53
SWI2019_052_053_RED_FIVE.indd 53

INTER
INTERVIEW
V
W
IE

















THE WOMEN OF





THE FORCE








AWAKENS













Back in 2015, the cast of Star Wars: The Force
Awakens assembled in London to discuss their work
on the movie. Star Wars Insider was lucky enough to
speak to the movie’s three leading actresses.



W ORDS: JONATHAN WILKINS
























54 / S T AR W ARS INSIDE R
54 / STAR WARS INSIDER



30/10/2018 11:55
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 54 30/10/2018 11:55
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 54

“I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT I DID. I JUST

TRIED VERY HARD AND
I HOPED VERY MUCH.”



































Daisy amazing to see people who are so less than two years ago, and I
used to watch buses go past with
established and with a huge
movie posters on. I used to think,
career being kind and generous to
everyone on set.
It would be really cool to see my
Ridley On the most exciting moment face on the side of a bus!
of fi lming

0n filming at Skellig Michael
I’m part Irish, so to be in Ireland
I do remember one of the most
was very exciting; and the
touching moments was at the
end, because I looked back and
just couldn’t believe everything approach to Skellig is unlike
anything I’ve ever seen. Firstly, I’d
that had happened over the many never been in a helicopter before.
months since I started on the fi lm. The weather was stunning. It’s
I couldn’t help but recall all the just one of the most amazing
incredible amounts of hard work, places I’ve ever been. But it was
passion, and energy that have tough. There were many steps to
been given so graciously by the climb. But Colin Anderson, our
On her Star Wars audition and cast and crew. It all just paid off . incredible Steadicam operator,
advice from the rest of the cast… I found the last day of fi lming to was walking backwards up the
I have no idea what I did. I just be the most emotional, but it stairs with a 100-pound camera,
tried very hard and I hoped very was also the most exciting. so the whole thing was pretty
much. There wasn’t much advice awe-inspiring. I was sick on the

offered—there was a conversation On becoming a star last day, so I was feeling a bit
with Harrison Ford about I haven’t seen my image on the awful, but it kind of helped with
anonymity, but really it was just side of a bus yet! It’s funny the emotion that Rey is feeling in
people leading by example. It was because I was working in a pub the scene.



T
AR W
ARS INSIDER
5
/
S STAR WARS INSIDER / 55 5
30/10/2018 11:55
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 55
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 55 30/10/2018 11:55

INTERVIEW


Carrie On working with J.J. Abrams

J.J. was great to work with
because he talks a lot. And it’s

really good stuff that he says, so
Fisher that was exciting to hear. He
remembers everyone’s name and
he’s got a lot of energy. He was
really excited to direct the fi lm,
because he was young when I was
a teenager and so he was sort of a
fan! It was infectious excitement
and real focus, because he has
high verbal acuity. And he really
loved making the movie. Except
with me!



“J.J. ABRAMS WAS

GREAT TO WORK

WITH BECAUSE
HE TALKS A LOT.”



















































56 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 15:28
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 56 30/10/2018 15:28
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 56

INTERVIEW












Gwendoline




Christie








On wearing Captain Phasma’s
costume
The costume was so brilliantly
designed by Michael Kaplan, who
I’ve admired since I saw his work
on Blade Runner when I was 12
years old. I was really astounded
by how extraordinary Phasma’s
armor looked and how practical it
was to wear. I love the fact that
the costume hadn’t been
feminized or sexualized in any
way. It’s practical armor. What I
got from the costume was that
this was a woman who was
imposing, uncompromising, and
high-functioning. That informs the
way that I moved, and the way
that I walked. It all goes to
communicate something about
the character.”






“I LOVE THE FACT THAT
THE COSTUME HASN’T

BEEN FEMINIZED OR

SEXUALIZED IN ANY WAY”















STAR WARS INSIDER / 57




30/10/2018 11:55
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 57
SWI2019_054-057_WomenofForceAwakens.indd 57 30/10/2018 11:55

30/10/2018 11:57
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 58
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 58 30/10/2018 11:57

INTERVIEW


















Telling Star Wars Insider: As creative director at


Del Rey, what does your job entail?
Elizabeth Schaefer: One of the greatest parts
of this job is that there is no typical day. One
Tales morning I might be writing up a pitch for a new
novel, the next I’ll be reading the first pass of

a manuscript, and the next I’ll be working with
publicity to promote our latest publication.
But what I tell my confused family members at
Christmas is: my job is to connect great authors
Elizabeth Schaefer has written Star with amazing franchises, and then help both
Wars stories that have captured those groups create the best novel possible.
children’s imaginations around the What was your first experience of Star Wars?

word for Disney Lucasfi lm Press I literally cannot remember a time when I hadn’t
while also working as a creative seen Star Wars. My brother and I would watch
director for licensed publishing at Del our copies of the 1995 VHS releases over and over
and over again. I remember one morning we
Rey. She shares her experiences in woke up really early to watch Return of the Jedi
Star Wars publishing. (1983 ) for the billionth time. I warned my
brother that watching might wake our parents
up, and he said, “Then we’ll do it real quiet-like.”
INTER VIEW: JONATHAN WILKINS This was the funniest thing I had ever heard in
my 8-year-old life, and I still remember it today!

How does the process from idea to novel
typically work? Does the idea come from

Del Rey or Lucasfilm? At what point is
the author chosen and hired?

The people at Lucasfilm are such great
collaborators, and ideas usually fl ow both
ways. We’ll start talking with them about the
preliminary idea for a novel and develop it
to the point where we have a good sense of
the characters and tone. That way, we can
approach an author who is a perfect fi t for
the material. The author then takes the
concept and transforms it into a real story

with a fleshed out outline, then manuscript.
Star Wars on screen is such a visual experience.
Why do you think it works so well in prose?
The Star Wars galaxy is so rich and complex.
There are literally billions of worlds and
millennia of history to explore. With such
diversity of characters and locations, there
are always new worlds and stories to discover.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 59




30/10/2018 11:57
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 59 30/10/2018 11:57
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 59

INTERVIEW



VONNEGUT,
AUSTEN, AND
DRAGONS…

What are you
currently reading?
His Majesty’s Dragon
by Naomi Novik. It’s
a story set during the
Napoleonic wars, but
with dragons. Sign
me up!

Which author, living
or dead, would you
most like to read a
Star Wars novel by?
How great would
a Jane Austen Star
Wars novel be? I’d
love to read her take
on The Courtship of
Princess Leia!

What word would
you use to describe
the novel you are
currently working on?
“Angst.”
What non-Star Wars
book should every
Star Wars fan read?
My favorite book is Schaefer’s editing work for
Slaughterhouse Five Del Rey has included the
by Kurt Vonnegut. 40th anniversary anthology,
Looking at war and A Certain Point of View (left)
its consequences and the movie adaptation,
Solo: A Star Wars Story
through the lens Expanded Edition (above).
of science fi ction?
Yeah, I think that’s
something Star Wars
fans could get into. I
can’t think of another
book where the
author tells you in You’ve written Star Wars for very young What advice would you give to any young
the very fi rst chapter children. What was the most diffi cult part authors who might hope to write a Star
everything that is in adapting The Last Jedi into a Little Golden Wars novel one day?
going to happen Book? Write. Write a lot. Develop your style with
in the rest of the
book—and yet the Writing The Last Jedi Little Golden Book was original stories. Prove you can hit a deadline
storytelling surprises both exciting and terrifying. I knew that this and tell inventive narratives.
and challenges you would be some kids’ first experience with the

anyway. Everything story until they were old enough to watch the How far do you think things have come
is beautiful, but boy

does it hurt. film. Talk about pressure! regarding representation in Star Wars
Obviously you can’t fit every plot nuance into novels, and how much work is there left

What Star Wars book 24 pages of a children’s book, so I try to focus as to do?
should every non- much as possible on the characters themselves. The first time I saw The Force Awakens (2015)

Star Wars fan read?

I love Claudia Gray’s What is it about Rey, Finn, and Poe that make and watched that lightsaber fly into Rey’s
Lost Stars. It takes the people of all ages want to root for them? hands, I wept. I felt like I belonged. Like
huge confl ict of the I mattered. I still get emotional whenever
Galactic Civil War and Which minor character would you most like I see little girls (and boys!) dressed as Rey.
gives it such personal
stakes through the to see showcased in a novel and why? Everyone deserves to have a moment like
relationship of Thane I think Lobot needs more time to shine! I love that. And we’re not there yet. I’m so thrilled
and Ciena. Even what the Marvel team has been doing with him that this generation will grow up with heroes
though it’s classifi ed
as a Young Adult in the comics. The combination of loyalty and like Finn, Poe, Sabine, and Rose. And I hope
novel, it’s a beautiful tragedy make him such a compelling character. those characters are only the beginning.
story for readers of Plus, who doesn’t want to read a cyberpunk The Star Wars galaxy should be big enough
any age. Star Wars novel? for everyone.

60 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 11:57
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 60
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 60 30/10/2018 11:57

INTERVIEW



SELECTED
BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Star Wars Rebels: Chopper
Saves the Day (2014)
• World of Reading: Star Wars
Rebels: Hera’s Phantom Flight
(Level 2) (2015)
• 5-Minute Star Wars Stories
(2015)
• Finn & the First Order (2015)
• World of Reading: Star Wars
The Force Awakens: Rey
Meets BB-8 (Level 1) (2015)
• Star Wars: The Force
Awakens: Rey’s Story (2016)
• Star Wars: The Force
Awakens Storybook (2016)
• Star Wars: The Force
Awakens Read-Along
Storybook and CD (2016)
• Star Wars Forces of Destiny:
Tales of Hope & Courage
(2017)
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Movie Storybook (2018)











































This page (clockwise from left): Star Wars: The Force
Awakens Rey’s Story, Little Golden Books’ The Last
Jedi, Star Wars Forces Of Destiny: Tales of Hope and
Courage, World of Reading: Star Wars: Rey Meets BB-8
(Level 1), Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Storybook.



STAR WARS INSIDER / 61




30/10/2018 11:57
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 61 30/10/2018 11:57
SWI2019_058_061_ElizabethSchaefer.indd 61

WAR STORIES











PRODUCER KATHLEEN KENNEDY AND DIRECTOR GARETH EDWARDS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON

THE FIRST STAR WARS STANDALONE MOVIE.









30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 62 30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 62

Kathleen Kennedy
in conversation with
producer Allison Shearmur,
Diego Luna, and
Riz Ahmed.






30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 63
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 63 30/10/2018 12:00

ON MAKING A GRITTIER STAR “YOU’VE GOT TO DO ABOUT A THOUSAND

WARS MOVIE DIFFERENT THINGS TOGETHER AND MIX THEM

Gareth Edwards: When we started the whole TOGETHER JUST RIGHT.”—GARETH EDWARDS
process of making Rogue One, Kathy asked,
“How is this going to be different? We need to
differentiate ourselves from the saga.” We started
playing around and experimenting. We took real
war photography, like photographs from Vietnam,
World War II, and the Gulf, and used Photoshop
to put rebel helmets on the soldiers, and give them
rebel guns. We also added some X-wings in the
background instead of fi ghter jets.
People saw these images and said, “Wow. I really
want to see that film.” The studio loved it. They said,

“Just go make that.” That’s kind of what we did.
It was also like being in a war. The fi lm crew
became like the characters, in a way. It’s sort of a
cliché that the process of making a fi lm becomes
like the story you’re telling. In this case, we were
all in the trenches together, like the characters
were trying to steal the Death Star plans, trying
to achieve this impossible task. As a group, we
were trying to make a great Star Wars movie.

ON THE MOST IMPORTANT
INGREDIENT IN A

STAR WARS MOVIE

GE: There’s not an individual thing. It’s not
a case of “As long as you do this, it’s Star Wars
and you’re golden.” It’s more like, “You’ve got to
do about a thousand different things and mix them
all together, and get the balance just right!” It’s
a really tricky thing to emulate what we love about
the original movie, but to tell a different story that
feels fresh. We could have done a very specifi c

genre film and stuck the name Star Wars on it and
said, “That’s our movie.” George Lucas was always
really good at mixing the genres together and
creating this very emotional, mythological story
that just happened to have robots and spaceships
in it. It took us a long time to try and crack that code

and find all those different ingredients that we felt
it needed to have.
ON THE TONE OF ROGUE ONE

GE: We essentially got license to be different on this
movie and take a risk. The great thing about being
a standalone film is we don’t really have to exist for

other movies to continue the story. We could be
brave, and that’s what we did. We were aiming for
something like The Empire Strikes Back. We take
our movie quite seriously, but there’s still a lot of
fun and humor in it.
The story is really about all these different
people from all these different backgrounds that
have very little in common, but they all believe in Director Gareth Edwards
a good future for the galaxy. We are all are better calls the shots on the set
off when we work together than on our own. of Rogue One .



64 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 64 30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 64

30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 65
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 65 30/10/2018 12:00

ON DIVERSITY IN STAR WARS

Kathleen Kennedy: I think diversity is incredibly
important to Star Wars. I think it’s more important to
the film industry in general. I think having a cast that

represents and reflects the world today and having

characters that people all over the world can relate

to reflects that this is very much a global industry.
Films mean something to people all over the world.
[In] Rogue One, there is this group of people who
come together in ways that are kind of inexplicable.
They share a very common belief, and they feel very
strongly in their desire to do the right thing. Every
movie has reasons for casting certain people. I think
what we’re doing today is just being much more
mindful of that.

ON WOMEN IN STAR WARS

KK: I found it really interesting when I fi rst stepped
into this job and I started to think, What does it mean
to be a female hero?
I think the characters of Rey and Jyn are
empowered women that are not necessarily just
taking on male characteristics. They’re genuinely
female heroines. I think that’s really important to the
way we tell stories. I think it will make a difference.
ON STRONG FEMALE LEADS


KK: In this movie, the irony is that Jyn’s not
necessarily just a female hero. She’s a very strong,
wonderful character in a movie, who happens to be
a woman. Gareth Edwards directs
members of the
ON K-2SO Rogue One cast.


KK: Alan Tudyk’s K-2SO can proudly stand amongst
an amazing line-up of droids such as C-3PO and
R2-D2, and BB-8. He’s another great droid in
Star Wars.
GE: We shot the whole thing as if K2 was there.
Whatever Alan did on set was exactly what K2 was

going to do in the fi nal film. Even though you might
think, You can just animate this stuff, you can’t.
There were times where we wanted to tweak
something in post-production. We’d try something
a little bit different to what Alan did, and every
single time, it didn’t work. We had to be true to his
performance all of the time. Even when we wanted
to tweak something, we got Alan back and we
re-recorded him on film and copied his performance.

He is K2. A lot of the humor that’s in the movie
comes from Alan improvising. He was given freedom
to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
There are shots we couldn’t use because sometimes,
when I was holding the camera, I was laughing so
much it was rocking.

Rogue One presents
a grittier side to the
Star Wars franchise.



66 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 66
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 66 30/10/2018 12:00

ON GEORGE LUCAS’ THOUGHTS

ON ROGUE ONE

GE: I don’t want to put words into George’s mouth,
but I can say that I can die happy now! He really liked
the movie, so that means a lot. It was the most
important review to me; he’s kind of God when it
comes to Star Wars!

ON WHETHER THE CHARACTERS
IN ROGUE ONE WILL APPEAR IN

ANOTHER MOVIE

KK: What’s liberating in many ways is the notion
that w e c an c ome u p w ith these s t ories inside the
that we can come up with these stories inside the
s
univ
r
a
r W
er
ng,
e a beginni
y hav
se that r
eall
t
a
Star Wars universe that really have a beginning,
S
and trul
y s
ddl
t
i
r
t
and on the
y s
middle, and an end. They stand truly stand on their
mi
e, and an end. The
own, and this movie does. a
a
,
and this mo
ow
n
vie does.








Your new favorite
droid: K-2SO!























30/10/2018 12:00
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 67
SWI2019_062_067_Kennedy_Edwards.indd 67 30/10/2018 12:00

ASHLEY ECKSTEIN,

THE VOICE OF
AHSOKA TANO, ON
THE RETURN OF THE
CHARACTER TO STAR
WARS REBELS,
CELEBRATION
ANAHEIM, AND

PROVIDING FASHION
INSPIRATION FOR
KATHLEEN KENNEDY.
INTERVIEW BY AMY RATCLIFFE

tar Wars Insider: Star Wars Celebration
Anaheim opened with The Force Awakens
panel, and Kathleen Kennedy walked onto
S the stage wearing Her Universe’s lightsaber
T-shirt. Did you know that was happening?
Ashley Eckstein: No, I had no idea that Kathleen
Kennedy was going to wear our T-shirt [laughs]. It
was such an exciting surprise. I did know that she
bought it, but I thought that she was wearing it to
dinner the night before. So I thought that she had
already worn it and the last thing I expected was for
her to walk out on stage in our tee. It’s like when Kate
Middleton wears something and then everyone goes
crazy for it. I’m so grateful, and I now call it the
Kathleen Kennedy shirt! I feel like she is an icon.
Not only is she a fangirl icon, but I feel like she’s just
an icon for all fans. And if you see Kathleen Kennedy
wearing something, naturally in your head you think,
I now have to own a white blazer to pair with that T-shirt
because she looks so fantastic.

Her Universe offered several new items and styles at
Celebration. How did the new pin-up dresses go over?
It was great. The fans were incredibly supportive and
luckily we had a dressing room at the show. We had
long lines, but everyone was patient. This was our fi rst
foray into a lot more fashion-forward designs, so we

learned a lot and definitely got everyone’s feedback—
good and bad—and we’re going to be improving on
that. It was a really exciting con; the lightsaber skirt
and cardigans were the most popular items.








68 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:05
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 68
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 68 30/10/2018 12:05

ASHLEY ECKSTEIN IS AHSOKA TANO








































From left to “I SAW THE REBELS
right: Ashley
Eckstein; Ahsoka PREMIERE EPISODE
emerges from her
Master’s shadow; FOR THE FIRST TIME
the beginning:
Ahsoka’s debut IN A ROOM WITH
appearance in
the Star Wars: The A COUPLE OF
Clone Wars movie
(2008) THOUSAND PEOPLE!”



What are some of the top highlights of
the rest of your Celebration experience?
The Star Wars Rebels panel with
everyone—especially the surprise
appearance of Dee [Bradley Baker] and
I on stage and everyone finding out that

Captain Rex was coming back. Dee and
I were standing backstage when Rex
appeared on the trailer and just hearing
the crowd roar at that moment was so
exciting. It was so electric, and then to
walk out on stage together with him
was incredible.
And then there was the Rebels
premiere. That was the first time I’d seen

the episode and to watch it with a couple
thousand people in the room for the fi rst
time was really just surreal.
The third highlight was the Ahsoka
Lives Day. It was so special to see how the












30/10/2018 12:05
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 69
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 69 30/10/2018 12:05

fans still love Ahsoka and support her, and to see all
the little girls dressed as Ahsoka just melted my heart.
Honestly, I got goose bumps at the turnout.

How hard was it for you to keep the return of Ahsoka
under your hat?
It was a hard secret to keep. I’ve known the secret for
about a year now, and it’s just been so tough because
I haven’t lied to the fans, but I can’t tell the truth so
what do you really say? When friends would ask me
over and over again, “Is Ahsoka going to be in Rebels?
Are we going to see Ahsoka again?” I would just have
to say, “Well, you know, she’s still alive. It’s kind of too
soon to tell. You know, they’re still writing Rebels. Who
knows? Maybe we’ll see her one day.”
But once Fulcrum came into the storyline, it was
harder to be vague. The fans— who are so fantastic—
pitched up Fulcrum’s voice and said, “Okay, that sounds
like Ashley and the way that she speaks!” I pretty
much went into hiding after that because
I didn’t know what to say. I kind of
avoided interviews, all podcasts, really
all social media about the subject, until
after the finale aired because I didn’t

know what to say about it, and I didn’t
want to lie about it.

She’s not the only character from Clone Wars jumping
to Rebels. The Season Two trailer that premiered at
Celebration showed Captain Rex and Hondo Ohnaka.
What does it mean to you to see these characters
continue to live in Rebels?
I’m also a huge fan of these characters in Star Wars
and so, as a fan, I became so invested in them. We
spent six seasons on The Clone Wars getting to know
these characters so deeply—we really did. They’re
animated characters, but we became emotionally
attached to them. I can’t say enough about
Captain Rex and what he means, but also
Hondo is a personal favorite of mine. So for
































70 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:05
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 70
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 70 30/10/2018 12:05

“FOR THE CLONE WARS TO
END LIKE IT DID MEANS SO

MUCH MORE FOR AHSOKA
AND REX TO COME BACK.”




The Clone Wars to end like it did, kind of on a cliffhanger
and not knowing where these characters ended up, it
means so much for them to come back in Rebels because
we need more. We need more of their storylines, we
need to know where they went and what they’ve been
doing, what happened to them.
Rex and Ahsoka have quite a history. What kind of
relationship do they have now?
They have a bond like family. They really spent so much
time side-by-side fi ghting in Clone Wars. I think Ahsoka
has such a special bond with Rex because he was kind of
like a mentor in a way, along with Anakin—even though
she said in the show, “So, if you are a captain and I’m a
Jedi, then technically I outrank you, right?” Rex quickly
put her in her place and said, “Well, experience outranks
everything,” and I think she respected him from day one
for that and admired that she had to earn his respect.
I think along with Anakin and the rest of the gang, it’s
like an older brother and a family member. So they
have a really, really tight bond and we don’t know what
happened between them after she walked away from the
Clone Wars, but we do know that they’re both still alive,

and hopefully we’ll get to find out more about what
they’ve been doing since.

Opposite page,
from left: Ezra and
Ahsoka make battle
plans; the return of
the (former) Jedi!
This page, left from
the top: The iconic
moment “Fulcrum’s“
identity was finally

revealed to the
Ghost crew!
Left: Ashley models
a handy Wicket bag!












INSIDER 71





30/10/2018 12:05
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 71 30/10/2018 12:05
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 71

This page, right, from Both Rex and Ahsoka were close with Anakin
top: Hera and Ahsoka; Skywalker, and Darth Vader is in the picture on
Ashley models the T-shirt Rebels along with them. Is Ahsoka aware of Darth
as worn by Kathleen Vader as a presence in the galaxy?
Kennedy at Celebration Darth Vader is a newer presence to the rebels. And,
Anaheim; Ahsoka in action what else can I say to that? [laughs] I can’t say much
on the bridge of the Ghost. about Ahsoka and Vader and what she knows and
what she doesn’t know. But I do know that once Dave
Opposite page, left Filoni told me that if Ahsoka and Darth Vader were to
to right: Ahsoka’s eventually confront each other, that it probably wouldn’t
experiences have made be a good thing for Ahsoka. Dave said on the Rebels
her a much tougher panel that, obviously, it’s a natural progression for her
Togruta! Bonding story. If that does happen—and I can honestly answer
with Chopper! you with if because I don’t know that part of her story—
I fear for her because of that looming advice Dave Filoni
once gave me.
If Vader is aware of who Ahsoka is, he probably
wouldn’t like having such a strong reminder of the
person he used to be around.
Absolutely. He is the most powerful, and as powerful
as I think Ahsoka is—and of course I am biased—it’s
still Darth Vader [laughs]. I don’t know how well she
would fair. So we’ll see.
We know Ahsoka is helping the rebels fi ght back
against the Empire. Will we learn more about her
specific role within the budding rebellion?

Ahsoka will continue to remain a mysterious
character. She’s a recurring character so she’s not
going to be a main character in every single episode.
And Ahsoka has questions that she needs answered,
so we’ll see her, but then she’s also going to be
on her own journey getting her questions answered.






































72 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 72 30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 72

“I THINK KANAN AND EZRA

HAVE A BOND THAT IS LIKE
AHSOKA AND ANAKIN’S, IN

THAT IT IS UNBREAKABLE.”




We saw Ahsoka walk away from the Jedi lifestyle, but
she likely received more training than Kanan. Will we
see Ezra wanting to learn from her?
I think Kanan and Ezra have a bond that is like Ahsoka
and Anakin’s in that it is unbreakable, and that can’t be
replaced by Ahsoka. I think how I would almost describe
it is how Ahsoka was with Obi-Wan. Ahsoka and Anakin
were really close, but Obi-Wan was this wise adviser that
Ahsoka almost cowered to a little bit, because there was
so much respect—like he was the master to the master,
if that makes sense. There was like an extra level of
respect there; she was always on her best behavior
around Obi-Wan. She always watched her manners
and Ps and Qs, and she wasn’t too snippy with Obi-Wan.
I almost think Ahsoka will be viewed by Ezra with a
sense of reverence of, “She is this master to the master,”





INSIDER 73





30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 73
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 73 30/10/2018 12:06

This page, from top:
Ahsoka is reminded of her
own journey when she
meets Kanan and Ezra;
a thoughtful Ahsoka; “THERE ARE SO MANY
the return of Ahsoka—
and the rebels—in LESSONS I’VE LEARNED
the explosive Season
Two opener! FROM AHSOKA. I OFTEN

Opposite page, from THINK, WHAT WOULD
left: A strong, determined
Ahsoka faces an uncertain AHSOKA DO? ”
future; Ashley proudly
wears her “Ahsoka Lives!”
T-shirt.


essentially. Ahsoka’s not that, but I’m just
saying, Ezra has more of a friendly relationship
with Kanan with the banter and the wisecracks.
She is the mentor now, and, in some ways, so
are you with the Rebels cast. What has it been
like to be a veteran in both areas?
It’s so funny because I just experienced that at
Celebration. This was the first Celebration for

the whole cast of Rebels. And so backstage
I was giving them advice like, “Okay, here’s
what’s going to happen, and here’s what we are
going to do and here is what to expect!” They all
had several questions. Right before they walked
out on stage for the panel, they were like, “Oh my
gosh, we can’t believe all the fans out there,” and
they were nervous. It’s definitely like life imitates

art. I felt like Ahsoka—I was able to provide
advice because this was my fourth Celebration.

































74 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 74 30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 74

Ahsoka has come such a long way
from the character we first met in

2008. Have you learned any lessons
from her?
There are so many lessons that I’ve
learned from Ahsoka. Sometimes it
feels silly to say that this animated
character has taught us so much,
but she really has. I look up to her.
I often think, What would Ahsoka do?
I feel like she has such a good heart
and such a good moral compass
that she’ll always choose what’s
right, and I often keep that in mind.
But I think with Ahsoka in Rebels—
she’s now back with a sense of

confidence. It’s almost like when we
go to school for so many years and
then when we graduate, we’re out
in the real world. It’s like Ahsoka is
now out in the real world, and we
now see her in her job and she is

very confident in it. I think that’s
what we can take from her right
now in Rebels: Just be confi dent
in what you’re doing and go forward
with the story. a

MORE TO SAY
MORE TO SAY
M
Y
a
or
a
a
nc
n
w
to
cha
e
a
F For a chance to win Ashley’s
fa s s hio o o o o o ns in thi s s s s a r rt
fashions in this article write in
hi
dr
to the address on page 3 by
to the ad d dr e e e ss s on
8
er
We
September 8. We also have a Her
Sep p p p te m ber r r 8 We a al s
8.
C
E-G
E-G
rd
ift
EG
ve
rd
ift
Universe E-Gift Card worth $50!
Uni
r
ift
se
Ca
Ca
C
r
C
ubj
bj
e
ect
e
ect
Use th e s ubj j e
Use the subject heading
ect
e s
t
a L
L
ok
aL
a L
aL
a L
iv
“A
h
h
iv
v
“Ahsoka Lives!”
iv
sok
sok
sok
so
Vi
Vi
e
Vis
iv
e
e
iv
Visit Her Universe at
v
e
iv
H
Her
Un
Her
Her
H
Her
it
it
Un
Un
Un
.he
w
run
he
www.heruniverse.com
www .he run iv v e e e e r r r
w
www
iv
iv
iv
run
run
HA
H
HAVE YOU?
30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 75 30/10/2018 12:06
SWI2019_068_075_AshleyEckstein.indd 75

INFERNO SQUAD




























NEW







FLAMES









Set just after Rogue One: A Star Wars
story, Christie Golden’s new novel Inferno
Squad tells the story of a crack Imperial
unit tasked with destroying what’s left of
Saw Gerrera’s most loyal troops. Insider
asked her about the sparks that fire her
imagination. Words: Megan Crouse



























76 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 12:09
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 76 30/10/2018 12:09
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 76

30/10/2018 12:09
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 77
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 77 30/10/2018 12:09

INFERNO SQUAD






new Star Wars
book from Christie “this is war,
A Golden is always a and in order
treat, but the
release of Inferno for things to
Squad is even
more so as it harkens back to get better, the
characters and situations starting
before and continuing through Empire has to
events that played out in the
win—at least,
blockbuster movie Rogue One.
Star Wars Insider: The book’s that’s the
eponymous Inferno Squad is
made up of the Empire’s best justification.”
and brightest. What made you
want to write about them? —Christie Golden
Christie Golden: I enjoy exploring
gray areas, and one question that
almost all my books touch upon 01
is: What makes good people do
bad things? There aren’t a whole the tip of the iceberg, I loved places. He’s in Star Wars: The Clone
lot of good people high up in the writing her. Wars, Rebels, the young adult
Empire—by the time you’re in that Gideon Hask is charming, but novel Rebel Rising, and Rogue One,

deep, you know what’s what. The there’s definitely a cold, dark, very so I was able to research him at a
characters in Inferno Squad are classical Imperial side to him. Del is variety of stages in his life. We also

young, though. Del is 32, Iden and quiet, with a sharp mind and great get to see different “flavors” of his
Gideon are around 22, and Seyn is heart. When he speaks, it’s usually people in each of those time
the youngest at 20. They’ve been the right thing to say. And Seyn was periods, and how they changed
raised to believe that the rebels quite special because I got to create from the idealists of Onderon
are the problem; that the Empire her from a whole cloth. All of them blowing up droids to the cold,
is looking out for everyone’s best are what I call “good traveling violent partisans seen in the movie.
interests; and that when the dust companions”—certainly for me, With Inferno Squad, I was able to
settles everyone will be taken care and I hope for the readers, as well. harvest things from all those
of—not “taken care of!” This is war, versions and also create my own
and in order for things to get better, You’re bringing something new characters. Who are these people
the Empire has to win—at least, to a familiar era, right after the when Saw is no longer there to be

that’s the justification. Plus, Saw destruction of the fi rst Death Star. such a powerful fi gurehead? Where
Gerrera’s partisans are not exactly What were you most excited to are they left now? It’s wonderfully
good guys. Both sides are proud of explore about this time period? juicy stuff to dive into.
their skills and accomplishments, In 1977, I was 13 years old, and
and are convinced they are on the I went to see Star Wars about a You have a long history of writing
right side! billion times. So there is defi nitely Star Wars books and other novels.
a special place in my heart for What has working on Star Wars
Who was your favorite that particular part of the saga. taught you about your craft?
character to write? I was always curious about what My first venture into Star Wars was

Each of them has their appeal. It’s happened afterward, and it’s an Fate of the Jedi. I wrote three novels
an ensemble piece, so I enjoyed honor to have a sliver of time and in a nine-book series, each with
getting to do point-of-view for all place where I get to answer that. another author on either side. The
the main characters. Iden Versio nature of that project means it still
is the main focus, and I had a little What was it like to write for ranks as the most challenging things
diffi culty finding her, but that’s Saw’s militia now there’s no I’d ever done. It was also the fi rst

not surprising. There’s so much Saw to lead them? Was he still project I did after my father passed
to mine there, and she is very an important character for you? away. It really helped give me

good at keeping things locked Absolutely! We don’t get to see a lot confidence in myself and my work,
away. Once I “got” her though, of Saw in action, but when we do so I could tell myself, “Hey, I did
and realized how much was just see him, he’s in lots of different that, I can do this,” going forward.



78 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 12:09
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 78 30/10/2018 12:09
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 78

INFERNO SQUAD







02 01 The stunning
cover art for
Star Wars
Battlefront II:
Inferno Squad.
02 While not in
the book,
Saw’s legacy
lives on through
his militant
partisans.




What’s your favorite part of
writing Star Wars novels?
I love how the thrill of “I am
writing Star Wars!” never goes
away. Plus the folks at Del Rey
and Lucasfilm are always

100-percent supportive of me
and my work. It makes for a
wonderful environment: to be
creative with people who know
how to navigate the challenges
of this giant shared world.
You’ve written more than 50
novels. How do you produce
so much so quickly?
Well, it’s been 25 years, so I’m not
as fast as some authors! My fi rst
professional fiction project was

Ravenloft: Vampire of the Mists,
which came about when I answered
an audition. I won the job after
writing a sample chapter and an
outline, and then I was told, “You
have three months to write it…
Go!” What was I going to do, blow
my chance? So I hit the ground
running, and I haven’t stopped!
Do you have any tips for writers
working on novels of their own?
You have to make the time for
your writing. Make it a habit,
make it a routine. Work it into
your schedule and do it at a regular
time, preferably always in the
same place. Also, find a scent

that you like—candle, incense,
whatever. Scent is processed by
the same part of the brain as
memory. Doing all those things
regularly will make your brain go,
“Aha, I’m in writing mode now!”
But most of all: don’t quit! a




STAR WARS INSIDER / 79




30/10/2018 12:09
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 79
SWI2019_076-079_InfernoSquad.indd 79 30/10/2018 12:09

80 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 12:10
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 80 30/10/2018 12:10
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 80

COMICS: CAPTAIN PHASMA


























Phantastic






Phasma









The last time we saw the First Order’s
deadliest stormtrooper, she was headed
for a sticky end in a trash compactor. Now
she’s back and with vengeance on her
mind, in a new Marvel Comics series...


W ORDS: MI CHAEL K OGGE































STAR WARS INSIDER / 81




30/10/2018 12:11
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 81
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 81 30/10/2018 12:11

COMICS: CAPTAIN PHASMA




he jaws of a I love to work on Marvel’s Star
trash compactor Wars books, so the answer was
T couldn’t end the obviously a big “Yes!”
careers of Luke,
I’ve been lucky to have had the
Han, and Leia, opportunity to work on every era
and nor did of Star Wars—the fi ve-issue series
they do for the First Order’s lead Obi-Wan & Anakin in the prequel
stormtrooper, Captain Phasma. era, Shattered Empire and The
In a new, four-issue series from Screaming Citadel during the
Marvel Comics, the warrior woman classic trilogy, and now Captain
in gleaming armor rescues herself Phasma in the new “sequel” era.
from the refuse of Starkiller Base
and retakes her command. Star Kelly Thompson: I wrote Marvel’s
Wars Insider spoke with artist second Star Wars Annual and was
Marco Checchetto and writer Kelly in the process of trying to pitch
Thompson about the character’s another Star Wars story to Jordan
comic continuation. and Heather. We couldn’t get that
off the ground, but they offered
Star Wars Insider: Let’s start at the me Phasma, which was, of course,
beginning. How did you come to a dream-come-true opportunity
work on Captain Phasma? that I jumped on immediately.
Marco Checchetto: I was working 01
on Star Wars: The Screaming What role has Star Wars played
Citadel when my editors at Marvel, in your creative lives? What makes this new adventure

Jordan White and Heather Antos, MC: The first time I saw Star Wars for Phasma stand out?
asked me if I was interested in I was child. I only saw the scene KT: The parameters for this story
working on another Star Wars where Luke saves Leia in A New are quite strict, as our mission was
miniseries. I had a lot of fun Hope. It was love at first sight. I’m to tell the story of Phasma that

drawing The Screaming Citadel, a fan because George Lucas showed bridges the gap between The Force
which is wonderfully written by me not a story, not a world, but an Awakens and The Last Jedi.
Kieron Gillen and Jason Aaron, and incredible new galaxy. In pitching, the goal for me

was figuring out what Phasma’s
KT: The original Star Wars fi lms are priorities would be. And since
01 The comic takes in some some of my earliest fi lm memories, Phasma is always looking out for
strange new worlds—and etched indelibly on my brain. Like number one, her priority becomes
monstrous creatures.
so many other fans, they sparked escaping Starkiller Base alive and
02 Checcetto expertly uses my very early creativity and a deep making sure that the destruction
angles to convey a masked and lasting love of sci-fi and of the base cannot be traced back
character’s emotions.
fantasy. Funny stories? Well, I did to her. She hunts down the one
03 The comic will find Phasma have my first kiss—six years old, person inside the First Order who

escape the trash compactor
and hunt down her enemies. very chaste—in a living room she suspects knows that she lowered
(See opposite page.) while watching A New Hope! the shields, and she is completely
focused on that goal. That gave us
02
a really great chase element to our
story that has real stakes and
potentially devastating effects for
Phasma and others.

Marco, you’ve been drawing the
likes of Daredevil for a decade
now. How does drawing Star Wars
differ from a superhero comic?
MC: Wow, 10 years! And it still
seems I’m the new guy here!
For me Star Wars is more
difficult to draw than a superhero

comic. You have to stay very close
to the look of the actors, and it’s
not good if a reader can’t recognize



82 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 12:11
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 82
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 82 30/10/2018 12:11

COMICS: CAPTAIN PHASMA
























































































03
STAR WARS INSIDER/ 83




30/10/2018 12:11
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 83
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 83 30/10/2018 12:11

COMICS: CAPTAIN PHASMA




the characters immediately. At the
same time, you have to fi lter the
likenesses through your style. The
right balance of these two things
allows you to create a good Star
Wars comic book.
Kelly, you’ve written original
works like Storykiller and The
Girl Who Would Be King, and
licensed comics including
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.
How has your experience fed
into Captain Phasma?
KT: I’ve definitely gotten a bit of

a reputation for writing complex
women in comics, and Phasma is
definitely complex. But in all other

ways she’s different from most of
my other licensed work, in that
she’s much darker, more serious,
and completely laconic. My
“voice” in comics has relied a lot
on sense of humor and tone, so
this was a total departure and the 04
challenge really excited me.
Phasma is a woman of action, not
words, and that was a tough line survive at all costs, and that often certainly going to try my hardest
to walk. But fortunately I had great includes picking the side that she to work with Marco again.
partners in Marco and our colorist, believes is the strongest. It also
Andres Mossa, so I was able to means that everyone who’s not MC: I always try to stay very near
trust them to help me get Phasma her is vulnerable. She’s a very to what I read in the script, and
right, even with far fewer words dangerous and powerful woman when I can have fun then it’s all
than I’m used to. to be around. easier to draw. The story was so
intriguing and Kelly’s script was
Did you focus on any particular Marco, you live in Italy, and so well written that it drew itself.
themes in the comic? Kelly you’re based in Portland, She has a great taste for spectacular
KT: Survival. Phasma is all about Oregon. How do the pair of scenes and knows exactly when
survival and doing whatever it you collaborate? the artist needs space to open the
takes to make sure that she’s the KT: Seamlessly! I loved working scene. I hope to work with her
last one standing. She doesn’t fi t with Marco and was very familiar again in the future, too!
neatly into the First Order’s with his work before we started.
traditional themes, which I think I had a pretty good idea about the Much of Phasma’s attitude comes
makes her an even more kind of things he was interested in from her armor, but it’s hardly
interesting character. She’s a illustrating: those big epic set expressive. How did that

chameleon. Unlike a lot of other pieces and moments that make influence the storytelling?
Imperial and First Order characters, you go “Whoa!” I tried to lean into MC: Depicting her character
she’s a villain not so much because that as much as possible, to give through her armor was the hardest
of her belief in their ideology, but him room for those eye-popping part of the job at first. The armor is

simply because she’s a survivor. moments that readers love. very beautiful, but also a bit stiff.
She’s fascinating because she will Because Phasma is light on I wanted Phasma to be fl uent in
dialogue, I wrote pretty tightly to the movements but I did not want
make sure we got the story beats to turn her armor into a superhero
“She’s a very dangerous we needed, and Marco kept pretty costume. Andres Mossa and I
and powerful woman close to the script. But I think we studied ways to make the chrome
realistic but not too heavy on the
were in great sync from day one,
to be around.” particularly about what we eye. He did a great job. It was a big
thought was so cool and engaging challenge and I hope readers will
Kelly Thompson about Phasma and her story. I’m like the fi nal result.




84 / STAR WARS INSIDER




30/10/2018 12:11
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 84
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 84 30/10/2018 12:11

COMICS: CAPTAIN PHASMA




04 Phasma’s quest will take
her to some far flung
corners of the galaxy. (See
opposite page.)
05 Getting the chrome effect
on Phasma’s armor correct
was an artistic challenge.
06 The comic will also
introduce some horrifying
new monsters to Star Wars.



Phasma novel, which is all about
her past. That really helped inform
some of the choices we made.
You don’t have to read the novel
to understand anything we’re
doing, but anyone who does read
the novel will pick up on some nice
details and extra layers when they
05 come to read the comic.

What new characters will we
meet in the comic?
KT: We’ve created a First Order
pilot, a new droid, and a First
Order lieutenant. But there’s also a
whole new planet with two
warring local populations and
some really incredible monsters!
What are your favorite moments
in the series?
MC: I really love all of the fi rst
issue, because it takes place during
the last few minutes of The Force
Awakens. There is also a moment
in issue two when Phasma changes
her costume. I had fun creating
her new suit. Also, the fi rst 10
pages of issue four, but I can’t say
why, because it’d spoil them!
06
KT: Oh, man, that’s so hard to
KT: Phasma presents all the same you just how good Marco and choose! I love the ticking time
challenges as Darth Vader, actually: Andres really are! bomb aspect of the fi rst issue,
we’re never inside her head. She’s and the tiny Kylo Ren and Rey
incredibly laconic and her face is Phasma’s biography is relatively cameo! In issue two, Phasma fi ghts
constantly hidden behind a mask. unknown. What do you build a sea monster of sorts, and Marco
In the hands of a lesser artist, that on, other than her armor? absolutely killed that scene. It’s so
could have been a huge problem, KT: Even though I had to pitch cool! I also love how issue four
but Marco is so good that I think and plot the series without a ton resolves. It’s really devastating and
we often get to use the armor to of knowledge about Phasma’s thus awesome!
our advantage. past, I did have some great
The armor is both glorious and conversations with Lucasfi lm that Any chance that Captain
ominous, and through angles, really helped to flesh her out. Phasma’s adventures in comics

body language, and bunch of other Also, by the time I was writing might continue?
tricks, most of the time it ends up later issues, I had read an early MC: Never say never.
working in our favor. That tells draft of Delilah S. Dawson’s KT: I like that answer! a



STAR WARS INSIDER/ 85




30/10/2018 12:11
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 85
SWI2019_080-085_Phasma.indd 85 30/10/2018 12:11

who? what? why?
























There’s never been a character quite like


sabine wren. a confident streetwise freedom

fighther who loves art just as much as she

loathes the empire, she has captured the

imaginations of Star wars Rebels’ fans

around the world.


words: Tricia Barr






























86 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:12
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 86 30/10/2018 12:12
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 86

INSIDER 87





30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 87 30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 87

he
an
he
h
an
an
e
an
an
e
e
n o
n o
e
Wr
Wr
Wr
Wr
Cl
h
h
h
he
he
of
of
the
at
C
Nat
C
C
Nat
Na
Nat
Nat
Nat
kin
kin
e V
e V
n
n
n
n
n
izs
izs
izs
izs
peaking to the National Center Wh he n i t c o ome s o o Reb els , t her r e a re pl le nty of the Clan Wren of House Vizsla, Sabine
e V
e V
pea
ea
ous
f H
f H
H
f H
o
o t
no
o
o t
ous
g
ous
ous
g
g
g t
g t
gt
of the Clan Wren of House Vizsla, Sabine
te
te
te
te
te
eb
r
te
te
Cen
Cen
Cen
Cen
her
, t
els
her
her
r
om
h
ome
o
t c
t c
n i
t c
t
r
Wh
r
r
When it comes to Rebels, there are plenty
s t
o
Whe
Whe
io
io
e
e
io
on
on
ion
ion
nty
nty
of
nty
nty
e
e
nty
nty
pl
al
l
re
al
e a
e a
Cen
ea
e a
pl
pl
pl
pl
pl
re
re
n
re
Sa
e
e
e
e
bin
bi
bin
Sa
bin
Sa
n
la,
n
n
n
bin
bin
bin
la,
la,
or
or
me
m
men
or
r
r
r
o
r
&
&
s
o
s a
&
at
at
tc
m
on
s
r
h
ian
m
ian
an
an
rri
tha
rr
tha
m
s
m
s
s a
t m
ine
ine
m
s
t m
m
m
m
hat
m
Ma
r
d
Ma
Ma
Ma
r
hat
at
at
ati
hat
hat
ha
nd
nda
nd
r
m
m
o
ine
o
lo
or
o
lo
lo
lo
or
or
or
m
m
h t
c
c
c
h t
h t
ne
rr
orm
d a
da
wa
wa
wa
o
wa
ar
r
a
a
fr
e
ct
wa
o
da
fr
a
a
ar
rri
e
rri
for Women & Information
fo r r r r Wo m & Inf orm ati on of female characters that match that trained as a Mandalorian warrior from
n
le
nf
n
e
le
a
c
ch
h
ar
ar
ch
ch
r
ch
ch
ch
n
Wo
fr
rs
r
Wo
Wo
o
W
W
W
al
fe
al

m
fe
r
rs
a
fr
fr
o
o
trained as a Mandalorian waarrior from
of
tr t tr tr tr tr
of
o
an early age. She aattended the Imperial
ea
ear
ear
an early age. She attended the Imperial
mm
el
el
an
elf
per
umm
umm
l
he
elf
umm
per
an
it
S
S
it
it
S
S
it
ar
ag
.S
ea
ag
ea
m
per
age
.
ear
ec
ec
ly
ly
ec
sok
o
ec
not
Te
Te
a
og
og
a h
lo
lo
a h
a h
ed
e
h
e
le
c
c
description—not least Ahsoka herself.
c
hno
e
A
not
no
d
h
h
a
as
g
g
m
g
ial
m
g
ia
y S
y S
cri
cri
pti
c
y S
er
the
og
es
er
Technology Summit early des s cr pti on— no le a as t t Ah sok a h er s s s s s elf . an ea ar r l l ly ag . S S he e att t t end ed the Im per ia l l
on—
er
er
ia
a
the
the
m
on
a
ars
a
a
Academy on Mandalore before deserting
Acaademy on Mandalore before deserting
ha
u
Sin 2016, Star Wars Rebels Bu on n e e t hat t ha sp art i icu l la ly ca p p tur ed Ac a a a a a a dem y o n nM and al lo o o o r re bef or re e d de ser r r t t t t tin g
s p
o
o
Ac
Ac
Ac
d
d
ed
tur
ed
Re
ca
Re
Re
Re
bl
bel
bel
u
u
tur
tu
tur
tin
tin
g
g
cu
u
u
But one that has particularly captured
B
But
g
art
n
n
n
l
ly
lar
l
lar
s
s
i
i
i
in
i
i
bef
bef
201
i
Sta
al
n
e
al
re
b
Sta
in
bef
bef
i
r
r W
W
01
re
ser
re
ars
and
6,
6,
or
W
0
W
d
de
nd
ect
ct
hu
hu
and
and
l
hu
h
ar
or
or
or
nty
nt
i
s
s
t,
th
s
s
s
tis
n
ni
ni
ar
n
n
r
tis
tis
tis
tis
tis
tis
el
sup erv isi ng di r r r ect t t o o o o or Dav e F il lo o o o o n ni ta a l ke d d d d fans’ imagination is rebel and artist, to become a bounty hunter. She then
n
n
Sh
She

sup
supervising director Dave Filoni talked
sup
ati
gin
gin
sup

i
i
isi
isi
si
ima
s
s’
s
ma
Sh
s
re
ed
dir
e
s
re
n
ke
b
b
n
nt
n
n
ng
ng
at
r.
r
n
is
fa fa
e
on
o
on
t
b
bou
me
b
bec
me
me
er
bou
er
m
o
a
a
Dav
a
a
e
b
e
m
erv
a
t
t,
t
t
to to t t t t become a bbounty hunter. She then
t
t
eF
t,
me
e
en
ou
ome
o
en
i
to
f r
ing
jo jo
b
g
g
Wh
abo
the
ok
a
op
had
the
th
p
ebe
ebe
r
t
eb
ebe
ebe
she
m
m
ope
m
r
r
m
o
fr
fr
sma
Sabine Wren. When she took to the Star
f
ope
le
fr
abo
about the lessons he had learned from
abo
h
l
S
e
le
ns
the
u
ab
ab
t
ls
t
ut
a
u
n
ra
ls
ls
arn
ar
Sta
Sta
n
u
a
a
ad
ut
n
ll
ut
Wr
ned
ne
n
ad
d
o
o
abo o o ut the le ss o ns he had le ar r e d d fr o o o o m Sab b in W e n. Wh en she to ok to the S r joined a small band of rebels operating
d
in
ine
d
to
ban
joined a small band of rebels operatiing
u
to
to
to
l
e
ls
e
e
d o
ed
hip
the
hip
u
the
hip
po
the
hip
th
the
po
ari
a
hal
Ta
T
ar
on Lothal under the leadership of Kanan
o o on
Li
ha
Ka
on Lothal under the leadership of Kanan
Wars Show Live stage at Celebration
Wa
er
po
the po o pul ar ty of Ahs s s s s s s s s ok T no in Sta a a a r r r r W a a r s s s S ho w L v ve sta ge at Cel e ebr r ati on n n n n o o Lot ha un n der r t th e l ead d er s s hip of Ka na n
Lot
ip
Lot
ha
ta
o
e
na
na
th
n
pul
pul
pul
h
n
t
t
Cel
Ce
Cel
Cel
ead
ati
n
no
no
e
e l
el
h
e
ead
e
no
br
n
no
y
y
y
der
the popularity of Ahsoka Tano in Star
o
o
na
e
o
der
hs
a
at
de
oka
t
ad
ra
ft
pe
a
ii
a
i-i
er
c
-i
er
p
Sir
p
p
the
Sir
Sir
the
n-h
e
a
-i
ial
c
n-h
c
a
art
art
a
i
ar
—
vo
is
art
—
—a
-
c
ce
ce
c
ce
ial
-
-
r
m
m
s
J
Jar
Jar
Je
Jed
Jarrus—a Jedi-in-hiding after the Imperial-
ft
ft
pe
Jarrus—a Jedi-in-hiding after the Impeerial-
Jar
J
er
er
a
s
a
t
Jed
Jed
id
n
d
rs
rs
Europe, Sabine voice-artist Tyra Sircarar
s:
Wa
Wa
Wars: The Clone Wars.
Wars: The Clonene Wars.
Wa
E
Cl
The
one
Cl
The
W
Wa
The
Wa
o
Wa r r r r s: : Th Cl one Wa rs Europe, Sabine voice-artist Tyra Sircar Jar r r r us —a J Jed d d i- -i i n-h h h idi ng aft t er the I m pe er ial - -
ul
ull
ull
pla
d p
ull
—
ull
ull
ama
am
pla
o
oun
d p
o
o
o
dp
d p
p
pl
d
l
W
ama
—
—
“What we found was this amazing
“Wh
“W we fo ou nd was th is ama zin g was flanked by cosplayers from around san c one d p ur rg e—a nd e er r a S ynd d ull a,
d
ur
ur
was
u
d
a
s
s
was
nd
ur
was
“Whaat we found was this amazing
a
a
was fl
osplayers from around
“W
nd
g
g
S
g
g
g
g
s f
s f
f
zin
zin
ro
e
m
a S
we
w
er
ar
ro
ro
o
a S
a S
s
e
rg
rg
d
e
e
ye
y
ou
nd
nd
ye
d
m
r
r
s f
m
m
y
ynd
ynd
r
r
yn
a,
th
is
th
sanctioned purge—and Herera Syndulla,
a,
sanctioned purge—and Hera Syndulla,
a,
a,
is
a
ankn ed by coscosc
th
is
s
a,

Sa
Sa
Sa
”
ed
” h
”
n y
n y
“
”
Gh
thi
n y
Gh
a
s
s
s
s
s
cr
cr
the world—all dressed in her character’s
r
es
s
bin
sed
act
sed
e
e
e
bin
bin
at
e
at
r
at
Wh
he
e
e
e
me,
me,
har
e s
c
r c
r
r
me,
r
h
in
i
in
captain of the Ghost. Over time, Sabine
captain of the Ghost. Over time, Sabine
“
“
ve
ve
ve
Whe
a
a
he
a
G
Whe
thing,” he said. “When you create a
r
thing,” he said. “When you create a the world—all dressed in her character’s ca p ta n o f f f he Gh t t t t O ve r r r r ti ti ti i me, Sa bin e e e e
ng
O
ou
n
ou
er
ng,
i
O
i
O
d
he
Whe
d
he
re
ou
l d
he
l
re
cr
er
o
a
m
o
strong, independent, intelligent character r r r familiar Mandalorian armor. And as hints came to consider this group (which also
da
da
ili
a
a
gr
r
da
dal
e
r
gr
et
oc
rm
e
(w
(w
n
arm
arm
(w
n
e t
ell
(w
el
o
t,
o
a
a
or
et
n
n
.
.
m
m
lso
,
lso
his
s
s
e
h
e
int
c
nt
nt
nt
nt
his
dal
his
a
his
s
hic
or
hic
lso
dal
d
g
ca
g
ge
den
r
e
e
an
m
ell
lso
camamme to consider this group (which also
an
hic
hic
e t
an
am
an
a
an
e
er
er
er
am
o
h a
h a
h a
n
A
o
Man
am
Man
A
Man
strong, independent, intelligent character
ri
t
r
n
nde
oup
t
i
n
t
i
fa fa
ong
familiar Mandadalorian armor. And as hints
n
n
oup
ige
ige
ige
t
er
n
g
a
g
de
on
n
n
h a
n
n
n
r
a
c
ar
nt
nt
cha
de
cha
am
r
e
d
d a
d
d
ell
oup
oup
A
An
ch
n
ir
dr
dr
d c
th
t
th
dr
es
ear
dr
re
in in
er,
an
s
includes Zeb Orrelios, the droid “Chopper,”
Sab
id
ir
dc
ir
e
th
o
o
ir
o
t
er,
ama
t
re
ir
Sab
re
id
id
Sab
o
es
am
er,
th
es
rd
ama
o
th
t
t
w
ama
th
l
about Sabine’s story in the third seeason of
s
i
nc
an
s
Or
l
as
Or
Or
Or
b
“Ch
“Ch
“Ch
abo
about Sabine’s story in the third season of
abo
“Ch
n
Zeb
Zeb
Zeb
n
n
an
an
l
op
opp
opp
an
p
p
that shows no fear and can do amazing
p
p
p
opp
aso
do
as
a
s
as
a
that shows no fear and can do amazing abo ut t Sa e e e e ’ s s st r ry in th e e e th h h h h h ir rd d d d d d se e e e e aso n n includes Zeb Orrelios, the droid “Chopper,” ” ” ”
an
ry
aso
as
ud
o
o
ut
he
he
o
c
he
h
ut
ut
c
se
se
ut
d c
d
ios
he
ios
ios
ios
re
he
t
do
, t
, t
zin
,t
, t
c
b
c
abo
ut
ut
l
zin
do
do
z
We
dge
We
dge
ent
and newcocomer Ezra Bridger) as something
Bri
Ez
nt
ent
Ez
els
e
B
el
ent
ne
ne
Bri
ev
dg
ik
ne
ra
We
he
and newcomer Ezra Bridger) as something
Bri
Bri
ik
dge
r.
he
s
e
e
s
e
t
a
er
tr
fa
mer
f
fa
me
ing
g
mer
me
tha
tha
tha
tha
ha
ve
ve
h
h
e
om
a
at
e
s l
s l
som
som
f
h
r
h
h
r
things, boys and girls like her. We’ve tried
e
thi b s an d g g irl s l l ik e h he r r. We ’ ’ ’ ’ ve tr r Rebels thrilled fans at that same event, and ne co me er E ra Br dge r) as som et h h h h ing
things, boys and girls like her. We’ve tried
ing
t
s
ing
t
eb
eb
t
t
Reb
Reb
mer
mer
Rebeelels thrilled fans at that same event,
fa
f
f
f
e
eth
e
e
eth
ing
ing
eth
eth
ame
rl
rl
ame
co
ame
as
as
E
E
ra
ra
s
co
r)
E
Ez
Ez
me
t s
ts
as
ve
r)
t s
t s
ly
ld
ld
ld
ld
l
to create female characters who represesent there could be no doubt that her aki n t t t t of ami ly y y . . . .
o f
o r
har
o f
to create female characters who represent
o r
s
s
s
ly
n t
nt
e
l
re
e
e
e
er
e
e
re
aki
aki
er
co
akin to family.
co
co
akin to family.
aki
u
u
u
u
u
o f
o f
u
u
u
ly
ly
er
er
e
e c
o r
o r
e c
l
bt
ami
am
act
act
bt
bt
u
e
u
u
m
am
ami
h
at
a
a
a
tha
epr
tha
tha
act
t
act

a
a
epr
epr
am
h
h
there could be no doubt that her
th
th
t
mal
t h
har
cr
a
of
the
the
har
e
e
es
c
e
ami
ami
ami
ep
k
t
f
a
wh
t
wh
wh
a
a
a
a
u
ca
ca
u
u
a
a
a
te
te
a
sp
a
spi
spi
ca
c
er
her
her
se
Yet despite her increasingly strong
se
se
Yet despite her increasingly strong
de
ca
ca
ca
ca
ca
de
de
ca
c
ngl
ngl
o
o g
og
og
o g
og
og
w
w
w
w
o
og
og
o
tr
tr
in
n
t t
tt
an
t t

try
try
t
try
asi

t
asi
ro
y s
n
ro
ro
ro
y s
ro
n
ro
ro
ro
ro
n
n
ro
ro
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
og
ing
ing
ro
ing
g
og
n
g
pop
ng
we
we
s
s
ng
pop
we
y
y
’
’
p pop
o
y
popularity is onlyy set to grow.
ri
rit
y
rit
be
be
rit
be
y
s o
so many things, because we’re trying to
s o
s o
in
y
in
so many things, because we’re trying to popularity is only set to grow. Ye Ye Ye Ye Ye t t t t t de spi te e her in cr e e e asi ngl y s tr o o o ng
’
s
t
to
to
o
t t
to
e
gs,
t t
gs
tt
se
y
cr
cr
se
e
se
re
se
re
e
e c
e c
S
e
e
create a diverse range of chaharacters..
s
th
ab
abi
th
create a diverse range of characters. bon d w ith th e c re w of th e Gho st t , S abi n n n e
h
, S
s
s
ang
ang
b
rs
bon
act
ang
act
bon
re
bond with the crew of the Ghost, Sabine
e
w
re
er
bon
bond with the crew of the Ghost, Sabine
d w
e r
dw
d w
h
ha
e r
e r
d w
th
s
act
th
har
d
of
of
f c
e o
e o
f c
er
er
er
ith
w
w
e o
f c
ith
st
st
div
a
a
Gho
a
a
Gho
a
e
a
Gh
c
c
c
c
c
[But we’ve especially tried to create]
ll
cia
[ [B e pe cia ll y y y tr ied to cr r eat e] has ye t t t o t ell l th h em eve ryt hin g a bou t t t
[But we’ve especially tried to create]
eve
c
cia
eve
g a
g a
th
e
ll
hin
hin
th
th
th
th
e
e
e
e
pe
em
e
e
e
o
ryt
bou
bou
ryt
em
em
ll
cr
cr
ot
o t
as
ed
cr
cr
cr
to
to
to
to
cr
cr
to
e]
eat
]
eat
eat
eat
eat
ea
e
tr
eat
ye
ied
ye
eat
tr
t t
t t
e]
has yet to tell them everything about
e]
e]
has
ell
has
ell
ell
to
e]
has yet to tell them everything about
e]
e]
e]
ng
re
f female characters that are strong and WHO IS SABINE? emale cchc araactectecteers srs srs thahat aareerer strstrstrstrstrstrstrstrstrong and d d d her past, meaning that shhe remains
s
r
r
ng
ng
re
re
he
he
he
s
h
h
i
re
re
h
i
re
re
her
h
s
tha
t s
tha
tha
her
her past, meaning that she remains
her
s
s
s
s
ong
ong
ong
ong
pa
pa
pa
ong
t s
t s
ong
ong
ong
ong
ani
ha
st
re
ani
ani
tha
tha
tha
tha
tha
st
,
,
m
re
re
me
ain
c
,
me
ain
me
tha
t a
t a
t a
m
ta
t a
t a
an
t a
t a
t a
an
an
tha
tha
ain
st
tha
m
m
ain
I
ft
I
r
epe
n a
n a
I
r
ft
r
at
h
nde
at
act
a
at
nde
er
nd
n a
nde
w
wan
nde
nde
pe
pe
,
n
nt
e
th
,
,
,
,
th
eve
eve
e
e
e
ev
e
e
d
e
e
e
nt
y,
y,
nde
t
y,
y
r
r
r
nde
n
nde
s
e
ft
nt
nt
s
f
t
ft
ft
ft
t
te
something of a mystery, even after
eth
som
eth
som
independent. I want characters that something of a mystery, even after
mys
mys
mys
som
m
eth
ind
a
ind
t
of
a
t c
a
of
independent. I want characters that
of
ing
har
ing
epe
te
act
har
ing
te
ad
ad
ad
tr
tr
ve
o w
e
e
ad
d
t t
bo
are women of every race, every age
bou
a
are women of every race, every age So wh t d o w e k no w so fa r a bou t t his tw o o o ye ar s s s of tr av e l ls s and ad ve n tur e.
ce
ce
ag
t d
bou
v
av
bou
m
S
So what do we know so far about this
ry
so
ve
m
So
so
ve
m
ve
So
m
m
e
e
ye
m
t t
t t
y
ye
so
ad
ve
o w
ad
m
o w
ls
ls
ls
ery
e k
and
and
e k
e k
ls
r
two years of travels and adventure.
r a
r
tw
r
r
ra
r a
tur
fa
tur
t
e
ev
e
f
fa
tur
and
no
and
and
no
fa
fa
no
e
e
his
n
his
his
n
ag
n
n
ar
av
of
t d
av
g
f
of
av
tw
o
w
two years of travels and adventure.
w
r a
e.
w
r
wha
wha
ar
nd
a
wha
e
who
r
ll
ll
r
e
t d
t d
oes
re
wi
oes
tic
tic
tic
es
gma
gma
av
wi
wi
av
ll
ll
ll
ll
v
Se
Se
s
s
d
d
ll
ll
n
r
and every description, doing interesting en gma tic ch ar r a a a a ct t e e e e r, who wi i ll soo ner So wha t d oes Se aso o nT hr e e e e h av e e e in
a a a
and every description, doing interesting
ne
ner
s
nt
t
r,
ner
ner
nt
wha
wha
ar
hr
h
h
so
s
s
so
so
so
n
n
n T
ct
ct
n
n T
n T
ct
n T
n
nT
So
So
So what does Season Three have in
r
r,
g
i
in
er
So what does Season Three have in
g

hr
who
t
t
tin
r
r
e h
ch
ch
who
enigmatic character, who will sooner
soo
soo
soo
ch
t
soo
soo
e h
e
r
aso
tin
aso
o
ev
ev
ar
eni
eni
en
r
r
ar
e
eni
g
th
wi
wi
re
ex
ex
wi
re
re
an
an
er
things and being dynamic.”
t t things and being dynamic.” ex p p p re s s s s h er s s s elf wi th an ex p p p p lo s s s s ion th an sto re fo r r r Sa bin e, and d wh at lig ht w l l
er
elf
s h
an
sh
g
wil
express herself with an explosion than
ex
th
th
elf
wil
elf
wil
elf
d
ion
ion
ion
a
at
ion
at
re
n
Sa
re
ion
ion
n
n
th
wh
fo
th
i
i
wh
w
on
e
o
on
e,
fo
th
e,
n
nd
store for Sabine, and what light will
g
bin
ex
sto
sto
lo
lo
lo
store for Sabine, and what light will
ht
ht
lig
and
Sa
lig
Sa
an
ex
ex
bin
an
an
wa
her
wa
ow
ow
her
thr
thr
it throw on her warrior past?
thr
thr
hr
ow
thr
t
her
wa
wa
her
wa
wa
o
wa
wa
ow
abo
abo
her
abo
n
n
abo
n
her
ak
her
ak
ak
her
her
k
her
pe
ut
ut

u
ow
ow
speak about her motivations? A member
spe ak abo ut her mo o o o tiv ati ti ons ?A me e mbe r r r r r it it it it it it i it throw onon her warrior past? ?

spe
spe
on
on
on

sp
on
s
s
me
me
s
a
ati
A
A
me
pas
pas
pas
pas
pas
me
me
me
me
? A
?
ati
?A
ons
ons
ons
ons
ons
ati
t?
t?
t?
ati
t?
? A
?A
t?
t?
pas
m
mbe
mbe
mbe
m
m
mo
mbe
mo
r
rri
rri
rri
rri
rri
rr
r
rr
rri
or
or
or
or
tiv
tiv
me
tiv
tiv
or
mbe
mbe
m
mbe
mo
or
or
or
m
88 INSIDER
30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 88 30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 88

INSIDER 89





30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 89 30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 89

nd
as
nd
nd
st
st
n
nd
I’m
I’m
i
d a
n
nd
n
nd
a
no
no
no
no
now, and I’m just as excited as
n no
no
no
a
a
a
nd
no
no
a
a
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
nd
, a
, a
ex
ju
ju
nd
d a
THIRD STRIKE! no e w f fa a a a a a a n nd I’ see ju st t t as ex p c c e it ri e d a e e e s s ne e w
the
see
xpe
e
the fans to see her experience new
see
see
the fans to see her experience new
ce
xpe
ce
h
he
h
h
w
ee
c
xpe
ns
ne
r e
e
h
r e
e
e
nc
n
rie
he
he
n
w
o
h
rie
he
h
d
d e
d
nc
nt
d
e
e
an
d e
d e
d e
e
g
things and encounter people from
gs
fr
fr
peo
hings and encounter peoplee from
peo
g
pe
peo
unt
u
e
u
SABINE UPGRADED Dur r r r r r ing th e e e Sta a a a r W ars Re bel s pan el thi i ngs s a s st n n n n n …S nc o o o o unt is bei eo o pl thr fr r us st t t t t
o
e
g
om
om
om
pl
thr
thr
er
thr
r
ing
r
th
s
Dur
abi
bel
h
n
abi
p
pa
pa
Re
i
ng
S
S
s
During the Star Wars Rebels panel
Dur
ng
abi
ng
S
abi
W
her
us
W
… S
… S
her past … Sabine is being thrust
… S
us
el
n
ars
h
ne
n
n
ne
u
ng
ing
Sta
S
g
s
is
is
S
r W
bei
rW
bei
bei
pan
E
Eu
ebr
eb
Eur
ebr
E
ope
te
C
Cel
C
ch
d
ed
C
on
h
n
Cel
Cel
n
at at at at at Celebration Europe, Sircar hinted
os
ati
h
at Celebration Europe, Sircar hinted int t t a a a le ade rs h h h h ip p p p pos it on wh ich
nt
n
into a leeadership position, which
ch
ch
into a leadership position, which
it
iti
C
hin
c
wh
o
c
o
on
c
rs
rs
, S
rs
r
ir
S
C
C
i
on
ade
ade
r
de
pos
o
ar
i
ar
a
p
py
py
py
t fi
py
py
h tha
that figures from Sabine’s past are
tha
tha t t t fi guresresresresrresres from mom Sab ine s s pas t a a a re sh is s s s nt t e a act ly hap py to as s s s s s s s s s ume , , ,
tha
tha
thatt fi
t
gu
gu
gu
p
gu
gu
gu
t fi
t
t fi
py
py
py
ta
re
t a
ex
as
e
she isn’t exactly y happy to assuume,
re
r
re
e
ex
ex
ex
pas
p
ex
ex
ex
ex
ex
n
nt
nt
n’t
n’t
is
is
is
is
is
nt
she
sh
she
she
she
she
n’t
she
s she
she isn’t exactly happy to assume,
om
om Sabine’s s past are
om
hap
om
ly
ly
Sab
S
Sab
hap
fr
fr
fr
fr
fr
hap
hap
hap
hap
hap
act
ac
act
act
act
pas
pas
pas
act
act
act
ly
ly
ly
ly
ly
ne
act
ne
ine
ine
as
as
as
as
ume
as
as
a
to
to
to
to
as
to
to
ume
to
to
ume
n,
n,
aso
aso
n,
n
ne
w
w
w
aso
se
’s
se
a s
se
a s
a
’
a s
’s
r i
r i
of
o
n t
n t
r i
n t
ap
pea
ap
ap
of
of
pea
pea
ort
to
pr
pr
ne
ne
to
to
r
ur
he
he
ort
pr
ur
e
but
es
on
but there’s a sort of pressure on
es
es
th
but
set to appear in the new season,
set
s
set
on
on
set
set to ap p pea r i n t he ne w se aso n, , bu t t th h h h h er e e e ’s a s ort t of pr es s s s s ur e e e e e on
er
er
er
and there is a good chance that these
and
e
e
e
h
e
And
and there iss aa good chance thatthese
hes
and th er e is a goo d c han ce tha a a a a tt hes s e her to get experiennced. And thenen
hes
d
An
And
and
o
And
rie
her to get experienced. And then
th
th
her
rie
her
her
xpe
xpe
xpe
en
ri
d
d
xp
en
e
ge
ge
th
d.
tt
is
.
t
to
to
e
er
ce
th
ge
t
d.
t t
er
e
ha
t e
nc
ha
.
a
is
a
t e
nc
t e
JETPACK could be (or could be connected to) her ba cks to or r r y c ome s i i n nt o o o o o p ay . . . ..”
uld
ba
e
s i
e
co
y c
.”
s i
e
e
e
om
b
co
co
ome
ome
(or
(
co
pl
be
be
b
pl
could bbe (or could be connected to)
b
pl
nn
nne
e
ay
ay
)
nn
e
cks
cks
o
her backstory comes into play...”
e
u
u
u
ct
ct
ct
o
o)
o
)
to
t
ay
..”
..”
ld
d
nt
nt
nt
ld
yc
y c
ld
l
l
ld
n
d t
her backstory comes into play...”
d
d t
cks
d t
dt
n
nt
n
n
Si
S
S
wev
Si
S
a
an
an
t o
t o
S
wev
ll
ll,
M
Most of all, however, Sircar
ll,
rc
rc
h
ho
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
ya
ya
f a
f
a
S
wev
a
a
Mos
M M Mos
M M Mos
Mos
Mos
l
lo
Most of all, however, Sircar
Mos
I
er,
er,
I
I
I
I
he
h
per
he
er,
per
h
the Imperialal-loyal Mandalorians
the
the Im per ial l -l l o o ya a a a a a a l M nd d lo r r ian s s s M M M M t o o f a a ll, ho wev er S Si rc a r r r
the Imperial-loyal Mandalorians
r
o fl
tpack that Sabine uses t
The jetpack that Sabine uses to fl ee Imperial
ial
Imper
ee
je
The
h
h
h
h
mps
mps
mps
h t
h t
h
h
h
h
p
ps
n
n

fl
ct
ps
abo
ine
ine
co
co
ed
ed
it
abo
e
e
e
e
see
s seemed excited aabout Sabine
st
see
seemed excited about Sabine
ed
Sa
Sab
med
me
Sab
gli
gl g
glimpsed in conflict with the Ghost see med ex cit ed d abo ut Sab ine
glimpsed in confl ict wiwith the Ghost
cit
he
n
n
he
mps
mps
he

ne
h
h
st
st
ex
Gho
Gho
ex
Gh
ut
n
ed
ed
e
ed
ut
t Mandal
w
e
w sho
n at
vie
w
o
y
Loyalist Mandalorians in the preview shown at
orians in the pr
L
alis
iel
ne
ne
iel
iel
g t
gt
co
g
g
t
uri
uri
a
a
a
a
a
o w
n
ne
t
co
o w
ge
g
w d
ge
w
r
w d
w
w
r
w d
w
w
te
gt
g
age
co
te
g t
age
get
get
get
age
te
getting to wield some cool new
a
ng
ome
ome
an
ds
co
a
a
d s
d
an
ome
ng
an
o
tin
oo
o
ol
w
oot
ome
cr cr cr e e e w uri ng the te ase r r f oot age e e e e e e e an d d d d getting to wield some cool new
oot
oot
ol
t
tin
crew during the teaser footage and
ase
ase
crew during the teaser footage and
the
a
ne
the
o
a
n
d s
Celebration Europe bears a close resemblance
Cel ebr ation Eur ope bear s a cl ose r esembl anc e
e
at
e c
ec
e c
at
m
sh
sh
n
at
n
at
at
le
n
in
int
her
her
at
at
e
n
e
sh
int
he
int
h
tio
her
sh
at
e c
e
ens
r.
ens
so
tr tr tr tr
e te te
traileer. She alsoso mentioned that her tech. An intense clip shown at
e
c
r.
An
An
A
trailer. She also mentioned that her
A
so
so
She
An
An
al
al
il
il
il
al
ed
a
al
a
li
ens
lip
c
c
il
h.
ned
ned
ned
ow
a
ow
ow
m
She
a
S
th
ow
men
io
th
t
o
th
a
tech. An intense clip shown at
a
a
r
r
r.
She
lip
lip
She
Th
ett
i
e
Boba F
e
orn
6 j
o the Z-
by
n
etpack w
t to the Z-6 jetpack worn by Boba Fett in The
at
the
the
ra
ra
ati
n
fo
fo
fo
on
to
on
e
e
he
Eur
Eur
Eur
cha
ope
op
Cel
cha
character would come to the fore of
ope
an
ebr
ebr
ope
of
of
cha ra c c c t t te r wo uld o me to o the fo re o of f Celebration Europe and the
cha
he
an
an
he
he
he
r
Celebratation Europe and the
cha
charactter would come to the fore of
cha
ac
a
re
re
a
a
a
a
d t
d t
me
d t
ur
d t
d
es Back
Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. .
Empir
Ret
of
k
e Strik
an
edi
th
urn
e J
d
w
d
w
se
ve
ve
se
ve
ow
ve
w
w
w
w
e
e,
d
e
lo
l
lo
lo
lo
d
d
se
se
se
ve
e,
se
se
d
eit
ing
eit
alb
alb
h
ing
ing
re
re
alb
lb
le
le
le
le
eit
re
eit
le
le
ing
le
le
le
l
le
following season trailer revealed
following season trailer revealed
the fight against the Empire, albeit fo fo fo fo fo fo fo fo o o o l l l l l l l l lo ow ing se aso n t ra i i i i i i i le r r r r r r r re e ve a le d
the
th th th the
l
a
a
ing
ing
ing
le
l
le
a
l
pir
pir
fi figghghtgghtgght aga
n t
n t
a
ra
against the Emmpire, albeit
pi
ra
ra
ra
n t
aso
aso
g
g
aso
s
ra
n t
aso
n
v
pir
re
m
ve
aso
p
re
re
the
ain
the
aso
n t
aso
Em
ra
g
the
n
m
The onl y time w e see F ett t ak e t o the a a ir
The only time we see Fett take to the air
ant
ew
ant
h
ant
ant
l
l
er
et
et
l
ly
l
l
ly
l
t
ew
ew
ew
h
h
ew
h
h
s h
ew
s h
ha
w
w
w
w
wh
l
l
l
h
l
S
re
re
re
re
re
re
e
ds
ds
w
ds
l
som
som
somewhat reluctantly. . . tha t S abi ne g get s h er h ds on
that Sabine gets her hands on
ct
som
ant
ant
somewhat reluctantly.
som
som
t
uct
uct
uct
l
uct
uct
abi
that Sabine gets her hands on
abi
uct
abi
er
er
han
at
a
on
on
on
ne
ne
at
at
a
a
han
han
han
at
at
at
e
n th
s
i
n
wh
e
a
Jabba
v

l
i
n h
o
e
e
es
vi
J
s
’
tr
be
tw
ee
in the movies is when he travels between Jabba’s
m
s
n
int
:a
:a
clu
kit
a
e
e
do
e
nt
:a
Man
a
Man
hat
:a
kit
hat
hat
ha
a
kit
ki
]
an
i
an
: a
:a
: a
som
:a
so
n
some iconic Mandolorian kit: a
: a
Man
kit
some iconic Mandolorian kit: a
it
m
an
o w
an
ori
a
o w
a
d
ori
o w
o w
ve
ed
d
nt
a
a
an
“Da
“Dave [Filoni] clued me into what
“Dave [Filoni] clued me into what so e e i co o n ic Man dol ori an kit : a
n
ori
dol
dol
dol
lo
c
ori
ori
a
dol
c
[Fi
. But this sc
ene high

i
bar
Jed
barge and skiff in Jedi. But this scene highlights
lights
ge and skiff in
abe
r
abe
abe
g w
r
a
a
da
nin
nin
mo
zsl
rks
rks
da
n
r
a
war
pp
rks
pac
pp
war
ppe
pp
ppe
jetpack and Pre Vizsla’s darksaber
jetpack and Pre Vizsla’s darksaber
a
da
je j
ppe
ppe
Vi
Vi
Pr
ha
mo
ha
ha
Pr
a
nin
h
h
ith
k a
ha
k a
nd
k a
nd
ha
th
was
was
n
nin
was
was
mo
was happening with more warning
was
mo
mo
mo
was happening with more warning g g g jet pac k a a nd d Pr e e e Vi z zsl a’ s s s da rks abe r r r r
mo
mo
was
was
ith
ha
ha
a’
mo
mo
ith
a’
he limit
ul
er
gea
f
r, as i
w
po
t the limitations of such powerful gear, as it t t
f
ations o
such
e
,
ba
vo
ide
e
e
aso
se
”
ns
than in past seasons,” the voice- - (se e s ide ba ).
se
h
i
ni
(se
(see e sidebar).
than in past seasons,” the voice-
s
(se
he
(see sidebar).
p
ide
bar
tha
t
i
ce
i
i
as
onl y t ak es a w ell- pla ce d ja b f r om the parti al ly
only takes a well-placed jab from the partially
o
rks
to
abe
abe
d
e g
rks
to
actor teased the room full of fans
abe
the
actor teased the room full of fans
ld
abe
the
ld
ho
ho
ets
ho
r,
r,
ets
fu
r
“Sh
“She gets to hold the darksaber,”
d
act or te e a a sed th h e r r oom fu ll l of fa n s “She gets to holdld the darksaber,r,”
e g
e g
“Sh
“Sh
da
r,
r
ld
rks
r,”
r,”
e
r
r
r
r
r
da
ho
to
da
the
ts
the
e r
er
da
ol
S
ett
blind Han Solo to ignite the pack and send Fett
e the pack and send
blind Han
F
o t
o ignit
d a
he
Lon
d a
cla
don
he
Lon
he
t t
ime
a
Lon
cl
ime
ex
don
ex
y
y
y
s
se
y
Sir
Sircar exclaimed at the London
Sircar exclaimed at the London
y
y
Sir
ul
ul
He
bac k k k n J J ul l y y y . “ H use e e d t o s s s s ay, Sir ca r r r ex cla ime e e e e da t t t t he Lon n n n n don
back in July. “He used to say,
back in July. “He used to say,
s
s
s
H
H
s
ca
ca
e plum
o the sail bar
m
ge
or
f
be
m
eening int
ng
ar
eti
c careening into the sail barge before plummeting
w
w
w
t
thi
re
thi
nt.
nt.
thi
thi
hen
he
h
hen
te
w
h
e
we
w
w
w
“I
“I
we
ha
ha
ha
or
r
r
ha
d,
d,
d,
ha
r
d,
e
e
e
re
re
e
e
co
o
o
dt
co
co
ea
dy
dy
mor
ro
m
m
mys
eve
‘Tomorrow, when we record, this s s eve e nt. “I ha d t os s te a a a dy mys e e e elf
‘T
‘Tomorrow, when we record, this
eve
event. “I haddto steady myself
event. “I had to steady myself
eve
o
T
elf
e
e
T
, w
,
w
T
p
it.
i into the Sarlacc pit.
nt
o the Sarlac
c
g,
is what’s happening in Sabine’s life!’ bec aus e e wa a s s t h h hin ki g, Wha a a a a a t t t i
i is
is what’ss happening in Sabine’s life!’
Wha
Wha
t
w
abi
abi
bi
ab
kin
ki
aus
aus
h
h
nin
h
pp
a
p
ppe
a
ha
a
a
s

n
g
st
w
n S
n S
n S
s
wha
s
s
g
g
w
g
bec
bec
b
!’
!’
!’
because I was thinking, What is
ne’
ne’
ne’
because I was thinking, What iss
ne’
bec
s l
if
if
s l
s l
e
e
e
e
e
if
if
e
n
The j etpack made a tr i umphant r etur n i n
The jetpack made a triumphant return in
ve
me
g
r
r
ve
t
me
a
a
This time, he’ss given me a better
This time, he’s given me a better
Th s t ime h h h h e’ s gi ve n n n n me a bet t te er r r r hap pe en ing ? I h h ha ve a d ark k k k sab b er!
t
in
n
gi
bet
t
bet
happening? I have a darksaber!
happening? I have a darksaber!
pe
hap
hap
te
bet
t
te
ve
hap
e
gi
pe
es
Attack of the Clones when, pursued by Obi-Wan
Att ack of th e C lo n es when, pu r sued by O bi- Wa n
m
m
m
I
m

hat
hat
d
I
m
m
e,
e,
e
e,
e
e
e,
in
e
m
m
wit
do
in
e
f w
f w
hat
f w
m
hat
in
h
al
all
l
hat
h
h
h
co
t?
co
co
g o
to
co
co
? W
t?
’s
’
co
co
t
co
Wh
W
?
Wh
It
W
Wh
Why? What do I do with it? It’s all
t
Wh
to
to
do
?
d
do
i
u u u u u u u
und
y
y
y
understanding of what’s s to come,
s
hi
g
understanding of what’s to come,
g o
’
’s
’
’
i
i
’s
und er r r s ta n din g o f w hat ’s to co m e Why? What do I do with it? It’s all
y
’s
’s
K enobi, Jan g o F ett held his o wn in battl e ag ains t
Kenobi, Jango Fett held his own in battle against
a
som
som
som
e
e
e
e
som
som
som
c
c
e i
e i
c
c
c
c
e i
e
which is awesome, because there is s s s pretty exciting!”
pr
pretty exciting!”
whi
e
which is awesome, because there is
wh
s
aw
s
s
we
we
aw
aw
s
c
c
ch
c
is
is
c
is
e,
e
bec
e
bec
m
m
m
e
her
e,
e
!”
e
t
e
b
bec
bec
tty
b
her
ing
us
aus
e t
e t
e t
e t
her
aus
n
cit
aus
her
t the Jedi Knight. The jetpack allowed Jango to
he Jedi Knight. The jetpack all
to
o
o
o
w
ed Jang
Sa
e.
co
or
e.
me
h m
Sa
muc
muc
to
h m
s
so
so
so much more to comeme for Sabine.
so
so much more to come for Sabine.
to
or
so
so
so mu h m or e e e to o o co me fo r r r r Sa bin e.
so
fo
m
bin
mu
m
m
m
bin
m
muc
co
m
fo
Sa
mu
co
mu
ock
om the r
et aw
ay
Kenobi’
r rocket away from the reach of Kenobi’s
f
f
r
each o
s
hav
e
tt
e
tt
tt
e
I
tt
e
e
r
r
a
r
be
e
e
be
be
ea
e a
fe
fe
ik
ik
e
e a
l l
e
ll
l l
ik
ee
e
ik
“I “ “I “I “I feel like I have a betterr
“I feel like I have a better
s
lig
by
Ka
m
m
ect
lightsaber, and seemed unaffected by Kamino’s STEM CELL
htsaber, and seemed una
ff
ed
ino’
is
w
is
w
w
w
is
w
i
i
i
e
n
i
i
w
e
w
i
w
w
w
d
w
w
w
e
e
e
ho
i
ho
she
she
she
i
she
nd
she
she
ho
she
i
she
und
u un
und er s s ta an din g f w ho she is s s
un
is
understanding of who she is
understanding of who she iss
she
w
le
relentless rain. .
l
s r
ent
re
ain
s
In Star Wars: The Clone Wars we learned
In Sta r W ars : T he Cl o ne Wa r s we le arn ed
her
h
h a
t t
e c
o c
he
h
ec
her
m
With all that to come, there can be no
me
tha
t
h
t
Wit
t
ome
h
e
be
b
an
h
an
an
, t
e c
an
no
ll
Wit t h a ll tha t t t o c ome , t her e c an be no o
n
e
b
b
much mor e about the Mandal or i ans , and s aw
much more about the Mandalorians, and saw
dou bt tha t D av ve e e e e e e e e e F lo n n i a a a nd d the e e e R eb els
R
dou
Reb
doubt that Dave Filoni and the Rebels
F
i a
tha
tD
av
bt
e
e
bt
b
t D
l
lo
Fi
Fi
l
ve
ve
bt
tD
e
th
R
th
nd
the
th
the
dou
dou
Reb
els
Reb
d
ous action se
es that a skill
q
i in numerous action sequences that a skilled
e
e
uenc
n numer
h
h
h
us
us
us
u
pay
p
te te a m a re e p ing mo re tha a a a n j us t t t t
re
re
re
ing
a
ng
ng
re
mo
g
n j
g
mo
team are paying more than just
mo
tha
n j
pay
tha
n
n
tha
k
i
an warr
d w
ppe
th a
i
i
or equ
andal
i
pa
et
or
ac
M
j
Mandalorian warrior equipped with a jetpack
c can equal a Force user in a fi ght. .
an equal a F
e user in a
c
or
ght

fi
DARKSABER
How Sabine finds herself in possession of the
Ho w Sabine fi nds her self in po s ses sion of the
darksaber is a mystery to be revealed in the
darksaber i s a mys t ery t o be r e v eal ed i n t h h e
ne w se aso n o f Sta r W ars Re bel s . W hat we d
new season of Star Wars Rebels. What we do
do
know about this ancient weapon, however, is
kno w about th i s anc i ent w ea pon , ho w e v er , , i s
p
i
hat
y w
i
by
zsl
t
that it was previously wielded by Pre Vizsla, the
, the
elded
Pr
a
a
v
e V
re
t was
i
ousl
i
leader of the Death Watch faction in Star Wars:
le a der of th e D eat h W at c h f act ion in Sta r W ars :
W
The Clone Wars.
The Cl one Wa rs .
i-W
d
l
a
t
s
ttl
th
i in
a
a
l
t th
ba
e
Vizsla told Obi-Wan Kenobi in battle that the
a
Viz
n K
o
ob
n

e
Ob
e
black-bladed w
black-bladed weapon was stolen from the Jedi
eapon was s
f
om the
r
Jedi
ol
t
en
T empl e by his anc es t or s during the f all o f t t he
Temple by his ancestors during the fall of the
Old Republic, with the sword handed down
O ld Re pub lic, with the sw or d handed do w n
n
f from generation to generation. Kenobi nearly
ation. Kenobi ne
rl
a
a
r
ation t
y
o gener
om gener
etr
eat
eat
defeated Vizsla, but he was compelled to retreat
f
de
ll
r
o
mpe
r
ed Vizsla, but he was c
ed t
o
h
by the combined forces of Death Watch, which
by the combined forces of Death Watch, which
adhered to the ancient warrior ways of
adhered to the ancient warrior ways of
Mandalorian culture.
Mandalorian culture.
Later, Vizsla nearly killed Ahsoka Tano with
Later, Vizsla nearly killed Ahsoka Tano with
the darksaber when she encountered the
the darksaber when she encountered the
banished Death Watch on Carlac. After striking
banished Death Watch on Carlac. After striking
an alliance with Darth Maul and his Shadoww
an alliance with Darth Maul and his Shadow
Collective to overthrow the New Mandalorian
Collective to overthrow the New Mandalorian

h
government led by pacifist Satine Kryze, the
government led by pacifi st Satine Kryze, the
Death Watch returned to Mandalore intent on
Death Watch returned to Mandalore intent on
seizing power.
seizing power.
However, Maul betrayed Vizsla, killed hhim,
However, Maul betrayed Vizsla, killed him,
o
and took the darksaber as well as the throne
and took the darksaber as well as the throne
of Mandalore. When Kenobi arrived in response
of Mandalore. When Kenobi arrived in response
p
to a distress call from Kryze, Maul killed her
to a distress call from Kryze, Maul killed her
with the darksaber.
with the darksaber.
90 INSIDER
30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 90
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 90 30/10/2018 12:13

ea
ea
e
ea
rvi
rvi
ea
ea
id
le
ce
id
id
id
id
ong
se
st
i l
c
i
ip
omp
rvi
rvi
rvi
of
of
of
of
ce
the
t
the
t
the
the
the
the
to
to
li li li lip se rv i ce to o o o o the id d ea a of st r r ong , c omp le x x x x x x x x x x x
lip service to the idea of strong, complex
to
the
to
to
ce
ce
ce
ce
ce
c
ve
ve
ch
female characters in tthe Star Wars universe
r
ct
female characters in the Star Wars universe
ar
Sta
e
al
in
the
un
uni
r
e
e
r W
rs
se
ars
m
m
m
mal
m
e a
t r
m

an
fe
d i
e
ir
nsp
efl
e
m
m
m
m
m
e
m
m
v
ve
eve
ev
tha
men
men
that reflect and inspire female achievement
men
h
h
h
h
that refl ecte ect and inspire femmale achievementt
chi
eve
the
th
the
al
al
h
h
re
re
r
r
ld.
ld
in in
in the real world.
wo
wo
Sa
Sa
Sa
Sab ine is s s s j j j ju st t t t t one of th e m emb er rs s
ne
i
ine
ine
ine
i
is
b
Sabine is just one of the members
Sab
Sab
Sabine is just one of the members
Sab
Sab
j
b
w
di
of the show’s rebel cell who embodies
sh
of
s
of the show’s rebel cell who embodies
s
b
of f t the sh ow ’ s r ebe l c ell l wh oe mbo di i e s s s
eer
en
gy,
ol
ien
en
en
en
en
the
eer
eer
s
s
the s sc ien ce , , te chn ol o o gy y y en n g ee e er ing ,
ce
gy,
gy,
ng
the science, technology, engineering,
ng
n
sc
gy,
ng
gin
gin
eer
gin
gin
g
ing
ing
chn
te
h
h
ing
eer
eer
gy,
g
ee
eer
gin
gin
g
ing
ing
ski
EM”
E
th
s
th
th
and math skills that form the “STEM”
and math skills that form the “STEM”
ls
lls
th
fo
M”
fo
fo
h
th
M
at
m
mt
t
mt
mt
mt
m t
mt
m t
t
he
he
he
he
h
nd
he
he
he
S
S
“S
“ST
r
r
r
r
r
“S
S
“ST
mt
ma
m t
“ST
“ST
at
r
te
r
ork
ed
re
r
r
r
pr
th
r
ra
d
y
me
r
framework that is so poorly represented
framework that is so poorly represented
r
poo
is
so
po
se
w
e
o
rl
en
se
a
n
an
r
among female characters in TV and film.
among female characters in TV and fi lm.
m
m
amo g e em a al e ch h h h h h h h h h h ar a a ct e e e r rs in T TV and fi lm.
and
and
a
m
rs
rs
an
an
ar
and
ch
in
re
va
ngu
n
ngu
at
a
t
a
t
a
a
as
g
mai
d
ma
g
g
gu
g
g
e
th
he
va
the
va
n
e
n
n
ns
t,
s
And yet, she remains at the vanguard as
And yet, she remains at the vanguardrd as
n
nd
ye
M
EA
M
M
M
fr
fr
EA
or
or
M a
ca
M a
EA
EA
EA
to
M
M
S
S
S
S
S
du
s S
a
S
a
ra
M,
M
M,

TEA
me
M
M
M
M,
s
S
STE
re
re
A
educators reframe STEM as STEAM, to
edu
s
ST
educators reframe STEM as STEAM, to
S
A
ST
o
pl
p
ea
rt.
e
ce
include a place in the acronym for art.
o
e
e
m
m
m
ny
nym
in
e
e
e
i
r a
th
c
ac
e a
p
e
o
o
o
o
o
th
o
o
y
lud
n
o
cr
c
e a
lud
th
fo
th
y
y
y
include a place in the acronym for art.
di
v
di
v
v
di
h
m
ch
m
lo
m
cho
yt
h
y
y t
y t
h
h
hat
to
ha
t
lo
lo
e
“I love that dichotomy that Sabine
“I “ “I love that dichotomy that Sabine
d
a
bin
e t
a
b
a
a
e
e
n
Sa
e
at
a
a
hat
b
b
a
ha
bin
is this strong Mando warrior and yet
a
a
wa
r a
r
nd
ng
r
Man
s s
tr
is th hi i ss tr ro o o o ng Man do war rio r nd d ye t
tr
ng
is this strong Mando warrior and yet
d
d
s s
n
draws beautiful paintingngs in her room,”
ws
ful
ws
bea
pa
p
uti
bea
bea
r
r
r
r
r
r
dr dr ra a a ws bea ut ful l l pa n n n nt ing s i n h e er r r ro o m,”
n
nt
ul
r
ful
draws beautiful paintings in her room,”
ws
ful
uti
in
uti
r
ce
r
ce
r
r
r
c
Wa
ce
c
r
ce
r
n
ce
n
n
r
r
r
r
ce
r
r
r
w
w
w
w
ca
w
w
S
ca
ca
ca
ca
S
ca
ho
ho
ca
ca
ca
h
ho
w
w
ho
h
ho
Sir
e
Sir
sS
re
e
n
n
r
r
e
e
n
re
s S
re
Sir
Sir
Sir
re
s S
sS
sS
re
sS
sS
Wa
The
The
tl
tl
tl
The
tl
t
tl
The
Th
Th
Sir
The
S
Sir
o
to
to
to
to
to
ar
a
ld
ld
ld
y
ar
y
ar
ar
ar
ld
y
ld
tl
ar
y
a
he
a
ld
he
ld
S
S
St
Sircar told The Star Wars Show recently.
Sircar told The Star Wars Show recently.
St
St
S
St
St
St
St
S
Wa
W
W
Sir
Wa
ld
S
Wa
Wa
Wa
p
p
e,
“O
en
h
p
p
en
p
e
s
O
,w
s
r
bl
s
s
s
, w
up
“O
up
up
up
O
, w
the
up
“Or, when she’s blowing up the Empire,
“O
m
sh
m
m
n
Em
ir
ng
m
m
i
hen
m
m
m
i
m
e’
g
g
“O
“Or
“Or, when she’ss blowing up the Empire,
“Or
ow
ow
r
av
r
she le av e e e e s a li li l l ttl l e a rti st c s g atu r r re
she leeaves a little artistic signgnaturre.”
gn
r
r
t
t
r
r
r
r
s a
s
s
tt
she
e
e
ttl
t
t
she leaves a little artistic signature.”
tu
she
n
n
n
the
the
Ho w Sa b bi e’ s s s s s s s ar r t w ill f fe atu re e e e e e e in t the
Ho
n
n
n
n
n
the
atu
atu
the
the
th
n
th
w
w
w
w
w
How Sabine’ss art will feature in thehe
Ho
How Sabine’s art will feature in the
f
a
to
to
e
new season remains to be seen, but it is
ne
to
to
ns
s
se
b
se
be
s
en
en,
e
b
b
s
new season remains to be seen, but it is
be
be
m
m
be
ns
n
ns
be
ns
m
be
e
be
m
m
m
m
ne w se aso n r r ema ins to o o be se en b b b b b b bu i i ti s
m
not
ot
th
ot
ot
th
th
th
th
worth noting that when Grand Admiral
a
a
worrth noting thaat when Grand Admiral
not
m
m
A
w
m
A
m
w
A
m
ing
in
ing
ot
n
n
th
wo r th not ing th a a a a at whe n G ra A dm ra l
m
not
m
ing
ing
m
rst
e t
t
m
t
Thrawn is
a
a
sed
Thr aw is s fi fi rstt glglglg g g limpsed in the trailer, ,
Thr
awn
a
a
a
a
a
h
n
t
i
p
hr
Thrawn is first glimpsed in the trailer,
ra
a
a
ng
a
a
he is standing amid an array of artwork.
he
na
ork
he
sta
he
he
n a
n a
he
n a
n a
he
n a
he is standing amid an array of artwork.
n a
a
tw
a
a
t
m
t
t
m
m
rr
rr
t
r
rr
s
m
rr
r
m
t
t
t
t
r
am
i
r
ra
e
y o
a
m
s
is
i
nd
i
ve
Tim
’s
awn
the
ah
ahn
ahn
a
T
T
oth
In Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn novels, the
ahn
s,
In Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn novels, the
l
e
e
n
hr
n
y Z
f
e
a
ene
villainous fan-favorite uses his enemies’
villainous fan-favorite uses his enemies’
e
f
s
e
use
n
n-
o
e
e
n-
vil lai nou sf an- f fa v v o te u s is ene mie s’
e
f
fa
art to better understand their motivations.
and
s
be
rst
th
i
d
i
b
and
i
n
ns
e
i
tt
eir
t
i
ons
i
r u
i
art
to
ar
art to better understand their motivations.
i
nde
ti
n
n
s
n
n
n
n
in
?
ine
Cou
Could Sabine’s s skskills be her undoing?
r u
S
Sab
n
be
C C
d
e
n
n
n
he
Could Sabine’s skills be her undoing?
d
ld
el
el
el
n
n
el
g
el
el
e
g i
gi
g i
no
n
o
B
But
B
on
e t
e t
e t
o
o
no
Sur
Sur
Su
Surely not. But one thing is certain::
S Sur
Sur
S S
ain
ain
in
Sur
Sur e y y y y y y y no t. B o o o o o on e t hin g i s c ert ain n : :
ain
s c
s c
ert
el
s c
s c
e
Surely not. But one thing is certain:
rt
ert
we ar e g ar a nt e he co mpl x
we are guaranteed the complex
we are guaranteeded the complex
at
at
at
a
opm
opm
t
d
m
m
p
h
h
h
opm
character development that
character development that
cha ra c c c t te de ve l l l opm ent th at
cha
e
Dave Filoni has promised.
om
e F
e
m
m
r
sed
F
o
has
il
o
D
Dave Filoni has promised.
ni
Dav
Sabine’s character arc is
Sa ne ’s s s cha ra c c t ar c i s
S
Sabine’s character arc is
e
e
o
of
tse
o
a
a
ar
a
ar
a work of art in itself.
a work of art in itself.
a
a w
f
f
e
t i
f
ork
ar
lf
ar
n
n
ng
ng
n
And long may
And l o n g may
And long may
c
co
it it i continue!
it continue!
n
n
n
ue
c
n
tin
INSIDER 91
30/10/2018 12:13
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 91
SWI2019_086_091_Sabine_v2al.indd 91 30/10/2018 12:13

THE EARLY DAYS OF THE





EXPANDED UNIVERSE








BY MICHAEL KOGGE
REWIND TO 1977. THE
UNIVERSE OF STAR WARS

CONSISTED OF A TOTAL OF
FIVE PLANETS, A BUNCH OF
NON-HUMAN SPECIES
GLIMPSED IN A DIM CANTINA,
AN EVIL EMPIRE, A RAG-TAG
REBELLION, AND CURSORY
REFERENCES TO A MYSTICAL

WARRIOR CLAN.
FAST FORWARD 36 YEARS.
THIS GALAXY HAS EXPANDED
SO RAPIDLY THAT IT
NECESSITATES PUBLISHING
SEVERAL ESSENTIAL GUIDES,
A 256-PAGE ATLAS,
AND A THREE-VOLUME
ENCYCLOPEDIA. AND THAT’S

JUST A FEW OF THE BOOKS.
EVEN MORE INCREDIBLE
IS THAT THE CENTRAL
From right: The first
STORY OF THE FIRST Star Wars novel, a hit
MOVIE—THE REBEL before—and after—
the movie’s 1977
ALLIANCE’S EPIC release; the Star Wars
record and book set;
BATTLE AGAINST the first Expanded
THE EMPIRE—IS NOW Universe book, Splinter
of the Minds Eye by
BUT A MOMENT IN Alan Dean Foster;
Lando Calrissian and
A VAST HISTORY THAT the Mindharp of Sharu;
SPANS MILLENNIA. assistant editor Sherry
Holstein and editor
BUT HOW DID Carol Titelman at the
Star Wars offices
THIS HAPPEN? circa 1980 (photo:
Sherry Kaplan).
92 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 92 30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 92

INSIDER 93





30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 93 30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 93

In the Beginning....

n the late 1970s, the
offices of “The Star Wars

Corporation” in Los Angeles
Iwere a motley cluster of
trailers near the Universal lot.
Inside, no more than a dozen
full-time employees worked on
what outsiders thought to be a silly

science-fiction movie. “My check
literally was made out from ‘Star
Wars,’” says Sherry Kaplan, an
executive assistant at the time.
“You don’t know the funny looks
I got at the bank.”
Charles Lippincott, vice-
president of marketing and
merchandising, received slews
of similar funny looks when he
tried to make tie-in deals. Company
after company said no. His
persistence paid off when Marvel
Comics editor Roy Thomas and
artist Howard Chaykin agreed to
tackle a mini-series adaptation. Del
Rey Books editor Judy Lynn del Rey
also saw value in the property and
purchased the novelization rights.

Six months before the film even hit
theaters, thousands logged their
first hyperspace jump into the Star

Wars galaxy by reading that book.
The novelization topped the
paperback bestseller list not long
after it was published. SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE
FILM EVEN HIT THEATERS,
The Flood THOUSANDS JUMPED INTO
THE STAR WARS GALAXY BY
READING THAT BOOK.

hen the film shattered box-office records in

May 1977, phones in the Lucasfi lm trailers
started to ring off-the-hook. Marvel wanted
The First Editorsitors
d
d
E
F
E
Wto extend the comic into a monthly series. Del The T h First E d
Rey sought to recount new adventures of Luke Skywalker
and friends in novels and children’s storybooks. The tiny

Lucasfilm team was quickly overwhelmed. “It looked like arol Wikarska (later Titelman), spent days hanging around
three people looking up at a tsunami coming for them,” the Lucasfi lm offices while her boyfriend, Lippincott,

says Bill Stout, who designed the original Star Wars worked all hours. She got a job answering the phones, yet
Coca-Cola cups for Lucasfi lm. Cit became clear that her talents made her a much more

With the sheer amount of work, continuity—the valuable asset to the company. Her experience as a film critic and
consistency of a fictional universe’s events, characters, editor of the prestigious journal Women and Film prompted Lucas


and settings—was not a major concern at first. Alan Dean to promote her to vice-president of publishing. She would be the fi rst
Foster, ghost-writer of the Star Wars novelization and gatekeeper to the Star Wars universe.
author of its “sequel,” Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, The job was a dream come true for Titelman, as she was suddenly
remembers that during these early days “there was no a power-broker in both Hollywood and New York. “Whoever
continuity, and not much universe. There was just the one thought?” she says, reminiscing. “It was an energizing time. I ran
film. Continuity came later with… continuing.” three departments—all of me!”

Yet as the publishing program grew, Lucas wanted Titelman hired Valerie Hoffman and, later, Lindsay Smith, Diana
offi cial Star Wars books live up to a standard that other Attias, and Deborah Call to assist her. While she made deals and
Hollywood studios would have ignored in their rush to served as the conduit to Lucas for story questions, her editorial
license products. He had poured so much energy into team supervised the expansion of Star Wars lore in books, comics,
creating his universe, he wanted to be sure that new and even radio. Titelman’s exploitation of the fi lm’s storytelling
stories did not cheapen the experience or interfere with power across such diverse platforms would turn Star Wars into one

plots of future films. Someone needed to manage this of the first modern “transmedia” franchises long before that term

continuity before the Star Wars galaxy fell into chaos. came into vogue.
94 INSIDER
30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 94 30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 94

Opposite page:
Diana Attias poses
outside the Star Wars
production offices circa
1979. She first worked
for Star Wars producer
Gary Kurtz before
joining Titelman’s
editorial team. (photo:
Diana Attias); (inset)
Valerie Hoffman went
from editing Star Wars
books to teaching
psychology at San Jose
State University.
This page: Russ Helm
penned the script for
“Planet of the Kadril.“
The Empire Strikes Back
novelization by Donald
F. Glut.
Empire of Tales
Emp
E
ucas’s decision to finance (with Fox distributing)

The Empire Strikes Back himself indicated that the
Star Wars universe would continue to expand.
T
T
T
LThe Marvel comics proceeded with their own
T
ed
approved storylines, while Del Rey Books tempted Empire
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
app
a app
app
app
app
app
app
ed
p
pp
pp
p
p
p
p
pp
ed
ed
ed
ed
ed
ed
ed
d
ro
ro
r
ro
d
ro
ro
r
ro
ro
ro
app ro v v v v v v v v v ed
app
o
ov
o
o
een
een
ee
e
een
een
een
een
e
een
ee
e
wr
wr
wr
w
wr
wr
wr
c
c s sc s s s s s s s s s s s
cr
cr
wr
wr
wr
een
scr
scr
scr
scr
scr
screenwriter Leigh Brackett and author Jack L. Chalker in
scr
scr r r e wr r
een
een
een
e
scr
scr
sc scr
e
in
e
n
e
e
g r
g r
es
e
g r
g r
g r
tin
tin
ti
g r
g r
g
g r
g r
t
tin
tin
tin
g r
tin
tin
tin
r
tin
ri
w wri
wr
wri
wri
wri
w wr
wri
wri
w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w w
wr
wri
writing respective novels about Princess Leia and Han Solo.
wri
w wri tin g gr e e e e es
B
B
Whe
B
W W W W W W W W W W W W W W
Whe
B
W W W Whe
Whe
Whe
Whe
When Brackett passed away and Chalker chose to fi nish his
Wh
Whe
Whe
W W Whe
n B
n B
n B
n B
ra
ra
ra
ra
Whe e n B ra c c c c
n B
Whe
Whe
nB
n B
n B
n B
ra
ra
r
ra
h
h
he
ra
ra
rie
ow n n n n n n n n n n se rie e s s s s s s s s s s s s s
s
rie
se
rie
s
ie
s
ie
r
rie
se
s
wn
w
w
s
se
se
se
rie
rie
se
ow
se
se
se
ow
ow
ow
ow
ri
ow
ow
ow
ow
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
own series, the editors gave Brian Daley, a relatively new
rie
rie
ow
rie
sci
sci
sci
in
in
sci
sci
sci
e

e
sci
e
sci
sc
sci
sci
sc
sci
in
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
vo vo vo vo vo vo vo vo vo vo v vo v v v v v v v v v v v
n
n
voice in science fiction, the controls to Han’s Millennium
i
i
n
ce
ce
ce
ce
i
i
i
ce
ce
ce
ce
ce
ce
ce
in
in
i
in
in
in
i
in
n
n
n
n
n
n
D
n
n
. D
n
n
D
n
.D
. D
. D
. D
. D
.D
. D
Fa
Fa
Fa
co
co
co
Fa
Fa
Fa
Fa
Fa
Fa
F F F F F F F F F F F F
al
co
co
Fa
Falcon. Daley proved so adept at capturing the tone of the
Fa l l l l l l l l l l l co o o o o o n . D a e e e e e e e e
co
c
co
co
co
co
co
al
al
al
Fa
F F F Fa
F Fa
al
al
Fa
al
al
al
uni
se
se
se
uni
u u u u u u u u u u
s
s
se
uni
se
uni
uni
uni
un i ve r r r r r r r r r r se in
se
se
universe in his Han Solo books that Titelman awarded him
uni
uni
uni
uni
uni
se
ve
ve
in
ve
ve
ve
v
ve
i
in
n
n
i
i
in
in
in
in
v
n
in
se
in
in
ve
ve
ve
ve
ve
e t
e t
e t
e t
e t
e t
n
nc
n
e t
e t
ch
ch
ch
h
ch
h t t t t t t t t t t
he
he
ch
ch
ch
ch
ch
ch
ch
h
h
h
ch
h
he
the chance to write the Star Wars radio plays.
the
the
anc
the
the
the ch anc e e e e e t t
the
the
the
anc
anc
anc
he
anc
an
anc
anc
anc
anc
w
ws
ws
ws
w
w
ws
ws
Th
The newspaper comic had its own share of troubles. Russ
The
The
The
The
The
The
The e ne w
The
The
Th
h
ne
ne
ne
ne
ne
n
ne
ne
ne
n
S
S
S
S
W
W
tar
t
h
he
T
The Star Wars Bible M M M M M M M M M M
h
S
h
h
i
B
Bibl
e
l
b
s
s
ar
Manning’s failing health made it impossible for him both to
write and draw the strip, so editor Lindsay Smith hired her
friend, Russ Helm, to pen the scripts. Helm enjoyed twisting
he publishing division’s primary task was his stories around current events. The Soviet invasion of
to maintain Star War’s continuity, from Afghanistan inspired him to write “Planet of Kadril”, the
checking names on action fi gure cards story arc penciled by Alfredo Alcala that ran from August
Tto counting the toes on Chewbacca’s foot. to October 1979. In the strip, Rodno, a gentle Kadrillian
To this end, the editors generated a style sheet scientist, helps the rebels sabotage Darth Vader’s plans to
of word spellings and capitalizations. Within use a new Imperial weapon called “pacifog.”
months, the sheet had swelled into what “The pacifog idea came out of the fact that Russian
Hoffman called “the Star Wars bible.” It included troops were using sarin gas against the Mujahideen freedom
everything from the color of characters’ fighters in Afghanistan and it was a United Nations issue. The

lightsabers to the food Luke ate in a specifi c terrain in the strip looked like Afghanistan, mountainous and
story, essentially becoming Lucasfi lm’s fi rst rugged. Rodno was a small humble hero chameleon in
“Holocron”—the immense database of Star Wars contrast,” says Helm.
story continuity Lucasfilm uses today. Lucas held Though Leia never received her own novel, Titelman and

a few early “lectures” where he set down the Del Rey had other books in the pipeline. Donald F. Glut, who
characters’ backgrounds. initially had declined to write the Star Wars novelization, took

Sometimes overseeing the continuity led to Lucasfilm’s offer to pen a Wookiee character novel. But
interesting discussions. When editing both The Lucasfilm axed the plans for a Wookiee book and instead

Wookiee Storybook and the scripts for the Star offered Glut the Empire novelization duties. This time,
Wars Holiday Special, Hoffman had to decipher Glut accepted.
the structure of Wookiee families. She wrote Script revisions obliged Glut to write three drafts in six
a list of questions for Lucas, one which asked weeks. The process went right down to the wire. The night
how Wookiees reproduced. On a tape-recorded before the book was due, editor Diana Attias sat in Glut’s
response returned to her, she remembers living room and vetted pages as fast as Glut could type them.
Lucas’s hesitation: “That is a very sensitive “It was intense,” Attias recalls. “We had to respond to the
issue... Wookiees have litters.” changes [immediately].”
INSIDER 95
30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 95
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 95 30/10/2018 12:15

The Art of Star Wars


ther printed matter, such as art
books and toy packaging also
added to the Star Wars mythology.
OOften uncredited, the editors
labeled the technical components in
a Joe Johnston sketch or wrote character
descriptions on Topps’s bubblegum cards.
They also contributed articles to Lucasfi lm’s
fan newsletter, Bantha Tracks, run by
Ira Friedman.
Of all the publications, Titelman
considered The Art of Star Wars to be her
crown jewel. Arranging Ralph McQuarrie’s
paintings and other Star Wars production
art—including fan-submitted pieces—
around Lucas’ screenplay took more than
a year. “People don’t have a clue nowadays
concerning how labor-intensive producing
a book like The Art of Star Wars was,” says
Lindsay Smith. “We didn’t have computers.
Every revised copy had to be typeset and
go to the lithographer.” With Titelman’s
insistence on the highest quality, Smith

spent five days at the printer’s offi ces in
upstate New York, rejecting proofs until
the colors were just right.



PRINTED MATTER
SUCH AS ART BOOKS
AND TOY PACKAGING
ADDED TO THE STAR
WARS MYTHOLOGY.














A New Egg Company’s kitchen. The director tested
his actresses by baking cookies with them.
Over time, the Egg Company veered
he surge of licensing deals from the vision Lucas had of a casual,
brought the Los Angeles branch creative environment into something

of Lucasfilm out of trailers and akin to a corporate Hollywood studio.
Tinto a building known as “the Egg A strict dress code was enforced.
Company.” Lucas had purchased the site Executives received expensive luxury
from a poultry firm and renovated the cars. A fueling pump was installed in the

interior with walnut paneling, industrial back. It was precisely the management
kitchens, and a tree-lined atrium. No style that Lucas had rebelled against as
longer were the editors as cramped a filmmaker. In 1981, Lucas shut down the

for space when laying out images for Egg Company and relocated Lucasfi lm’s
illustration-heavy tomes. Many fondly corporate headquarters to San Rafael,
recall Steven Spielberg’s actor auditions next to ILM, in Marin County, far away
for Raiders of the Lost Ark in the Egg from Hollywood’s temptations.

96 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 96 30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 96

Opposite, from
top: Inside the Egg Co.
Offices circa 1979
(photo by Michael
Neese); an envelope
that commemorates
50 years of talking
pictures, from The Jazz
Singer to Star Wars
(courtesy Diana Attias);
the back of a Topps
trading card featuring
material edited by
the team.

This page (clockwise
from top right):
The Wookiee
Storybook; Marvel
Comics Star Wars #24;
The Star Wars Album, a
rare look behind the
scenes; The Art of The
Empire Strikes Back.





































A Lasting Legacy
A L L Valerie Hoffman obtained a EXPANDED
doctorate in psychology. Deborah
Call became a vice-president of Avco
MICHAEL KOGGE most recently wrote
ost of the editorial staff Embassy Pictures and the associate
“Gentleman of Virginia” for A Princess of Mars—
decided not to head dean of the University of Southern The Annotated Edition—and New Tales of the Red
north. Titelman had California’s Law School. Ira Planet (Sword & Planet Press).
Mmarried music producer Friedman continued his association
Russ Titelman and moved to New with Star Wars, as the vice-president UNIVERSE
York, where she worked as a of licensing and publishing at Topps.
freelance writer and photographer. Though none of the original team
Charley Lippincott and Sherry remain today at Lucasfi lm, their
Kaplan took jobs at Dino De effort to maintain a consistent, Special thanks to Carol Fazzio,
Laurentiis’s production company. story-driven universe became a Valerie Hoffman, Lindsay Smith,
Lindsay Smith went on to write Back cornerstone of Star Wars publishing. Sherry Kaplan, Diana Attias, Shelle
in the U.S.S.R. (starring Roman Hundreds of books and comics have Neese, Deborah Call, Ira Friedman,

Polanski), the first American fi lm to been published since, all part of an Barb Lakin, Arnie Carvalho, Russ
employ a Russian crew and actors. inter-connected mythology. a Helm, and Bill Stout.

INSIDER 97





30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 97 30/10/2018 12:15
SWI2019_092_097_Beginings_of_Eu_.indd 97

BEFORE A HERO CAN
TAKE A SINGLE STEP,
THEY MUST BE CRAFTED
WITH THE POTENTIAL
TO WITHSTAND THE TESTS
TO FOLLOW. IN HER

ONGOING SERIES ON THE
HERO’S JOURNEY, TRICIA
BARR EXAMINES THE
FOUNDATION OF THE FORCE
AWAKENS ’ BREAKOUT
CHARACTER, REY.




























































98 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:28
SWI2019_098_103_Rey_part1.indd 98 30/10/2018 12:28
SWI2019_098_103_Rey_part1.indd 98

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND:




IMPRESSIONS OF





REY











































opportunity to explore a monomyth fundamental traits established by
from its very beginnings. Rather more gradual development. No single
than following in the footsteps of trait is enough to make a character
these characters, we can walk beside interesting, but in combination they
them on their journey. can create compelling heroes such
As we navigate the shifting sands, as Rey.
character development will be our
magine Rey’s life story as footprints focus. This begins with the drawing-
across the Jakku desert. Over time, board stage, where a storyteller SHOW AND TELL
the elements have erased or blurred determines who each character
Iher earliest tracks and left behind is and what motivates them. These When introducing a character, the
only what we see in The Force Awakens. motivations do not need to be spelled storyteller has two devices at his
What comes after this brief glimpse out for the audience at the beginning or her disposal: showing the audience
lies beyond the rise of a dune—to be of a tale, but they must become events that reveal information about
discovered at a later time. Over the apparent along the way. Motivations the character and telling them pertinent

years, this occasional series of articles can change significantly during an facts. The latter is best used sparingly,
has evaluated the long, winding paths adventure, and pivotal moments and informs the well-known storyteller’s
of many characters. But as Rey, Finn, must be carefully deployed. While maxim: “Show, don’t tell.”
Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren begin sudden shifts in a character’s Early on in The Force Awakens we
brand new adventures in a brand new heroic journey should be surprising, see Rey dragging her scavenged loot
trilogy, we are granted a fresh they must also be born out of the to and from her speeder. This shows


INSIDER 99





30/10/2018 12:28
SWI2019_098_103_Rey_part1.indd 99
SWI2019_098_103_Rey_part1.indd 99 30/10/2018 12:28

she has a job—or at least a purpose— When she is back outside, Rey By the time Rey points the Falcon
and that she is physically strong. Later, unmasks and bangs the last drops of toward space, our time spent with her
when she and Finn are fl eeing Niima water from her canteen. She may be on Jakku has established many of the
Outpost, he says, “We need a pilot,” and brave, but she is still vulnerable to the traits that will drive her character arc
Rey tells him—and us—“We’ve got one.” elements. A wide shot reveals her location in the future. The vulnerability on Rey’s
This brief telling of information leads into as a ruined Star Destroyer in an otherwise face as she scrubs her scavenged wares
an extended sequence of showing, with Rey featureless desert. She is isolated—not reappears in Maz’s castle on Takodana.
running up the Millennium Falcon’s ramp, only geographically but also from the Her self-sufficiency comes back into play

ordering Finn to the gunner station, and her heart of the action. The ship is a relic following her escape from Kylo Ren’s
hopping into the pilot’s seat and quickly and the battle that downed it is long over. torture chamber on Starkiller Base.
taking the freighter aloft. This sense is reinforced as Rey dines Most importantly, the self-belief that
Examples of similar tells followed by alone in the shell of an AT-AT. It is has sustained her during perilous
shows from A New Hope include Han a stark contrast to The Phantom Menace scavenger hunts on Jakku continues to
telling Obi-Wan about the Falcon’s speed and A New Hope, where food is used to serve her well when she summons the
capabilities before escaping Imperial pursuit bring family dynamics into focus. Image courage to close her eyes and call upon
on Tatooine, and Luke telling Wedge he used after image frames our hero as small, the Force to help her defeat Kylo Ren.
to bulls-eye womp rats in his T-16 before from her speeder passing the starship
making the impossible shot that destroys graveyard to her standing below Unkar
the first Death Star. Plutt waiting for her trade. Combined with A DIFFERENT TYPE

By the time Rey guides the Falcon a lack of dialogue during Rey’s fi rst
in its hair-raising escape from Niima minutes on screen, the imagery leaves OF HERO
Outpost, the story has already laid the us in no doubt about the harsh, empty
groundwork to prepare the audience for world that Rey inhabits. As so far revealed in The Force Awakens,
the thrilling chase through the ship Yet, while contrasts such as Rey’s Rey shares many characteristics with

graveyard. Rey first appears with her face lonely meal reinforce the idea that we her predecessor protagonists, Anakin
obscured by a mask, in a shot tightly are seeing something new, images and Luke. However, she exists in a
framed behind a hatch she is opening. such as Rey on her speeder hark back wider world of storytelling (across

This first impression doesn’t defi nitively to previous films in the Star Wars saga. all media) where female characters

imply gender, but the costume suggests It is not uncommon for movies to draw do not share parity with their male

practicality and a little flair (see sidebar). on well-known archetypes to create a counterparts in either quantity or
Rey clings to a nearly vertical wall, then visual lexicon to which the audience can quality. In the past few years, the
jumps across to a rope. As the camera relate, but Star Wars is in the unique White House and the United Nations
angle shifts, it reveals that she is position of being able to draw from its have championed initiatives to promote
descending into a massive man-made own widely recognized iconography. STEM (science, technology, engineering
cavern. This person is shown to be brave, Previously, both Luke and Anakin had
maybe even reckless. Immediately we guided their own speeders across desert
know that—whoever this is—they share landscapes (dressed in similar attire)
some of the attributes we associate with before setting out on adventures that put
being a pilot of the Millennium Falcon. their piloting skills to more dramatic use.

100 INSIDER





30/10/2018 12:28
SWI2019_098_103_Rey_part1.indd 100 30/10/2018 12:28
SWI2019_098_103_Rey_part1.indd 100