Star Wars Insider #189

BEING BOBA FETT: DANIEL LOGAN INTERVIEWED





































A New WIN!
+






Hope FOOTWEAR!
FANTASTIC
STAR WARS








Revisiting the THEMAKINGOF


birth of the STAR WARS:


Star Wars A NEW HOPE
INTERVIEWS WITH
saga! GARY



KURTZ


Parallel Lives &


Exploring the
shared values and LESLIE
experiences of
DILLEY
Padmé and Leia!
Touring

Tatooine


We visit the real-
world locations of
the saga’s most
famous planet!

Greg

Hildebrandt


Insider speaks
with the legendary
Star Wars artist!






THE BEST STAR WARS NEWS, merchandise, reviews, INTERVIEWS AND FEATURES

RARELY INTERVIEWED ABOUT HIS STAR WARS
EXPERIENCES, MARK HAMILL SITS DOWN ONE-ON-ONE
WITH STAR WARS INSIDER TO DISCUSS
HIS FORCE-FILLED MEMORIES.

AS A BONUS, STAR WARS INSIDER ALSO
PRESENTS SOME SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS
FROM ACTRESS CARRIE FISHER’S APPEARANCE
AT STAR WARS CELEBRATION IV.
WORDS: BRIAN J ROBB, JONATHAN WILKINS, & BRIGID CHERRY
8 9




Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill during filming on the
Ewok forest set at Elstree Studios, early 1982.




























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In c l u d es c l a s s i c i n t er v i e ws wit h M a rk Ham i l l, Car r i e Fi s h er, An t h on y D a n i e l s, Bi l l y Dee W i l l i a m s an
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A V A IL ABLE IN ALL G O OD ST OR ES AND ONLINE
AVA LABLE N ALL GOOD STORES AND ONLINE
© & TM 2019 Lucasfi lm Ltd.

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

™

WELCOME... MAY/JUNE 2019

TITAN EDITORIAL
Editor / Chris Cooper
Managing Editor / Martin Eden
Associate Editors / Tolly Maggs,
Jake Devine
This is where it all began: A massive spaceship rumbles Art Editor / Andrew Leung
overhead, pursued by an even bigger one; a droid duo LUCASFILM
bicker while a battle rages around them, and a princess Senior Editor / Brett Rector
Art Director / Troy Alders
records a desperate plea for help. On a distant world, a
Creative Director / Michael Siglain
farm boy stares longingly towards twin suns setting over Asset Management / Tim Mapp,
a distant horizon—and an audience of millions becomes Erik Sanchez, Bryce Pinkos,
Nicole LaCoursiere, Kelly Jensen,
enraptured by their story. For decades! Shahana Alam
My pulse quickens every time I sit down to watch Story Group / Pablo Hidalgo, Leland Chee,
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), our primary focus in this Matt Martin
issue of Star Wars Insider. But that’s nothing to do with CONTRIBUTORS
nostalgia, or the weight of knowing where the story takes Tricia Barr, Natalie Clubb, Pat Jankiewicz,
Michael Kogge, Gus Lopez, Mark Newbold,
us in the sequels and prequels. It’s simply because the
Darren Scott, Jay Stobie, Thomas Schuster,
movie is such huge fun, and remains so, some 42 years Dan Wallace, and Toby Weidmann
(and countless viewings) later. I still find myself chewing
SPECIAL THANKS TO
my knuckles in anguish as Luke’s X-wing races along the Lucy Goldsmith, Erich Schoeneweiss
Death Star trench, Vader’s TIE fighter closing in, worrying at Random House, Holly McIntosh, Joseph
whether this time—this time—the Force isn’t with young Taraborrelli, Andrea Towers and Jim Nausedas
at Marvel Comics, Lizzy Draeger, Tracy
Skywalker! It is. It always is. But you never know… Cannobbio and Chris Argyropoulos
In this packed issue, we celebrate that great movie’s at Lucasfi lm
42nd anniversary in exclusive new interviews with Peter
TITAN MAGAZINES
Mayhew (Chewbacca), Leslie Dilley (the original trilogy’s Production Controller / Peter James
art director), and artist Greg Hildebrandt. We also pay Senior Production Controller / Jackie Flook
Art Director / Oz Browne
’
tribute to A New Hope s late producer, Gary Kurtz, in the Senior Sales Manager / Steve Tothill
first of a fascinating two-part, previously unpublished Brand Manager / Chris Thompson
interview, and take you on a tour of Tunisia’s Tatooine Commercial Manager / Michelle Fairlamb
Advertising & Marketing Assistant / Bella Hoy
filming locations. With young Boba Fett Daniel Logan on Publishing Manager / Darryl Tothill
hand for a chat as well, the odds of you enjoying this issue Publishing Director / Chris Teather
Operations Director / Leigh Baulch
are…well, we’re not going to tell you the odds, but they’re
Executive Director / Vivian Cheung
pretty good. May the Force be with you! Publisher / Nick Landau
DISTRIBUTION
US Newsstand / Total Publisher Services, Inc.
John Dziewiatkowski 630-851-7683
US Newsstand Distribution / Curtis Circulation
Company
US Bookstore Distribution / The News Group
US Direct Sales / Diamond Comic Distributors
Christopher Cooper UK Distribution / Marketforce
Editor SUBSCRIPTIONS
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U.K. subscriptions / 01778 392085
email: [email protected]
MEET THE CONTRIBUTORS...
For more info on advertising contact
[email protected]

STAR WARS INSIDER MAY 2019
(USPS 003-027) (ISSN 1041-5122)

Star Wars Insider is published eight times per year (January/February,
March/April, May, June/July, August, September/October,
November, December) by Titan Magazines,
a division of Titan Publishing Group Limited,
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 0UP.
Gus Lopez Jay Stobie Tricia Barr Mark Newbold Darren Scott Michael Kogge Contents © 2019 Lucasfi lm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved,
@toysrgus @CaptStobie @ fangirlcantina @ Prefect_timing @ darren_scott @ michaelkogge Titan Authorized User. TMN 13729
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CONTENTS









I SSUE 189 / MA Y-JUNE 2019

















































































18


A long time ago, in
a galaxy far, far away....

Insider ’s look at the Skywalker saga takes in
Star Wars: A New Hope, and the world that
welcomed its fantastical, fun mythology.









4 / STAR WARS INSIDER

NEWSSTAND COMIC STORE SUBS STAR WARS CELEBRATION 2019
EDITION EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVE

Subscribe
o Star Wars

Insider
Page 50



































06 40 64



Launchpad The Grand Tour of Tatooine Parallel Lives

Our roundup of essential Star Wars news, Insider revisits the incredible Star Wars We look at the lives of Padmé and Leia,
merchandise, books, and comics. filming locations of Tunisia. and their shared quest for galactic peace.

18 48 72


Infi nite Possibilities Karen Hallion Interview Only You Can Decide!

Examining the origins and impact A chat with the artist behind this issue’s A nostalgic look back in time at
of Star Wars: A New Hope. exclusive Star Wars Celebration cover. Kenner’s original Star Wars toy line.

26 52 80



Peter Mayhew Interview Daniel Logan Interview Leslie Dilley Interview
The man inside the original Chewbacca Insider catches up with the New The Oscar-winning art director and set
costume on playing our favorite fuzzball. Zealand-born Boba Fett actor. decorator on the making of A New Hope.

32 58 90



Gary Kurtz Interview Greg Hildebrandt Interview Cut to the Chase

The first part of an exclusive, two-part Exploring the art of light and dark Our pick of the Skywalker saga’s
interview with the late Star Wars producer. with the famed Star Wars artist. deleted scenes from Episodes I to VIII.







INCOMING TRANSMISSIONS


38 70 88 96

Competition! Jedi Master’s Quiz Worldwide Image Archive
Win Star Wars footwear from Po-Zu Test your knowledge of Kenner’s Pilot Poe cosplay, lunch art, and An alternative viewpoint on the
in this issue’s top prize giveaway. Star Wars toys and action fi gures. a wedding inspired by Star Wars. medal ceremony in A New Hope .






STAR WARS INSIDER / 5

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NEW S / BOOK S /COMI CS / T O Y S / G AME S /F A SHI ON





















































May the 31st Be With You!






A glimpse of the goodies at Star Wars : Galaxy’s Edge, and opening dates confi rmed




t’s official: doors open at Phase two, launching later in the universe gear that wouldn’t look out of
I Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge year, will see the awe-inspiring “Rise place anywhere in a galaxy far, far away.
of the Resistance” ride take fl ight, in
You can even pick up an astromech at
at California’s Disneyland
Resort on May 31, 2019, what has been described as one of the the local Droid Depot, and build your
with the long-awaited attraction most epic attraction experiences in own custom lightsaber courtesy of Savi’s
opening at Florida’s Walt Disney Disney Parks’ history. Featuring two Workshop. Blue and green milk will be
World Resort on August 29. life-sized AT-ATs, the ride will include on offer, plus other culinary delights at
The Disney Parks blog announced special appearances by BB-8, Finn (John eateries including Docking Bay 7 Food
on March 7 that both will debut ahead Boyega), Poe Dameron (Oscar Issac), and and Cargo, serving the likes of Fried
of schedule, as interest has been so high Rey (Daisy Ridley). Endorian Tip-Yip and Ronto Wraps!
from guests eager to experience the From opening day, guests will be Guests visiting Disneyland’s Galaxy’s
immersive Star Wars-themed land. To able to explore the sights and sounds Edge between May 31 and June 23,
enable this early access, each Galaxy’s of Batuu, with a Star Wars-style locale 2019 will be required to make a no-cost
Edge will open in two phases: from around every corner, and cast members reservation, subject to availability, to
day one, visitors will get a chance to dressed in suitably galactic attire. Stores access the land. Information on how
board the Millennium Falcon and take offering unique merchandise include to make a reservation will be available
the ship on a dangerous mission in the a Toydarian toy shop and Black Spire soon via Disneyland.com and the

intense “Smuggler’s Run” attraction. Outfitters, where visitors can buy in- Disney Parks Blog.





6 / STAR WARS INSIDER

STAR WARS INSIDER / 7

Nurture a
virtual porg pet
with ILMxLAB.
















































Porg Patrol and numerous sensors, the result is the

most realistic virtual pet any Star Wars
fan could ask for—your very own porg.
Insider spoke to Susan Greenhow,
Mixing realities with the cute Star Wars critters the project producer at ILMxLAB, to


find out more.
ollowing on from such Lucasfilm’s in-house innovators have
F immersive experiences collaborated with Magic Leap, utilizing Star Wars Insider: What sparked the
the tech company’s advanced Magic
initial idea for Project Porg?
as Trials on Tatooine and
Secrets of the Empire, Leap One mixed-reality headset (known Susan Greenhow: ILMxLAB had been
ILMxLAB’s long-awaited Project Porg as Lightwear) that layers computer- working with Magic Leap over the
breaks out of VR installations so you generated imagery and hi-fidelity audio course of a few years to develop a deeper
can enjoy Star Wars mixed reality in over real-world environments. Thanks understanding of how to tell stories
the comfort of your own home. to the unit’s superpowered processor that integrate our beloved characters
in the mixed-reality medium. One
of our driving ideas was creating a
real connection with a character, or
characters, in mixed reality. Porgs were
a perfect choice, and an element of
the Star Wars universe we were really
excited to play with.

Were porgs your fi rst choice?
We tried more than a few characters
and scenarios while we were testing
out ideas, but in the end we settled on
porgs as a great match for the intimate
spaces that best suit the Magic Leap
One platform. Their size and cuteness
really draw you into the experience, and
help create the sense of connection we
wanted to achieve.






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The Empire


Tunes Up



The Films In Concert

experience strikes back



f John William’s
I “Imperial March” makes
the hairs on the back
of your neck stand on
end, then imagine the prospect of
hearing it played by a live orchestra
as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes
Back (1980) is projected on a vast,

high-definition movie screen.
This September, the Star Wars
saga returns to London’s Royal
Albert Hall for five screenings of the

classic movie, with John Williams’
iconic score performed live on stage

for the first time in the U.K. by the
acclaimed Philharmonia Orchestra,
conducted by Dirk Brossé.
“We were delighted to host the
U.K. premiere of Star Wars: A New
What were the technical hurdles in Group to make the porgs completely Hope In Concert last year,” said the
transferring the porgs from the movie authentic. We talk about the creative Royal Albert Hall’s Artistic Director
screen into 3-dimensional space? journey in more detail on our YouTube Lucy Noble, adding, “We’re ecstatic
Working in real-time and three- channel and at ILMxLAB.com. that Star Wars is coming back
dimensional space meant that the porgs this year, with the most critically
had to hold up visually wherever, and In terms of audience reach, mixed- acclaimed and musically ground-
whenever, they might appear. It is a lot reality is still very new. What do breaking movie in the series.”
more challenging than having them you think will drive the growth of Celebrating the 10th
play to camera for a set length of time, augmented and mixed reality, and its anniversary of the historic
as in a shot for a movie. We also had future as an entertainment medium? venue’s Films in Concert series, a
to ensure that they had the same cute Getting hardware in the hands of fans total of 499,080 movie fans have
personalities and adorable behavior in is always the first step, but compelling experienced a wide range of fi lms

mixed reality as they did in Star Wars: experiences make devices that much with live music, from Raiders of the
The Last Jedi (2017). more valuable. If fans can access the Lost Ark to Disney’s Fantasia. The
medium and there’s compelling 500,000th ticket is set to be bought
Making the porgs seem real isn’t just content that’s unique, mixed reality for one of The Empire Strikes Back
about convincing animation. What will continue to grow. It’s a unique concerts, and will win that lucky
was the process behind creating their and incredibly fun medium, and purchaser a special prize. Visit
behavioural patterns? we’re excited to see more people royalalberthall.com for tickets.
Getting the porgs to interact with each get introduced to it.
other and respond to the user was a real
journey, and at the heart of what we Vader Immortal, previewed at Star
aimed to achieve in our experiment. Wars Celebration, is ILMxLAB’s next
Shaping their behavior and drawing major project, but what else do you
out the porgs’ personalities was truly have in the pipeline?
an iterative process with our partners We are always exploring new
at Magic Leap and Schell Games, and ways of storytelling in immersive
that’s where we were able to really entertainment. Most immediately, we
capitalize on the Magic Leap One’s have Episode I of Vader Immortal: A
features. We were also able to work with Star Wars VR Series coming to the new
Paul Kavanagh, animation supervisor on Oculus Quest headset this spring. You’ll
The Last Jedi, and the Lucasfi lm Story have to stay tuned for more!






STAR WARS INSIDER / 9

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King of the




Swingers Pop! goes the


protocol droid!
Display a droid deity with In stores now.

this Funko Movie Moment



ou have to feel sorry for
Y C-3PO. One moment he’s on
a perfectly innocent covert
mission to a forest moon,
and the next he’s accidentally become
a living god to a race of small, furry
creatures with a somewhat gruesome
taste in accessories. It’s a moment the
golden droid might prefer to forget,
but the fine people at Funko aren’t
ready to let it go, and they’ve recreated
the protocol droid’s ascent to shining
Ewok mascot with their latest Star Wars
Movie Moments release.
Presented on a display base of logs
that wouldn’t look out of place in the
Ewok village, “Encounter on Endor”
includes a bobble-headed fi gure of
C-3PO looking resplendent on his
makeshift throne, while Ewok shaman
Logray clutches Luke Skywalker’s
lightsaber suspiciously in his paw.
The Pop! Vinyl Movie Moment
is just the latest in a growing line of
Star Wars scenes recreated in Funko’s
trademark style, and is available from
retail and online stores priced $29.99.





THELIGHT SIDE By Jamie Cosley










































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LAUNCHPAD
Timeline

Jar Jar Important dates
in Star Wars
history.
Car Wars 1922




May 27: Christopher Lee (Count
Dooku) is born.
Don’t forget your safety belt
1944
May 19: Peter Mayhew, the
original Chewbacca actor, is born.
rivers beware—the Gungan
D with the most dubious safety 1944
record in the galaxy now
May 25: Puppeteer and film
has his very own mode of director Frank Oz (Yoda) is born.
transport, courtesy of Mattel’s range of
Hot Wheels Star Wars character cars. 1953
Unveiled at New York Toy Fair, the the toy car matches the rest of the ever- June 5: Kathleen Kennedy,
paintwork on Jar Jar Binks’ ride reflects growing series. Droids R2-Q5 and R5-D4 President of Lucasfilm, is born.
his mottled salmon skin tones, while his are also due to join the range shortly.
1976
eyes and swept-back ears become lights Hot Wheels Star Wars Character Cars
Apr 13: Filming begins on the
and tail fins, making this Jar Jar-themed are available in all good toy stores for a
cantina interior scenes for Star
jalopy look, dare we say it, kinda cool. pocket money-friendly $3.99. Check out Wars: A New Hope (1977) at
Designed by Lindsey Lee at 1/64 scale, the full range at hotweels.mattel.com. Elstree Studios, London.


1980
May 21: Star Wars: The Empire
Strikes Back (1980) is released
in cinemas.

1981
June 9: Natalie Portman (Padmé
Amidala) is born.

1985
May 18: Marvel U.K.’s weekly Star
Wars: Return of the Jedi comic
publishes its 100th issue.


1987
June 6: Young Boba Fett actor
Daniel Logan is born.

1999
May 1: Star Wars: Episode I Racer
is released for the Nintendo 64.
(Don’t) use the “Fork”!





Force yourself to use lightsaber chopsticks instead


otobukiya’s popular lightsaber bento box, with the lightsabers of
K chopstick Chop Saber range is Darth Vader, Yoda, Mace Windu, and
back by popular demand, but
Luke Skywalker on offer. Each Chop
this time there’s a twist—at Saber has a detachable hilt to allow
the press of a button you can make for cleaning without damaging the
your eating utensil light up, thanks to culinary implement’s special light-
a built-in LED. up functionality, and the original,
The chopsticks measure 10” long, non-light-up Chop Sabers (made of
and there’s a choice of whose weapon translucent plastic) also get a re-release.
to use to dip into your lunchtime Available now from $13.99.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 11

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Celebrating the Brick





20th anniversary commemorated with five new LEGO sets



hese days you can’t throw his block of carbonite), 4-LOM, and
T a small, perfectly formed, Zuckuss. The special extra minifi gure is
plastic brick without hitting
a recreation of Princess Leia from the
LEGO sets based on films, year 2000.
television shows, and pop culture Anakin’s Podracer is a smaller build,
characters. But back in April 1999, it with 279 pieces and three minifi gures—
was one film series in particular that Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala, and
started it all—Star Wars. bonus Luke Skywalker circa 1999.
The first intellectual property to be As seen in Star Wars: The Empire
licensed in LEGO Group history, the Strikes Back (1980), the Snowspeeder
original sets based on the world’s best set has 309 pieces, and comes with
sci-fi saga were made for Star Wars: The minifigures of Luke Skywalker, a Hoth

Phantom Menace (1999). The rest, as Rebel Trooper and Dak Ralter, with a

they say, is history. Now, two decades commemorative minifigure of Lando
and a lot of attention to detail later, Calrissian from 2003. The Clone Scout
LEGO are celebrating the range with Walker comes with minifigures of Year

special redesigned commemorative 1999 Darth Vader, a Wookiee, a Clone
versions of their most popular models Scout Trooper, and a battle droid,
from the last 20 years. while the smallest of the anniversary
Announced at New York Toy sets, the 125 piece Imperial Dropship,
Fair in February, Lego revealed five comes with a shadowtrooper, three

commemorative sets that arrived in stormtrooper minifigures to help build
stores on April 1, each featuring a bonus up your army, and a special Year 2000
commemorative minifigure. Han Solo minifi gure.
The 1,007 piece Slave I replicates the The anniversary sets, featuring
curves of Boba Fett’s infamous starship, stunning retro packaging, are in toy
and comes with five minifigures that stores now with prices ranging from
include Fett himself, Han Solo (plus $19.99 to $119.99.






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Back to the Future available now!
The Retro
Collection is



Hasbro turn back time with Retro Kenner action figures



t was like Christmas had logo to avoid any confusion with the new Grand Moff Tarkin Retro Collection
I come around again at vintage (and much-prized) toys they’re figure in the box.

February’s New York’s Toy
based upon.
If your retro vibe is more prequel
Fair, with a huge raft of Star Leading the way are six of the than original trilogy, Hasbro had
Wars products announced. And when original 12 fi gures—Darth Vader, another surprise up the sleeves of its
we say it was like Christmas, we mean Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Luke Jedi robes to commemorate the 20th
like our actual childhood Christmas, Skywalker, Stormtrooper, and Han anniversary of Star Wars: The Phantom
thanks to a new range from Hasbro. Solo—all at their original 3.75 inch Menace (1999). Joining the 6-inch Black
The Retro Collection features direct size, and available exclusively at Target Series range as Star Wars Celebration
replicas of the original 1978 Kenner and target.com, priced at $9.99 each. exclusives come two special fi gures—
action figure line, with classic packaging Alongside the figures, Hasbro are also Duel of the Fates Darth Maul and Obi-

emulating the original cardbacks in re-releasing an updated version of the Wan Kenobi—on special backing cards
exacting detail, albeit deliberately aged classic 1977 Escape from Death Star that reproduce the original look of the
and bearing a large Retro Collection Board Game, which comes with a brand packaging from 1999.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 13

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Book Club






From X-wings to TIE fighters to the Millennium Falcon itself,

the latest Star Wars book releases shoot for the stars.











Discover the
secrets of
ILM and Solo:
A Star Wars
Story


















































Many Hands Made Solo Work




Behind the scenes of Solo: A Star Wars Story




Founded by George Lucas in 1975 to unique look at the company’s work camera always in hand he took
create the groundbreaking eff ects on the Han Solo origin movie, with full advantage of this opportunity
for the original Star Wars movie, a behind-the-scenes collection of to document every phase of its
Industrial Light & Magic continues to art and photography providing an production. As a result, Bredow has
achieve unparalleled success as the insider’s perspective on the making collected a wealth of candid images
powerhouse behind the visual eff ects of 2018’s big-screen Star Wars story. that sit alongside conceptual artwork
for many of modern cinema’s most Writer Rob Bredow—head of ILM and expert testimony from ILM
incredible blockbusters. In Abrams’ and co-producer and visual eff ects staffers, telling a fascinating visual

Industrial Light & Magic Presents: supervisor on Solo—was on set story of how a modern eff ects movie
Making Solo: A Star Wars Story, fans throughout the film’s journey from comes together. The 256-page book

are given an unprecedented and script to screen, and with a stills is available now.





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02












01 03


































02 01 03
Alphabet Squadron Star Wars: Thrawn: Treason
TIE Fighter Manual

The June 11 release of Star Wars: Since he first appeared in Timothy
Alphabet Squadron from Del Rey Coming May 6 from Haynes Zahn’s 1990s Star Wars novels
Books marks the beginning of an Publishing, Star Wars: TIE Fighter to his looming presence in the
all-new Star Wars trilogy, set after Manual presents an in-depth animated series Star Wars Rebels,
the events of Return of the Jedi. exploration into the unforgettable Grand Admiral Thrawn has always
Written by Alexander Freed, movie starfi ghter. been one of the saga’s most
Alphabet Squadron centers on a The TIE fighter was the delightfully intelligent villains.

team of mismatched New Republic mainstay of the Imperial fl eet Now he’s back, and as cunning
pilots who are ordered by General and became the most iconic as ever.
Hera Syndulla to track down starfighter released by Sienar Set before the events

Shadow Wing, a group of elite Fleet Systems, and the TIE’s of the Rebels series fi nale,

Imperial flyers. As the name implies, distinctive H-shaped silhouette author Timothy Zahn’s latest
Alphabet Squadron is made up continues to strike fear during the novel—Thrawn: Treason—is

of a ragtag fleet of starfi ghters era of the First Order. Written by the long-awaited follow-up
comprised of A-wings, B-wings, Ryder Windham, the TIE Fighter Thrawn: Alliances, and sees the
U-wings, X-wings, and Y-wings, Manual also covers the many Grand Admiral cross paths with
with an equally varied complement variants of the series, including the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story ’s
of pilots at the controls. rides of Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. loathsome Director Orson Krennic.
Fans looking for the complete With all-new cutaway diagrams With the Death Star poised to
story should look out for Marvel and hundreds of illustrations and obliterate the Empire’s traditional
Comics’ Star Wars: TIE Fighter, a photos, this 128-page manual hierarchies of power, must Thrawn

five-issue miniseries that follows is the most thorough operating turn traitor in order to save his
the adventures of Alphabet guide available for the pride of homeworld? Find out when the
Squadron’s targets, Shadow Wing. the Imperial Navy. novel is released on July 23rd.









STAR WARS INSIDER / 15

LAUNCHPAD



Comics Roundup






This month’s Star Wars comics offer
a wealth of retro action and adventure.



The Marvel of



Time Travel



Star Wars Legends:

The Original Marvel Years #108




Marvel Comics was the first storyteller to extend the Star
Wars saga beyond the films, with a comic book series

that ran for 107 issues from 1977 to 1986. This May, the
beloved comic takes a step back in time to extend its
run by one more issue after a three-decade hiatus.
Star Wars Legends: The Original Marvel Years
continues the numbering of the original run in celebration
of Marvel’s 80th anniversary with issue #108, and writer
Matthew Rosenberg brings some of the series’ favorite
characters back, including Valance the bounty hunter,
and Jaxxon, the smart-mouthed space bunny.
Providing a capstone to the series seems like an
impossible task, given that its lineup of iconic creators
included Archie Goodwin, Roy Thomas, Howard Chaykin,
Al Williamson, David Michelinie, Klaus Janson, and Jo
Duffy, but Rosenberg clearly recognizes how much

impact the Star Wars comics had on fans hungry for

more stories in an era before movie spinoffs and on-
demand streaming. Ultimately, issue #108 provides
something for classic and modern fans alike. Featuring
artwork by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Luke Ross, Kerry
Gammill, and Andrea Broccardo, with an all-new cover by
original series artist Walt Simonson.





Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge #1 (of 5)


Star Wars fans have been counting for generations has played host to
down the days until Star Wars: pirates, merchants, and wanderers
Galaxy’s Edge opens for business, who have ventured to the Outer Rim
ready to immerse themselves in their to settle scores or sell their treasures.
own Black Spire Outpost adventure. But as the First Order encroaches on
But for those who can’t wait, or Batuu’s territory, it becomes clear
won’t have an opportunity to make that the outpost can’t stay under the
their way to the mysterious planet of radar forever. Could the key to saving
Batuu anytime soon, a new five-part Black Spire lay in a long-ago job
Marvel miniseries promises a sneak performed by smugglers Han Solo
peek into the wonderful world of and Chewbacca?
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Issue #1 is in stores from April 24,
The story, by writer Ethan Sacks with cover art by Rod Reis, Tommy nal art
and artist Will Sliney, takes place Lee Edwards, and others. Issue #2
on the shady trading planet, which follows on May 22. *Not fi






16 / STAR WARS INSIDER

Incoming
LAUNCHPAD

Don’tMissThese
UpcomingReleases
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion

Han Solo #1 and Boba Fett #1


Writer Greg Pak offers up a double punch
of original trilogy action in this dyamic
duo of one-shots from Marvel’s Age MAY
of Rebellion, starring Han Solo and his
Star Wars #65
bounty hunting nemesis Boba Fett.
Marvel Comics
Featuring art by Chris Sprouse, Age of Writer: Kieron Gillen
Rebellion—Han Solo #1 (in stores on May Artist: Angel Unzueta

1) finds the Corellian scoundrel agreeing Cover Artist: Gerald Parel
to help Luke Skywalker and his rebel
comrades one last time. But will an old Star Wars Adventures #22
accomplice of Solo out-scoudrel him? IDW Comics
Writers: Elsa Charretier,
Meanwhile, in Age of Rebellion—Boba
Pierrick Colinet
Fett #1, we get to the heart of the bounty
Artist: Elsa Charretier
hunter as he goes on the trail of a true
Cover Artist: Elsa Charretier
villain. With art by Marc Laming, Boba
Fett #1 is available from May 8. Doctor Aphra #32
Marvel Comics
Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Wilton Santos
Star Wars: TIE Fighter Cover Artist: Ashley Witter
#2 (of 5)
Star Wars: Age of Republic #1
The Emperor is dead, but the mission
Jabba the Hutt
of Shadow Wing goes on in the second
Marvel Comics
issue of this fi ve-part mini-series. Writer: Greg Pak
As writer Jody Houser and artist Artist: Marc Laming
Rogê Antônio’s tale continues, shock Cover Artists: Terry Dodson,
engulfs the TIE pilots of Shadow Wing Rachel Dodson
when it appears they may have come

under fire from their fellow Imperials. Star Wars: Age of Republic #1
Lando Calrissian
Could the dangerous influence of the

Marvel Comics
traitors in the Rebellion have extended
Writer: Greg Pak
even further than they had anticipated,
Artist: Chris Sprouse
or might something more sinister be Cover Artists: Terry Dodson,
at work? Find out on May 15, as the Rachel Dodson
elite pilots of Shadow Wing set out to
investigate treason in the ranks. Star Wars Adventures
Annual 2019
IDW Comics
Writer: Cavan Scott
Star Wars Ewoks #1 Artist: Mauricet
Cover Artist: Stan Sakai
Star Wars fans can travel all the way
back to the 1980s thanks to Marvel
Comics’ “True Believers” reprint
program, and the May 1 release
of Star Wars Ewoks #1.
Originally published by Star
Comics (an imprint of Marvel)
in May of 1985 as a tie-in to the
animated television series of the
same name, this adventure unites
Ewok heroes Wicket, Teebo, and
Princess Kneesaa as they venture
far beyond the safe environs of
Bright Tree Village on an epic quest
for a cure for the deadly eff ects
of the Nightshade thorn, hidden
somewhere in the forests of Endor.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 17

THE
SKYWALKER
SAGA




INFINITE



POSSIBILITIES



Star Wars: A New Hope



Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) may be the fourth installment
of the Skywalker Saga, but it was the first story to introduce the

galaxy far, far away to the world. Insider explores what makes it
timeless and still a favorite for many fans.


Words: Tricia Barr

THE SKYWALKER SAGA









“Star Wars will undoubtedly emerge

as one of the true cl assics in the


genre of science fiction/fantasy

films. In any event, it will be


thrilling audiences of all ages

for a long time to come.” 


Ron Pennington, The Holly wood Reporter









FACTS & ometimes it seems that means we may never look at
FIGURES like we already Red Squadron the same way again.

Title / Star Wars: S know everything After taking an introspective
A New Hope there is to know look at each of the prequel trilogy
Episode / Four about Star Wars: A movies in the last three issues of
Poster Tagline / A long New Hope. Insider, Episode IV heralds the
time ago, in a galaxy far, Today, fans have access to origins of the franchise, with the
far away....
four decades-worth of print and story of a farm boy who took on
Theatrical Release /
May 25, 1977 television interviews, behind- the mighty Death Star and at the
the-scenes documentaries, and same time launched a movie-
Run time / 121 mins
MPAA / “Rated PG” making-of books that provide making juggernaut. Over the years,
Budget / $11 Million insight not just from cast and much has been written about how
Domestic Opening crew, but directly from George every Star Wars tale that followed
Weekend / $1,554,475 Lucas himself. The fi rst Star Wars A New Hope has broadened and
Domestic Box Offi ce / story is not some half-forgotten deepened our understanding of
$460,998,007
movie from a bygone era, and it. Less familiar, now, is the fi lm
Worldwide Box Offi ce / it never will be: on holiday as a singular entity in the context
$775,398,007
weekends it often finds its way in which it first existed. Back in


Awards / Academy Awards
for Best Art Direction, Best into TV scheduling, and of course, 1977, Star Wars (the movie’s sparse
Costume Design, Best home entertainment makes title for its initial theatrical release)
Film Editing, Best Original
Score, Best Sound, and Best it immediately available at a became a cultural zeitgeist with the
Visual Effects. moment’s whim. And yet—even right mix of ingredients: timing,
now—it transpires that not all the never-before-seen visuals, and a

film’s secrets have been uncovered. script that relied on the universal
For National Trivia Day (January 4) understanding of myth. Lucas’ tour
2019, Luke Skywalker actor Mark de force changed the audience and
Hamill shared this gem on Twitter: the movie industry in the process.
“Because of a record heatwave
in England when we fi lmed the It’s All In The Timing
original [Star Wars], most of the Star Wars premiered amid a
pilots wore only the top-half of decade of major upheaval in the
their costume, attacking the Death USA. Military involvement in
Star wearing shorts.” A revelation Vietnam ended with retreat



















STAR WARS INSIDER / 19

THE SKYWALKER SAGA






and acrimony, and within a year, 01
Richard Nixon became the fi rst
president to resign the offi ce after
the stunning revelations of the
Watergate scandal. Opposition
to the desegregation of schools
extended beyond the South to cities
like Boston, and the push to codify
the victories of the women’s rights
movement into a constitutional
Equal Rights Amendment stalled
short of the number of states
needed for ratifi cation. Optimism
for the power of protest to change
society for the better had given way
to cynicism about the lengths those
in power would go to keep it.
Hollywood’s prestige fi lms

reflected this social consciousness.
Instead of heroic fi gures, the
protagonists were often gangsters
or criminals, as in Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid (1969),
The Godfather (1972) and The
Godfather: Part II (1974), The Sting
(1973), Chinatown (1974), and
Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Other
movies highlighted the dysfunction
of human relationships, from
Cabaret (1972), Deliverance (1972),
and The Exorcist (1973) to Jaws eclectic portfolio that included
(1975) and Taxi Driver (1976). drawings of teeth and dental
Some offered nothing less than equipment, manual diagrams for
surreal dystopia, as in A Clockwork aircraft manufacturer Boeing, and
Orange (1971) and One Flew film posters. It was McQuarrie’s
Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). illustrations of key moments in
There were exceptions, of course, Lucas’ script that helped convince
including Lucas’ coming-of-age 20th Century Fox to undertake
movie American Graffi ti (1973), but the space opera. Credited with
notably few of the decade’s most defining many of the iconic looks
acclaimed and fi nancially successful for the franchise, including the

films offered much in the way of Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca,
aspirational escapism. C-3PO and R2-D2, it was the artist’s
Against that movie milieu, suggestions for Darth Vader and
Star Wars gave audiences a stark his samurai-infused look that
contrast. The good guys won cemented the Sith Lord as one of
(and they were heroes worthy of the most recognizable characters
rooting for), while the bad guys in film history. In an interview
lost, earning comeuppance for with Star Wars Insider #76 in 2004,
their arrogance. Despite the near- McQuarrie recalled Lucas’ ideas for 02
death escapes and long odds, hope Vader: “He wanted to have a very

could still prevail, and the movie tall, dark, fl uttering figure that had
gave audiences permission to be a spooky feeling, like it came in on
optimistic again, too. the wind.” McQuarrie’s addition of Back in 1977, Star Wars
a breathing apparatus stuck around (the sparse title for its initial
Seeing is Believing long after the Imperial troops
theatrical release) became
To aid in visualizing his universe, boarded the captured blockade
George Lucas turned to artist runner, and ultimately even
Ralph McQuarrie, creator of an influenced the villain’s backstory. a cultural zeitgeist.






20 / STAR WARS INSIDER

THE SKYWALKER SAGA





The first Star Wars story is not

some half-forgotten movie from

a bygone era, and it never will be.





03

















































As concept became reality The Evolution of an Idea
during filming, the lived-in feel of Having directed the successful

the galaxy far, far away contrasted American Graffi ti, Lucas embarked
starkly against other science-fi ction on his next project, a movie
films and television of the day, such inspired by The Hidden Fortress

as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) (1958). The biggest parallel with
and Star Trek (1966-1969), which Akira Kurosawa’s classic is the way
depicted futuristic civilizations the adventure unfolds through
in pristine condition. While the the eyes of the lowliest characters.
interiors of the Death Star—coded In A New Hope’s case, this lens to
with black, white, and gray— the adventure is the droids. The
reinforced this notion of the sterile opening crawl tells the basics of
Empire, Tatooine and the rebel the journey: civil war and rebels
base appeared time-worn and in versus an Empire in possession of a
desperate need of repair. X-wings superweapon that must be stopped.
were patched together, while the It takes 20 minutes from the point
droids C-3PO and R2-D2 were Leia deposits the stolen Death Star
bumped and scraped and required plans in R2-D2 until her plea to

01 Ralph McQuarrie’s samurai-infused basic maintenance. The movie Obi-Wan Kenobi is revealed, and
concept art of Darth Vader. visually delineated the haves from much of that time is spent with
the have-nots, eliminating the need the mechanical duo.
02 The color palette used to define the
Empire was kept deliberatey sterile. to explain why we should root Although A New Hope borrows
for the underdog Rebel Alliance; several ideas from Kurosawa, Lucas
03 Much of the first 20 minutes of instead, it clearly showed us, in no was aiming for a film in the vein of

A New Hope is spent in the company
of droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. uncertain terms. the 1936 serial Flash Gordon, the





STAR WARS INSIDER / 21

THE SKYWALKER SAGA











04













NEW HOPE

Though outwardly one of the feelgood
movies in the Skywalker saga fi lms, A
New Hope is deep into the saga’s dark
cycle. Evil dominates the galaxy, and
Darth Vader—the Emperor’s merciless
enforcer—is its physical representation.
The heroic yet confl icted focus of the
prequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker, is long
gone. In his place, Vader is a truly terrifying
reminder that any of us has the potential
to become the villain of the piece.
Like many other popular stories, Star
Wars explores the theme of the parent-
child relationship. Are we beholden to our
parents’ desires or their status in life? Does
destiny compel us to become what our
parents are? In William Shakespeare’s play,
The Merchant of Venice, the character
Launcelot spells this out specifi cally:
“The sins of the father are to be laid
upon the children.”
rights to which he had tried to buy thousand years, generations of JEDI
Faced with the murder of Aunt Beru
and Uncle Owen at the hands of the before setting his sights on creating perfected their art as the personal
Empire, Luke Skywalker pledges to join Star Wars. Both Flash Gordon and bodyguards of the EMPEROR.
Obi-Wan Kenobi on his quest. In his most Buck Rogers (1939) serials used They were the chief architects of
desperate hour, Luke fi nds hope in a
new understanding of his father, recently crawls to establish where each the invincible IMPERIAL SPACE
revealed by Kenobi (albeit from a certain installment began, and likewise, FORCE, which expanded the
point of view). Confronted with evil, he A New Hope’s iconic intro and the EMPIRE across the galaxy, from
wants to counter that darkness, to become
a guardian of peace and justice who uses fi lm’s in media res (meaning “into the celestial equator to the farthest
the Force for good. the middle of things”) opening reaches of the GREAT RIFT.
Just like cinema audiences in 1977, gives the impression that we have “Now these legendary warriors
Luke wasn’t yet aware that the Jedi his been dropped into the middle of are all but extinct. One by one,
father had been and the towering, black-
clad Sith Lord were one and the same. the story, paving the way for the they have been hunted down and
That Darth Vader might be given a chance prequel trilogy two decades later. destroyed as enemies of the NEW
to turn back to the light was not even Losing out on the rights to Flash EMPIRE by a ferocious and sinister
a consideration. It’s a measure of how
different Luke and Anakin/Vader are that, Gordon opened a door of infi nite rival warrior sect, THE KNIGHTS
when he learned the truth, the son of storytelling possibilities, and OF SITH.”
Skywalker became determined to try. with McQuarrie’s help, Lucas—to Even the shooting script,
borrow a phrase from Han Solo— Adventures of Luke Starkiller—As
“imagined quite a bit.” Taken from the “Journal of the
Luke Skywalker’s journey Ultimately the original story Whills” (Saga I): Star Wars, called its
in A New Hope maps over Lucas pitched, a 13-page summary, protagonist by another name. The
ideas in these many versions were
and the final shooting script,

to Campbell’s monomythic went through several changes, as often recycled into later stories,
structure so well that it evidenced by an early version of including the names Starkiller,
the crawl which revealed quite a
Mace Windu, and Bendu.
has become a frequent different tale: The Language of Myth
“Until the recent GREAT
example for explaining REBELLION, the JEDI BENDU The influence of Joseph Campbell’s

the mythic concept. were the most feared warriors in book The Hero With a Thousand
Faces on the storytelling in Star
the universe. For one hundred





22 / STAR WARS INSIDER

THE SKYWALKER SAGA





05












04 The opening
of A New
Hope drops
viewers into
the middle of
the story.

05 Luke
Skywalker
dreams of
adventure far
beyond life
on the farm.
06 Princess
Leia’s plea for
help changes
the course of
Skywalker’s
young life.

07 The farm boy
from Tatooine
becomes a
galactic hero.


































06 07


Wars is well-documented. is won. The hero comes back from based films attest—but it does

Campbell, a comparative literature this mysterious adventure with explain why the audiences of 1977
professor, described how myths, the power to bestow boons on found so much familiarity in a
although arising in many his fellow man.” Luke Skywalker’s visual spectacle so unlike anything
different cultures, boil down to journey in A New Hope maps they had ever seen before.
universal themes that all humans over to Campbell’s monomythic In combination with his own
understand. In the book, Campbell structure so well that it has become ambition and vision for the fi lm,
encapsulated the monomyth hero’s a frequent example for explaining Lucas worked in collaboration with
journey as follows: “A hero ventures the mythic concept. many other brilliant people, too.
forth from the world of common Perfectly utilizing an age-old From the special-effects pioneers
day into a region of supernatural mythic structure doesn’t guarantee to the many beloved actors who
wonder. Fabulous forces are there success—as the box offi ce stumbles brought their characters to life,
encountered and a decisive victory of numerous other monomyth- he asked people to do things






STAR WARS INSIDER / 23

THE SKYWALKER SAGA






that hadn’t been done before, and 08
they met the young fi lmmaker’s
passion with their own, exceeding
expectations across the board. Most
importantly, the iconic closing
act—a showdown between a small
contingent of rebel snubfi ghters
and the Death Star and its
considerable resources—would
not have worked if the team of
modelmakers and effects artists
hadn’t been able to pull off the
space battle with compelling
visuals. Marcia Lucas, who earned
an editing Oscar for the fi lm,
recrafted the trench run sequence,
overhauling the director’s original
idea to increase the dramatic
tension, and ensured that the
Millennium Falcon’s return to the
battle delivered on the emotional
investment the audience had made not to mention several new on a remote, desolate planet?
in Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, generations of fans who have And most importantly, what
and Han Solo. come to the franchise later, in its exactly was the Force? Many years
Now, with four decades of more fully developed state—it can before the availability of instant
hindsight into one of the largest be easy to overlook how much of global communication, fans didn’t
storytelling brands in the world— the myth contained in Star Wars have readily accessible resource
was left to the imagination of the books or myriad internet articles
1977 audience. While the fi lm to parse the specifi cs. Conventions
may have dropped quite a bit of and fanzines reached only a small
It can be easy to overlook worldbuilding into the audience’s segment of the audience and

how much of the myth lap, it didn’t explain what a womp creators worried less about their
rat looked like or the rules of
words being projected across the
contained in Star Wars was holochess. What were the Clone internet and occasionally spun far
Wars? What was the Kessel Run?
from their original context. Fans
left to the imagination of What events had transpired to might discuss their theories with
the 1977 audience. leave a Jedi Knight like Obi-Wan local friends, or make new ones
while waiting in line to see the
Kenobi living a solitary existence
movie again at the theater, but the
earliest Star Wars lived mostly in its
09
followers’ imaginations.
The success of the early years
of Star Wars merchandise fi t this
mold, and was directly linked
to the ways it allowed fans to
continue their own adventures in a
galaxy far, far away. Now, that fi rst
generation of fans who so joyfully
played with their action fi gures
as children have the opportunity
08 Luke Skywalker to set their own imaginations
(Mark Hamill) loose on that world that inspired
takes on the
Death Star. them so long ago, not just as

filmmakers, but also as authors,
09 Audiences game developers, comic creatives,
became
emotionally and television screenwriters and
invested in directors. It turns out that the Star
A New Hope’s Wars universe really is as big as we
central trio
of heroes. imagined it back then.





24 / STAR WARS INSIDER

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The former hospital porter who found fame as a giant,
furry space smuggler talks to Star Wars Insider about

playing the galaxy’s favorite fuzzball.



W ORDS: MARK NEWBOLD

INTERVIEW: PETER MAYHEW






hile there may
01
not be a real
W mystical energy
field that puts
the right people
in the right
place at the right time, fate has
famously played a hand in Star
Wars casting over the years.
Indeed, it was one such fortuitous
incident—a photograph of 7
foot 3 inches tall Peter Mayhew,
printed in a regional newspaper—
that led to worldwide fame as
Chewbacca the Wookiee.
It was that article, about men
with big feet, that set off a chain
of events that steered Mayhew
away from his job as an orderly at
02 01 Peter Mayhew
London’s King’s College Hospital to
on the set of
the door of Andor Films, and their Star Wars:
fantasy-adventure movie, Sinbad Revenge of
the Sith (2005).
and the Eye of the Tiger (1977).
Cast as the towering bronze bull 02 Mayhew
(Chewbacca)
Minoton, the film gave the actor
and Carrie Fisher
his first experience of working with (Leia) share an
special effects (under the legendary off-camera
moment during
Ray Harryhausen). The film was
the filming of
a box-office success, but after Star Wars: The
production wrapped in October Empire Strikes
Back (1980).
1975, Mayhew returned to his day
job at King’s College. A year later,
a galaxy far, far away pulled him
into its orbit, and after an initial
meeting with George Lucas, he was
cast as the mighty Chewbacca in
Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).
“I was nervous when I sat down
in his office,” the actor recalls of
that initial meeting and his first
impressions of the role. “I had been on the role that would eventually entire film,” Mayhew admits, after


recommended by a friend to do a define his professional career. giving the matter some careful
part. When George Lucas explained However, things could have gone consideration. “I can’t imagine
Star Wars to me, I thought it was very differently for the actor—and how that would’ve gone.”
unbelievable. What he created was quite possibly the entire franchise— To help realize his cinematic
incredible. I was very excited to had it not been for another piece vision, Lucas and producer Gary
have been offered the opportunity.” of serendipitous timing. Lucas Kurtz brought together a crew of
With the full support of his had originally ear-marked the role technicians and industry veterans,
friends and family, Mayhew took of Chewbacca for body builder including renowned makeup
Dave Prowse, but when the actor supervisor Stuart Freeborn, an
“When George instead elected to portray Darth industry stalwart who played a
Lucas explained Vader (citing that audiences always pivotal part in creating Chewbacca’s

Star Wars to me, remember the bad guy), it led iconic look. “Stuart did most of the
work designing and making it,” the
to Mayhew’s casting as the loyal
I thought it was Wookiee. With each actor having actor recalls, reminiscing about the
unbelievable. so memorably defined their roles, team he worked so closely with.


What he created it’s difficult to contemplate them “He knew exactly what we were

getting into. He was a master at
filling the other’s boots. “I honestly
was incredible.” think it would have changed the making costumes under pressure,




STAR WARS INSIDER / 27

INTERVIEW: PETER MAYHEW






and his wife Kay did most of the
03
daily maintenance and grooming.
I was honored to work with such a
talented crew.”
With the role and costume
under his bandolier, and Ben Burtt
(special dialogue and sound effects
designer) assembling a library of
Wookiee vocalizations, it was left

to Mayhew to figure out how he
should bring Chewbacca to life on
screen. In search of inspiration for
Chewie’s unique mannerisms, he
took trips to the local zoo to watch
the movements of apes, bears, and
gorillas, and then worked closely

with the film’s production crew

to put his findings into practice.
04
“The directors and producers gave
me most of the direction, usually
when we were rehearsing a scene,”
Mayhew explains. “After that, I
made a lot of choices on my own.”
The end result was a memorable,
engaging performance, imbued
with the actor’s character and spirit
now familiar to his legion of fans.

Making Wookiee

When Star Wars finally made its

North American debut on May 25,
1977, initially in just a handful of
theaters, it didn’t take long before it
had captured the public’s attention
and rocketed to the top of the box

office. Yet despite its exploding
popularity both domestically and
then across the globe, for many—
including some of the cast—the Mayhew relative anonymity, and 03 Stuart Freeborn adjusts the Chewbacca
sudden success was unexpected. the actor was able to go about his mask during a costume fitting with
Mayhew (seated).
“It was very surprising,” Mayhew day-to-day business as normal
agrees, “I honestly didn’t know that while he considered his next career 04 Mayhew enjoyed his on-set camaraderie
with actors Harrison Ford (Han Solo)
much about the movie industry move. Despite making a couple
and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker).
at that point. I just tried to do of television appearances, it was
everything that was asked of me. very much business as before for 05 Makeup artist Kay Freeborn grooms
Chewbacca on the Docking bay 94 set.
At the time it was a steady pay Mayhew. “I just went back to work
check, and the rest is history!” at the hospital,” he admits. “The 06 Han and Chewie escape the Death Star

While co-stars Mark Hamill, film didn’t change things that in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977).
Carrie Fisher, and Harrison much, but I was grateful to be able
Ford were catapulted into the to buy a car I could fi t inside!” to its predecessor according to
limelight and became instant While A New Hope was still Mayhew, who had been pleased to
household names, Chewbacca’s raking in dollars at the box offi ce, receive the call to reprise his role.
all-encompassing costume afforded Lucas had begun work on a sequel, “There was a difference in style,
and had made the decision to pass and everything else,” Mayhew
the directorial reins of Star Wars: remembers of the shoot. “It was
“Acting in the snow was The Empire Strikes Back (1980) to Lucas and Gary Kurtz on A New
fine. Rolling in snow made Irvin Kershner. With new hands at Hope, and Kershner and Kurtz

the tiller, production of the highly
on Empire.” However, for the
me happy like a puppy.” anticipated sequel felt very different unassuming actor, the change in





28 / STAR WARS INSIDER

06




“It wasn’t about the war
for Chewie. It was about his
friend, who rescued him

from the Empire.”
05




personnel resulted in an enjoyable shooting, and heating,” he recalls.
THE MAYHEW MAGIC learning curve. “I was painfully shy “Acting in the snow was fi ne.
back then,” he reveals. “All three Rolling in snow made me happy
As the loyal Chewbacca, Mayhew often stole of my mentors taught me. I was like a puppy—but going inside
the show on the big screen, but he has also
notched up some equally memorable small screen always watching and listening. with the snow-covered suit turned
adventures as the wonderful Wookiee: Kershner was a very hands-on me into a heavy, wet mess of fur!”
In 1977 Mayhew made a cameo appearance as teacher and was always very Another box-office hit, the success

Chewie on the Donnie and Marie show, followed particular about his instructions. of the second Star Wars outing
by a big role in 1978’s Star Wars Holiday Special. In

February 1980 Chewie guest-starred on The Muppet I followed most of them.” afforded a financial security that
Show alongside R2-D2, C-3PO, and Mark Hamill, The production returned to allowed the cautious Mayhew to
busting the kind of Wookiee dance moves that only the familiar stages and corridors make a significant life change. “It

the Muppets can inspire! Chewbacca has also been
seen in the comedy short Return of the Ewok (1982), of Elstree Studios, but in addition, wasn’t until after Empire that I quit
the Glee episode “Extraordinary Merry Christmas” location shooting meant a trip working at the hospital,” he reveals.
(2011), and could be seen taking a seat in the to Norway and the remote Basking in the glow of The
original Star Tours ride boarding video.
While he may have offi cially hung up his furry mountain village of Finse, which Empire Strikes Back’s success,
Chewbacca boots, Mayhew remains a big part doubled as ice planet Hoth. It production began on Star Wars:
of the Star Wars family as the offi cial Chewbacca was an opportunity Mayhew Return of the Jedi (1983), this time
Consultant on Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and relished. “Norway was a wonderful under the helm of new director
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), ensuring that future
generations will continue to enjoy Chewbacca with experience, although it created lots Richard Marquand. The change
a hefty dose of Mayhew magic. of problems for the production, in personnel again resulted in the
what with the transportation, shoot having another fresh






STAR WARS INSIDER / 29

INTERVIEW: PETER MAYHEW






feel. “It was a completely different
07
production without Gary,” Mayhew
shares. “Richard was an actor,
and approached the fi lming that
way. Gary had a much broader
perspective on what the fi nal
picture needed to be. But really
it was just great getting the gang
back together.”

More Than A Co-Pilot
It’s impossible to refl ect on
Chewbacca’s impact upon Star
Wars without mentioning the
relationship at the heart of the
character’s enduring appeal; the
Wookiee’s friendship with rogue ‘fl y
boy’ Han Solo. It was a connection
that stretched beyond celluloid,
forming the basis of an enduring
comradeship between two actors.
“Harrison and I had a relationship
like you see on the screen,”
Mayhew expresses with genuine
warmth. “We became good friends,
and he was easy to work with.
While we only see each other on
rare occasions now, we will always
have a special bond. Star Wars
changed our lives forever.”
Reflecting on the Wookiee’s

loyalty to Han through daring
escapades, dodgy deals, and the

fight against the Empire and the
First Order, Mayhew reveals, “It
wasn’t about the war for Chewie. It
was about his friend, who rescued
07 Mayhew reprised his role as
him from the Empire and to whom
Chewbacca in Star Wars:
he owed a life debt. Chewie became Revenge of the Sith (2005).
Han’s conscience, and always
08 Peter Mayhew (top right) with his Star
wanted to do what was right.” Wars co-stars, (left to right) Harrison
For many, Chewbacca was the Ford, Dave Prowse, Carrie Fisher,
Kenny Baker, and Mark Hamill.
heart and soul of the inseparable
duo, and Mayhew has his own
thoughts on their partnership. “In
the early drafts of the story, there sharing the role with newcomer
was just this one furry smuggler Joonas Suotamo, with whom
character,” he reveals. “Later, Mayhew was happy to pass on
George chose to turn that into two his Wookie know-how.
parts, so maybe that says it all.” More than four decades after
After the original trilogy, taking a break from his day job
Mayhew reprised his famous role to spend months dressed as a
in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith walking carpet, Mayhew is keen to
(2005), and lent his vocal talents to acknowledge the people without
The Clone Wars season three fi nale whom none of it would have been
episode “Wookiee Hunt,” but it was possible. “The real heroes are the
with Star Wars: The Force Awakens fans,” he reflects fondly. “They have

(2015) that the actor made his kept Star Wars and Chewie alive for
08
swansong as the heroic Chewbacca, the last 40 years.”





30 / STAR WARS INSIDER

TRAVEL ACROSS THE UNIVERSE



WITH EVERY INCARNATION OF




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GARY KURTZ






THE SPARK THAT LIT THE FIRE



Without the input and tenacity of Gary Kurtz, producer of Star Wars: A
New Hope (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980), it’s quite possible
the movie landscape of today would be very diff erent—and Star Wars
merely a footnote in the annals of fi lm history. Before his sad passing
in 2018, Insider spoke with the award-winning producer, director, and
production manager to discover just what it took to get a certain
unnamed space-fantasy project off the ground.

W ORDS: PAT J ANKIEWI C Z



INTERVIEW: GARY KURTZ






ary Douglas Kurtz Luckily for the fi lm-making proven themselves to be bankable,
was a seasoned duo, not everyone shared that as the producer recalled. “American
G assistant director sentiment. “In the end, the picture Graffi ti had done well,” he said,

wound up at Twentieth Century
by the time his
“so it was much
path crossed with Fox because it was the only studio easier for Ladd to
that of a young that was interested,” admitted go to the board of KURTZ’S
filmmaker named George Lucas Kurtz, candidly. “If you look back directors and say,

in the early 1970s, having already carefully at the 1970s, almost ‘These guys made CAREER
worked for a number of big-name all of the science-fi ction movies this low-budget fi lm, Born in Los Angeles in
Hollywood studios including made at the time were dour, post- it made money, and 1940, prolifi c producer
Crown International, American apocalyptic tragedies; Logan’s Run now they want to and director Gary Kurtz
carved out a name for
International Pictures, and (1976), Rollerball (1975), and the make a low-budget
himself in the fi lm industry
Paramount, across a variety various Planet of the Apes sequels, science-fi ction fi lm. as an assistant director
of genres from westerns to were all about how the world was The script is dense, and production manager
during the 1960s, but was
horror. But it was through his terrible—or going to be terrible,” convoluted, and
forced to put his career
collaborations with Lucas on he laughed. “No wonder science- difficult to read, but on hold when called up

American Graffi ti (1973), then fiction was unpopular! Nobody let’s take a chance. for military service in

Star Wars: A New Hope and its understood that what we were The worst that could Vietnam as part of the
U.S. Marine Corps.
much-loved sequel, The Empire pitching with Star Wars was the happen is we lose After his return

Strikes Back, that he had a hand kind of film that was a mix of the nine million dollars! to Hollywood, Kurtz

in defining popular culture. Flash Gordon serials from the 1930s We have these other concentrated on building
a career in studio pictures,
“I promise you, that’s not and Forbidden Planet from 1956. movies that we’re
and in the early 1970s
how we saw it,” the experienced That’s how we talked about it, but spending much began a collaboration
producer revealed to Star Wars the studios really didn’t see it.” more on and they’re with fi lmmaker George
Lucas that would
Insider. “We didn’t look at Star With their sci-fi fantasy bound to work.’”
ultimately change his life.
Wars as a big thing, it was just adventure fl oundering before Despite Ladd’s After working together
another movie. cameras had even started rolling, support, Lucas and on the cult coming-of-age
“We originally had a two- the prospects for the galaxy far, far Kurtz realized that movie American Graffi ti
(1973), Kurtz went on
picture deal with United Artists, away being made looked ever more conveying their
to serve as producer
but they backed out after reading distant—until salvation arrived complex vision was on both Star Wars: A
the American Graffi ti script,” Kurtz in the form of Twentieth Century going to take some New Hope (1977) and
The Empire Strikes Back
recalled of those early days in his Fox head of production, Alan Ladd doing. “The team
(1980). After permanently
and Lucas’ working relationship. Jr. (known to friends as ‘Laddie’). at Fox didn’t really relocating to the U.K.,
“I then took it to Universal Pictures, “Laddie said he was interested, but understand the script the producer went in
because I had done a fi lm named admitted that was mainly because for Star Wars and, search of new projects
rather than returning
Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) for them American Graffi ti had done so I have to admit, it for the fi nal instalment
and knew Lew Wasserman, the well,” Kurtz recalled. Ladd would didn’t really read of the original trilogy,
legendary talent agent and studio later reveal that Chewbacca was the easily at all,” the and the early 1980s saw
him attached to several
executive. So, we did American character that fi nally convinced producer gamely
big-name projects,
Graffi ti for Universal and talked him to produce Star Wars, because acknowledged. including the Henson
about doing Star Wars, which, back the giant Wookiee was reminiscent “With all the funny Company’s The Dark
Crystal (1982), Disney’s
then, was known as our ‘Unnamed of the primate leads in Fox’s most characters, strange
Return to Oz (1985), and
Science-Fiction Project.’ Lew turned popular franchise. “The Planet of names, and odd Slipstream (1989)–which
it down, which he later told me the Apes films did very well for things scribbled in, featured Star Wars’ very

was one of the biggest mistakes Fox and I think that may have it took a lot of visual own Mark Hamill. Kurtz
later helmed several
of his life,” the producer laughed. persuaded them to do something imagination to make
fi lms and TV shows,
“He told me, ‘What can I say? I just else in the science-fi ction area,” any sense of it,” he including The Thief and
don’t like sci-fi !‘” Kurtz confi rmed. “Star Wars is added. Thankfully, the Cobbler (1993), and
The Steal (1995). His last
quite different from a storytelling Lucas and Kurtz
project was as executive
point of view, but Fox was the only had an ace up their producer on the critically
“We didn’t studio that had recently done well sleeves worthy of acclaimed fi lm Gangster

look at Star in science-fiction, so that was very Lando Calrissian, Kittens (2016).
lucky for us!”
in the shape of
Wars as a big Ralph McQuarrie’s
thing, it was Making Your Own Luck exceptional concept art. “Ralph’s
While Star Wars and the sci-fi genre
artwork really did help,” said Kurtz.
just another were altogether different beasts to “It meant we could show it to the
the movie they had already made studio and say, ‘This is what we see;
movie.” together, Lucas and Kurtz had this is what it’s going to be like.’”






34 / STAR WARS INSIDER

01




01 Kurtz on the Their forward thinking paid off
rebel base when Ladd confirmed his studio
hangar set
at Elstree would back the film. “Laddie said,
Studios in ‘Yeah, we’ll take a chance on it,’”
London.
Kurtz revealed. “At the time, it was
01 Star Wars: only an investment of eight-and-
A New Hope a-half million dollars—although it
producer
Gary Kurtz ended up eventually being ten—but
on location for Fox it wound up being a really
in Tunisia.
low budget film, because they
had several movies that year that
were going to end up with $25-30
million dollar budgets.
“To Fox, Star Wars was an easy
risk. They figured it would probably
appeal to a hard core science-fiction
audience. If it did, it would make its
money back, maybe make a small
profit, and that would be the end of
it,” Kurtz laughed. “That’s kind of
how they looked at it—a minimal
risk on their part!”
However, one creative decision
presented a potentially expensive
problem, as Kurtz explained. “As it
turned out, we made the decision
02 to distribute the film with a Dolby





STAR WARS INSIDER / 35

INTERVIEW: GARY KURTZ






Stereo mix, so A New Hope 03 Gary Kurtz take the picture, but back then it “It was amazing
became one of the fi rst fi lms (right) with was a different story. “It was quite
Sir Alec
released with a Dolby Stereo Guinness. common in those days, and all how many
soundtrack. But none of the the studios did it,” the producer people were
04 (Left to right)
cinemas that A New Hope fi rst revealed. “If they had a big, popular
Mark Hamill
opened in were set up to use (Luke film coming out in the summertime, interested in a
the sound system, and they Skywalker), they would say, ‘I’ve got these two
Gary Kurtz, fi lm they hadn’t
didn’t want to spend the money little films and you’ve got to take
and Harrison
upgrading, especially on a fi lm Ford (Han them if you want the big one.’ yet seen.”
they weren’t sure about. So, Fox Solo).. They had to do that with Star Wars,
had to guarantee the cost of 05 Kurtz with because the cinemas were as wary of
Dolby installation in those fi rst George Lucas science-fiction as the studios were.”
during a
35 theaters.” “Charley Lippincott was head
production
The studio was determined meeting. Spreading The Word of marketing, and he had contacts
to make a return on this costly With funding for their project in the fan world as well,” Kurtz
outlay, and used its much- finally secured, it was time to recollected. “We did everything
anticipated The Other Side of embark on the next charm that we could think of to put the

Midnight (1977) as leverage to offensive—but this time, it wasn’t film out there, so people would
induce theaters to pick up A New studio executives that would need know about it by the time it
Hope. Kurtz recalled that, “Fox to be won over. “I had this idea that opened. It was a conscious effort
told theaters, ‘If you take Star we would sell the science-fiction to push all of those markets. We
Wars, you’ll get The Other Side of audience on the fact that nothing went to several science-fi ction
Midnight.’” These days, with Star like this had been made in a long conventions. There was the
Wars now established as one of the time, and if we got these fans Worldcon, regional cons, and the

most successful film franchises of all behind us, we would have a kind San Diego Comic-Con. We took
time, it seems ridiculous to imagine of ‘talking wave’ to inspire word of statues of C-3PO and R2-D2 and a
cinemas would need incentives to mouth,” Kurtz recalled. mock-up of Darth Vader with us,
But to spark any level of interest and all of the Ralph McQuarrie
in the new movie, they first had artwork. We set everything up, just
“With all the funny to track down those all-important to give a feeling of what the picture
fans. Nowadays, a director may was going to be like, and presented
characters, strange drop a cryptic clue or post a couple it in the most upbeat, positive way

names and odd of behind-the-scenes-images on that we could.”
social media and, with the click of Kurtz’s presentation even ran
things scribbled in, a button, allow the viral wonder of to an early teaser trailer, of sorts.

it took a lot of visual the internet to work its magic, but “We had some slides from the live
action unit of the film and set

back in the heady days of the mid
imagination to make 1970s, reaching out to fans meant up a small slideshow. There were
any sense of it.” only one thing: they had to hit the no visual effects in them because
convention trail.
they weren’t ready at the time,
so the screening wasn’t all that
impressive,” he chuckled. “But
03
the idea was that the fans would
talk it up a bit, so that by the time

the film came out, there would be
enough of a fan base that it would
do okay. We were trying to get
the image of the fi lm embedded
in peoples’ minds. It was amazing
how many people were interested
in a film they hadn’t yet seen.”


5…4…3…2…1…Go!
Kurtz and his team clearly did a
good job creating a buzz around
the movie because, as the producer
acknowledged, “The word on Star
Wars was pretty strong by the time
we got to Worldcon and Comic-

04



Con. It was good, and knowing 05
that the fan base was there relaxed

us a bit. We figured the fi lm would
do well enough to make Fox—and
us—a little bit of money.”
Star Wars may have had the
convention scene under its belt, but
the publicity machine didn’t stop
there. “We also made a comic-book
deal with Marvel Comics, with the
plan that a Star Wars comic book
would come out three months

before the film,” Kurtz explained.
With the marketing front
covered, attention turned to testing

the fi nished film in front of an
actual audience. “When the time

came for the film to be fi nished
and opened, we screened it in San
Francisco for a select audience, and
thankfully it went over well,” Kurtz
recalled. “It was a cross section of

people, aged from five to 85 years
old. It wasn’t a cheering, ecstatic
audience, but they reacted as we an emotional experience, and I “I did get one preview card from
had expected. don’t think it helps much,” Kurtz that screening that I kept, which
“We handed out preview cards said. “We knew that the audience I still have,” Kurtz revealed with a
so that the audience could write responded well because we watched smile. “The guy—I think he must
down their thoughts on the movie, them as they watched the fi lm. have been probably only 16 or 17—

but only because the studio asked Their response validated it. The said, ‘This is the worst film I have
us to. I’ve never liked those cards preview was just to give the studio seen in my life since Godzilla Vs.
because they require people to a sense of comfort, and the fi lm The Sea Monster!’ [Laughs] I had
make intellectual comments about wasn’t changed in any way. that one framed!”






STAR WARS INSIDER / 37

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The Grand








Tour of












Tatooine









Revisiting the Star Wars

locations of Tunisia






W ORDS: THOMA S SCHUS TER


RENO VATI ON TEAM: D ANE BR A UN, INE SS BROUK,
DOMINIK K ALI S Z, THOMA S SCHUS TER.
PHO T OS: D ANE BR A UN, THOMA S SCHUS TER

THE GRAND TOUR OF TATOOINE






n April 2018 a
group of Star Wars
I fans from Austria,

Germany, and
Tunisia traveled to
all corners of the
North African country to determine
the current condition of each of its
Tatooine filming locations. Austrian
team member Thomas Schuster tells
Insider about the desert road trip,
and their mission to renovate the
Lars Homestead set.


Star Wars Insider: How did your
team first come together, and what
inspired you to visit and document
the Tunisian filming locations?
Thomas Schuster: I knew Dane
Braun from the Rebel Legion and
I was impressed by his Star Wars
Tunisia panel at Noris Force Con 4 01 The renovation team hard at work replastering the entrance to the Lars Homestead.
back in 2015. That’s the fascinating
phenomenon of Star Wars, the Rebel
Legion, and the 501st Legion; they music video project to raise money to holes in the upper façade which had
bring people together from all over the save Mos Espa. And it worked—Mos been caused by visitors climbing the
world, and together we can achieve Espa was successfully excavated from structure for photos.
great things, like helping sick children a wandering sand dune. The Lars
or saving film sets in the desert. Dane Homestead is a small fi lming location How much planning were you able to
had previously done several trips in the middle of Chott El Djerid, do prior to the trip, or did you have to
with the National Office of Tunisian which nobody really pays attention to. pull a “Han Solo” and make things up
Tourism, and with RTL—the biggest The last renovation was done by fans as you went along?
German TV channel—which was how in 2012, but since Dane took care
he discovered that the condition of then, the dome had of the long-term
the Star Wars filming locations was been vandalized and “It was an amazing planning (as CO of
getting worse. So together we planned suffered damage caused experience to the Rebel Legion
a trip—not a sightseeing tour—to by salt water during Germany, he has the
gather as much information about the winter months. So preserve this pop- necessary worldwide
the sets as possible and to provide it an urgent renovation culture heritage for connections), I
for free to local authorities and Star was necessary to save brought the building
Wars fans worldwide. Additionally, we the wooden structure the years to come. knowledge, and
wanted to save the Lars Homestead, that was first built for After our work was Iness—our Tunisian

as its condition had deteriorated since Star Wars: Attack of the team member—helped
the last renovation in 2012. Clones (2002) way back done, the sunset was us with the local
The date of our trip was eventually in 2000. thanks enough for language and culture.
scheduled for April 2018. As our group Considering cultural
consisted of members from Tunisia, What state was the set our labor-intensive, aspects, and the fact
sweaty mission.”
Germany, and Austria, we planned the in when you arrived? that there was no
visit using social media, then on April When we got there, big hardware store in
22, 2018, we all met in Frankfurt to the Lars Homestead Thomas Schuster Tozeur, that insight
begin the trip of a lifetime. was in a bad way. It was very important
looked horrible. There during our project.
What initially inspired you to was a big hole on the left side of the We discovered that the chicken wire
embark on the renovation project? entrance, and the whole left base had substructure was rusty, so we made it

Dane Braun, our Tunisian expert, has been eroded by water, so parts of the a priority to fix that. After the survey
visited the filming locations several wooden dome carriers were threatening visit on April 26, it took us two days to
times. Together with his friends from to collapse. The lower façade—which collect all the necessary materials. Then,
Star Wars Tunisia, he’d been part of the had suffered salt water damage—had on April 28, our team completed the
2014 “Happy (We Are from Tatooine)” been broken down, and there were also renovation in one day.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 41

THE GRAND TOUR OF TATOOINE






When approaching the renovation,
did you plan for your repairs to last

longer than a regular film set would?
Based on the impressions in the ground,
production designer Gavin Bocquet’s
team built the 2000 Lars Homestead
in the exact same location as in 1976.
The heart of the set is the wooden
substructure, therefore our fi rst target
was to save that substructure—as it was
for the 2012 renovation project. First we
had to underpin the wooden base with
bricks, as they won’t erode as easily as
wood. After that, the goal was to restore
the façade, which protects the wooden
substructure. We used fabric protection
mats instead of chicken wire to keep it
free from rust. The well-preserved façade 02 New bricks now underpin the Homestead’s wooden substructure to protect it from water saturation.
pieces were then plastered with a new
layer, and we used façade pieces and
plaster to close any remaining holes. Mos Espa is now secure as the Tunisian their pop-culture heritage and charge
government realized its worth. It’s in very low admission fees. All the other
Why do you believe it’s so important the hands of CDTOS (Chambre de locations, like Chalmun’s Cantina, Ben
to save and preserve these historic Développement du Tourisme Oasien Kenobi’s house, and the Lars Homestead
filming locations? et Saharien) and is supported by the are so small that only real Star Wars
Firstly, because we love Star Wars German GIZ (German Association fans would travel to see them, so
and the original film locations; most for International Cooperation). Ksar nobody else cares about them. Our goal
importantly the Lars Homestead, Hadada and Hotel Sidi Driss are also in is to save all those fi lming locations.
which is the the cradle of Star Wars. safe hands as the owners take care of The Lars Homestead is now well
prepared for next winter and, together
with our friends from Tunisia, we’re
currently trying to find the owner of

Chalmun’s Cantina in Ajim.

You‘ve shared your experiences with
other fans through a convention
panel. What was their reaction, and
how do you feel now, when you take
stock of the road trip as a whole?
Sharing our experiences is one of
our key goals, as it’s the only way
to inform fans and local authorities
about the importance of Star Wars
filming locations, and also highlight

their brittleness and caducity. Our
panel premiered at Vienna Comic Con
2018, to more than 26,000 attendees.
We received great feedback from the
audience, and also from Mary Franklin,
the event’s director.
It’s impressive to see the eyes of the
audience when you show them a slide
of sunset over the Lars Homestead,
and witness their realization that these
locations exist, that you can actually
visit Tatooine in real life. That’s a
very important step when it comes
to saving all these locations for
03 The Lars Homestead team: (L to R) Dominik Kalisz, Iness Brouk, Dane Braun, and Thomas Schuster. future generations.





42 / STAR WARS INSIDER

THE GRAND TOUR OF TATOOINE





LOCATIONS
GALACTIC




COORDINATES




Program your navicomputer and set
course for the planet farthest from
the bright center of the universe, as
Thomas Schuster takes Insider on a
point-by-point trip across Tatooine,
via its Tunisian fi lming locations.








A HOMESTEAD FROM HOME
THE LARS

HOMESTEAD 04 Tunisa might not offer a twin sunset, but its stellar Star Wars locations can be visited by anyone.




Chott El Djerid Matmata Condition The hotel owner

Set Lars Homestead (Exterior) Set Lars Homestead (Interior) charges a half-dollar entry fee, and
Location The dome is approximately Location Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata you can also eat or spend a night
3 kilometers from the road GPS coordinates 33.542828, 9.967242 in the hotel, so the set is in good
GPS coordinates 33.842857, 7.778948 condition. Only the current color
Description The famous Hole 4 of the differs a little bit from the movie.
Description The holy grail of all Star hotel was used on April 1, 1976 for In 1995, French Star Wars fan Philip
Wars locations, it was in this sacred shots featured in A New Hope, and was Vanni renovated the ceiling fresco

place that the first shot in Star Wars renovated in 2000 for filming of Attack and his painting was used in shots

history was filmed on March 22, 1976. of the Clones. It’s an amazing feeling for Attack of the Clones. In 2016, our

Additionally, the flat salt desert of to drink blue milk in the dining room friends from Star Wars Tunisia built
Chott El Djerid was the setting for Luke beneath the ceiling’s famous fresco. a vaporator in the middle of Hole 4.
Skywalker’s view of the twin sunset of
Tatooine—and you can relive it here
every day (albeit with just the one
sun). The giant sandcrawler set was
also erected here (GPS coordinates
33.865641, 7.778789) before it was
moved to Sidi Bouhlel for further
scenes. In 2000, fi lming of Attack of the
Clones saw a new dome rebuilt on the
foundation of the old one.
Chott El Djerid’s Street P16 (GPS
coordinates: 33.931998, 8.471654) also
affords visitors a familiar view—it’s the
route Luke Skywalker’s landspeeder
traveled through in Star Wars: A New
Hope (1977).


Condition The dome’s location in the
salt desert of Chott El Djerid means that
it is exposed to salt water in the winter
months and the hot sun during the
summer. Additionally, fans climbing
the dome have contributed to the
destruction of the façade. 05 Hole 4 at the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata provided the location for the Lars Homestead interior shots.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 43

THE GRAND TOUR OF TATOOINE





THE JUNDLAND
WASTES ARE NOT TO
BE TRAVELED LIGHTLY
THE DUNE SEA,

THE JUNDLAND

WASTES, AND

BEYOND




Dune De Sable
Set Escape Pod Landing Site;
Sandtroopers Search for the Droids
Location Dune De Sable, 2 kilometers
away from Street P3
GPS coordinates 33.871125, 7.759225
(dune)
33.865641, 7.778789 (curve to the four-
wheel-drive runway)


Description If you fancy following in
the tracks of C-3PO and R2-D2, why
not take a walk among the fi ne sands
of the dramatic Dune De Sable? While
you’re unlikely to discover any krayt
dragon bones, you’ll certainly be able to
imagine why George Lucas chose these
colossal dunes for planet Tatooine.


Condition Over the course of the past
few decades, the dunes have taken on
new shapes. Sometimes you’ll come
across vegetation in the sand, although
all traces of life disappear during the
summer months when temperatures
06 The Dune De Sable today (top), and
top 50 degrees centigrade. During Djerba, Fishing Hut
during filming of Star Wars: A New
shooting of A New Hope in 1976, the Hope in 1976 (bottom). Set Ben Kenobi’s House

production team had to remove tufts of Location An abandoned fishing hut on
grass from the dunes whilst fi lming. the beach at the Gulf of Gabès; 2.4 miles
to the North of Ajim
GPS coordinates 33.740877, 10.734922

Description On the way from Sidi
Jemour to Ajim, you’ll fi nd the

abandoned fishing hut on the beach
that was used as Ben Kenobi’s house in

A New Hope. In the film, George Lucas
used a low camera angle to create the
illusion that the hut was located in the
middle of the desert. It was replaced
by a digital image in the 1997 Special
Edition of the Star Wars trilogy.


Condition The exterior of the fi shing
hut is quite good, with only a window
added at some point in the last couple
of decades. The interior shots of Ben

Kenobi’s house were filmed at Elstree
07 Ben Kenobi’s humble home was actually a fishing hut on the island of Djerba. Studios in the U.K.





44 / STAR WARS INSIDER

BEYOND THE

DUNE SEA
The inhospitable landscape
of California’s Death Valley
also provided various arid
locations for both A New
Hope and Star Wars: Return
08 While the Mos Eisley Panorama Rock is instantly recognizable from A New Hope, the view of the of the Jedi (1983).
spaceport itself was filmed in Death Valley in the U.S.A (see sidebar).


Sidi Bouhlel Ong Jmal Wind Rock Field

Set The Search for R2-D2; Tusken Raider Set Naboo Royal Starfighter Landing
Attack; Meeting Ben Kenobi; Mos Eisley Site; Qui-Gon Jinn vs. Darth Maul;
Panorama Rock; Jawas Steal R2-D2; The Anakin’s Podracer
Sandcrawler, and others. Location 15km in the North of Nefta,
Location “Star Wars Valley,” next to the and close to Mos Espa STOVEPIPE WELLS
Sidi Bouhlel mosque GPS coordinates 33.995750, 7.848382 “Well I’m not going that way!”
GPS coordinates 34.032132, 8.282715 A short walk across the sand dunes
north of Route 190 will fi nd you
Description A big sand dune separates
following in the tracks of R2-D2,
Description No place in the world Mos Espa and the wind rock field that as this is where the astromech parts
has appeared in so many Star Wars housed the ramp of the Royal Naboo company with C-3PO shortly after
shots as the valley next to Sidi Bouhlel. Starship, as well as the inner courtyard arriving on Tatooine.
Everywhere you look you’ll spot another of Ksar Hedada (small Mos Espa Set),
scene from A New Hope, which filmed which played host to Anakin’s podracer.
in this location from March 26–March It’s easy to recall the duel between Darth
31, 1976, most notably the Mos Eisley Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn raging between
panorama rock. the alien wind shapes.


Condition With the exception of Condition The wind shapes look
some stones that have been slightly similar to those from Star Wars: The DANTE’S VIEW
deformed by wind and rain, the valley Phantom Menace (1999), but in recent “You will never fi nd a
is in great condition—just as it was in years the elements have changed most more wretched hive of
1976—although the ground is a few of them. Unfortunately, the small Mos scum and villainy.”
centimeters lower than back in the day, Espa Set was destroyed by a wandering While actors Sir Alec Guinness (Ben
Kenobi) and Mark Hamill (Luke
and the sandcrawler filming location is dune, although you can occasionally
Skywalker) were fi lmed standing on a
now a parking lot. find fragments of the façade at the end rocky outcrop in Sidi Bouhlel, Tunisia,
of the field. the panoramic view of Mos Eisley
The Camel’s Neck spaceport itself was actually shot from
this spot in Death Valley.
Set Darth Maul’s Arrival
Location Camel’s Neck, between Ong
Jemel and the village of Nefta
GPS coordinates 34.016040, 7.912437


Description If you want to view the
same great landscape as Darth Maul and
his Sith probe droids, you’ll need a four- TWENTY MULE
wheel-drive vehicle to get to Camel’s TEAM CANYON
Neck. This landscape was also used for “R2, are you sure this
the camp shot in the movie The English is the right place?”
Patient (1996). Jabba’s Palace might not be the most
welcoming of destinations, but the path
towards it is easily spotted in Twenty
Condition It’s in great condition. At the
Mule Team Canyon. Head south along
bottom of the rock there is a small hut the hard-baked path to take in the
for the 4x4s, but apart from that you’ll familiar view.
see untouched nature, with stunning
outer-space rock embossments. 09 Approaching Camel’s Neck.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 45

THE GRAND TOUR OF TATOOINE











































10 The Mosque Sidi Jemour served as the exterior of Tosche Station, and as the outer perimeter of Mos Eisley.



A HIVE OF VILLAINY Ajim
MOS EISLEY Set Chalmun’s Cantina; the

SPACE PORT Streets of Mos Eisley
Location City of Ajim on
the Djerba Peninsula
GPS coordinates 33.724005,
Sidi Jemour 10.750008 (Cantina exterior)

Sets Tosche Station; Mos Eisley Arrival 33.723675, 10.749219 (The Sandtrooper
Location Mosque Sidi Jemour Checkpoint; the Millennium Falcon
GPS coordinates 33.831462, 10.748124 takes off)

Description When visiting Sidi Jemour Description During filming of 2-3

you can explore the outer wall of Mos April, 1976, local inhabitants were hired
Eisley as well as all areas of Tosche to bring life to the streets of Mos Eisley
Station seen in deleted scenes from in the form of Jawas, Tusken Raiders,
A New Hope. These scenes, featuring pilots, and droids. An additional
Garrick Hagon (Biggs), Anthony Forrest entrance was added to the cantina
(Fixer), and Koo Stark (Camie), were building for filming. Nowadays, you

shot on April 4, 1976, and were the last can still visit the cantina or the location
filmed in Tunisia for that film. of the sandtrooper checkpoint where
the Millennium Falcon memorably took
Condition As the mosque is still used by flight for the first time on the big screen.


local people, its condition is quite good.
The Tosche Station door is now protected Condition In 1976 nearly the whole
by a new wall, but all the other filming city consisted of domed buildings.
spots of Sidi Jemour are accessible. From Nowadays, only a few of these buildings
the mosque you’ll get the same view to the remain. The big dome at the end of the
turquoise sea as Mark Hamill did in 1976. sandtrooper checkpoint still exists, as
does the large garage on the other side
of the street. The building used as the
entrance to Chalmun’s Cantina still
exists, although the roof has broken
down in recent years. A few years ago,
Star Wars fans airbrushed the wall with
the text “Star Wars Filming Location” to
11 The City of Aijm provided the location for the famous
save it from bulldozers. Cantina entrance and the Sandtrooper Checkpoint.





46 / STAR WARS INSIDER

MOS ESPA
MOS ESPA



Medenine

Set Mos Espa Slave Quarters
Location Ksar Medenine, in
the City Medenine
GPS coordinates 33.347530, 10.492246

Description Visit Ksar Medenine—
known as Skywalker Alley—and take a
walk through the slave quarters of Mos
Espa to visit the residence of Anakin
Skywalker, aka Darth Vader. In 1997, Condition The Ksar Hadada ceased
The Phantom Menace production operating as a hotel in 1998, and
team used the existing corn chambers gradually fell into disrepair until it
of the Ksar, adding pipes and other was purchased by a new owner and
props as set decoration. You can still renovated in 2005. The owner now
see the drill holes of the 1997 set on charges a $1 entry fee, which also
the chamber walls. includes a drink. The chambers on the
right side are an UNESCO world cultural
Condition The Ksar itself is in good heritage site, while the chambers on
condition, although the doors from the left have been used for film shoots.
13 Mos Espa was comprised of real world
the set have been replaced by the local The owner takes care of them, and in
locations like Ksar Medenine (top) and a
inhabitants, who still use some of the addition has added small extensions, purpose built set at Ong Jmal.
chambers as sleeping places or for including a new archway.
storage. The skyline seen in the movie
was actually a digital image, added to Nefta Ong Jmal Mos Espa
expand the Mos Espa vista. Set Mos Espa Podrace Viewing Platform Set Mos Espa
Location Antique Shop of Kamel Souilah Location You can find it in Google
Ksar Hadada GPS coordinates 33.870114, 7.883794 Maps as Mos Espa, 15km north of Nefta

Set Mos Espa Slave Quarters; Template (Kamel Souilah’s shop) GPS coordinates 33.994343, 7.842749
for Anakin’s Podracer Building Area 33.875327, 7.893030 (inner courtyard
Location Hotel Ksar Hadada with Mos Espa boxes) Description Wander through the actual
GPS coordinates 33.100163, 10.314130 streets of Mos Espa, explore Watto’s
Description Although many people junkyard, or visit the cafe just like Jar Jar
Description In December 1995, David have searched for the famous podrace Binks. The biggest and best-known set,
West Reynolds showed Rick McCallum viewing platform, we uncovered the “Mos Espa” in Ong Jmal, is an amazing
the hotel Ksar Hadada, which ultimately secret of its whereabouts with the experience. All the buildings were
became the upper Mos Espa slave help of some local people. In 1997, purpose-built for use in The Phantom
quarters. Here, Qui-Gon Jinn talked with Kamel Souilah worked as an extra on Menace in 1997 and Attack of the Clones
Shmi Skywalker about Anakin’s birth. The Phantom Menace. After the shoot in 2000, with the help of a Russian cargo
You can also find the inspiration for he purchased the “waste parts” in the plane, which transported 50
Anakin’s podracer building area, as the desert for a small price from the local tons of set material to the location.
original set in Ong Jmal was destroyed. government; and then, in 1999, he sold
the parts to the U.S. for $5000. The Condition Mos Espa almost suffered the
viewing platform was cut into pieces same fate as the small Mos Espa set when
and shipped—along with the other a vast, wandering dune swept across the
pieces—overseas. Kamel Souilah became location, but Star Wars fans produced
the first man who could afford a satellite music videos and TV spots to raise the
dish in the area of Nefta, and enjoys a funds needed to save this amazing
good life with his family. piece of cinematic history. The Tunisian
government used the money to excavate
Condition Nowadays, big tanks and the set buildings with mechanical diggers,
boxes are all that remain of Souilah’s and in 2016 funds from the GIZ were
treasures, although he does still have a used to construct a toilet building with
door from Mos Espa, which you can buy solar panel support. The town received a
12 The Hotel Ksar Hadada. from him for $1000. new coat of paint in April 2018.





STAR WARS INSIDER / 47

SHE’S GOT IT COVERED






tar Wars Insider: Was a career
in illustrative art always your
S ambition?

Karen Hallion: I always liked
to draw but hadn’t considered
it as a career until I was 16 and
saw The Little Mermaid (1989). I walked out of
Karen that.” I had always loved Disney movies, and had
Cover artist interview
the theater and thought to myself “I want to do

dabbled in drawing, but for some reason this one
really jumped out at me. I wanted to try to capture
the movement, flow, and beauty that I had just

seen. I went home and listened to the soundtrack
Hallion on repeat while drawing Ariel over and over. I

ended up going to the University of Vermont for
two years and took a variety of art classes, then I
put together a portfolio and transferred to Ringling
School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.
She’s Got It Covered How did you first become involved personally

and professionally with Star Wars?

Karen Hallion is the artist behind Star I was four when the first movie came out, and

I remember having actions figures and Luke’s
Wars Insider’s exclusive Celebration 2019 landspeeder when I was a kid, and playing games
covers for this issue. Having previously where I was always Leia. I watched the movies a
contributed several pieces of art to Star lot on VHS, so you could say I’ve been a lifelong

Wars: Women of the Galaxy, we asked her fan. I’ve bonded with lots of people over the years
through a mutual love of Star Wars.
about her career and techniques. When I was in my late twenties, I had a job


as an aide to a fifth grade student who couldn’t
participate in recess due to some physical
W ORDS: CHR I S T OPHER COOPER limitations. I knew he loved Star Wars, so I
brought in a pack of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit
cards so we could quiz each other during recess.
By the end of the year, my Star Wars trivia was on
point, and all the kids in his class would come to
hang out with us during recess to play along. He
got married recently and I sent him and his wife
champagne glasses with Han and Leia on them.
Professionally, my first real big Star Wars piece

was my illustration for Star Wars Celebration
Anaheim in 2015. Getting into Celebration was,
and still is, a huge honor. It was also a very special
show, personally, because I met my partner,
Brandon Kenney, there. He was sitting next to
me at the art show, and we have been together
ever since.


Your art often has a female focus. How
important was it for you to contribute to
Women of the Galaxy?
That job was an absolute dream come true, and
I still have to pinch myself sometimes that I got
to do it. A Star Wars book focused on the female
characters? Yes, please!  When I was younger, we
only had Leia to inspire us, but now there are so
many more Star Wars women out there, and I was
lucky enough to get to do illustrations for eight of
them. The Amidala art nouveau was the one I did






48 / STAR WARS INSIDER

SHE’S GOT IT COVERED






01 02













































first. After Leia, Amidala is the character that 01 Karen Hallion’s colored pencils, oils, acrylics, and mixtures of all
I love to draw most, and I was super-excited to get development sketches of the above. At one point, about 10 years ago, I
for Star Wars Insider’s
to draw that gorgeous red gown and emulate her Celebration 2019 spent some time painting with acrylic glazes and
face paint. covers. ink pens on wood, and I was pretty happy with
that. But it wasn’t until I started working with a
02 The completed
Do you work digitally or use traditional media? artwork, which Cintiq and Photoshop, about 8 years ago, that I
I mostly work digitally these days, using a large was split across really felt comfortable.
Wacom Cintiq tablet and Photoshop. I also like two event exclusive
editions of issue
to use Copic markers to do character sketches #189. Is there a particular process you follow when
and less complicated illustrations. I would love starting out on a new composition?
to go back and do some painting on wood panels 03 Hallion’s latest work for I’ll generally sketch out a composition on my
ACME Archives, Cloud
again. I have a large panel waiting to have an Cintiq using a blue-colored pencil brush in
City Nouveau (left),
Amidala painted on it, but I’m just not sure when and her official piece Photoshop, very loosely and not worrying about
I’ll get a chance. I remember when I was younger, for the Star Wars details. Then I lower the opacity of that layer
Celebration 2019 art

struggling to find a way of working where I was and refine the drawing on another layer on top
show, No One is Ever
happy with the end product. I tried watercolors, Really Gone (right). of the original. I keep doing that until I’m happy
with it, which could mean as much as 20 layers.
Then I start inking, which is very relaxing for me.

03 Once the line art is done, I fill in all the fl at colors
on separate layers, then tweak them until I’m
happy with the color palette. After that it’s all the
shading, which can take a while, depending on
how complicated the design is. 
 
Has there been one piece of Star Wars art
or an artist that has inspired you?
There have been so many that have inspired
me. I love looking through concept art books for
the movies, and would love to do concept art
someday. I’ve been obsessed with Phil Noto’s work
lately. I love his Solo: A Star Wars Story poster. It’s
pretty great, too, that I live with a Star Wars artist.
I got to watch Brandon bring his Celebration 2019
piece to life and it was fantastic to see.






STAR WARS INSIDER / 49

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