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INTERVIEW: DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER


















































Who Fired Last?





DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER


After having his own adventures as a New York City paramedic,
Daniel José Older is now a best-selling author, and the man
behind the epic new Han and Lando novel, Star Wars: Last Shot.
W ORDS: KR I S TIN B AVER


















52 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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INTERVIEW: DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER


s author Daniel José Older 38, is a relative newcomer to 01
tried to get a grasp on the the publishing world. After a
inner complexities of collection of his short stories,
Han Solo, he thought Salsa Nocturna, was released
back to the decade in 2012, he quit working on
he’d spent rushing an ambulance crew to become
around New York’s a full-time author. In 2015, he
urban jungle as a paramedic hit the ground running with
and saw many similarities. Half-Resurrection Blues, the
“There’s a joy to having a start of his Bone Street Rumba
sense of purpose in what you series, and the young-adult novel
do,” Older explains. “People Shadowshaper, which kicked off
misunderstand that to be an its own trilogy.
adrenaline rush, but really it’s Given the chance to write a
being able to put your mind Han Solo novel, Older relished
and body and spirit into the the opportunity to employ his
service of something that you unique sense of humor to ask a
know you’re good at, and that burning question from his youth:
can make a change. That’s an “Do these people ever pack?”
amazing feeling.” Older laughs again. “Well, do

Older’s new book, Star Wars: they? They fly all over the galaxy
Last Shot, catches up with the and yet they never seem to have
former scoundrel and his old a bag with them, so there is a
01 Author Daniel José Older
friend Lando a few years after moment in Last Shot where Leia
the Battle of Endor, with Han packs Han’s underpants. She’s
now a father to two-year-old like: ‘Here, I packed your bag. It’s the Empire gets wrong, Older’s
Ben Solo and recently married got clean underwear in it.’” tale is also an exploration of the
to the formidable Leia Organa. It’s just the kind of detail you humanity beneath the helmet
Any hopes of a might expect of these faceless troopers. “I love
quiet domestic from someone the idea of counter narratives
life are shattered, “I felt like whose fi rst foray and just turning the tables on
however, when into Star Wars who we perceive as protagonists,”
an entanglement Star Wars was lore focused he says. The story also captures
from Han and on one of the the restlessness and personality
Lando’s piratical real on a level disgruntled clashes among a unit of soldiers—
past puts them on that all of stormtroopers thrown together but not always
course for a new searching getting along—and the series of
adventure. that sparkly Tatooine for a bumbling mistakes and disastrous
“One thing I pair of missing decisions that allow the droids to
really did want sci-fi is not.” droids—part of make their escape.
to get at is: What last year’s From “I remember being on duty
is his passion? a Certain Point as a paramedic,” he says. “You’re
What drives him? Because on one of View anniversary anthology. going about your business, doing
hand he clearly loves his life as a Told in the format of an incident your job, and of course you’re
smuggler, and there’s something report (which shares similarities really focused on what’s in front
about it that really pulls at him. with the forms that Older once of you. Sometimes that is people
But he takes to being part of the had to complete after every dying, but more often than not it
Rebellion really quickly. Yeah, he emergency call), “Born in the is just people with indigestion.
has a moment where he storms Storm” introduced the straight- “But you also have your own
off and it’s about the money, but talking Sardis Ramsin to Star Wars issues going on, maybe you’re
no one believes that. canon, sounding off over shoddy texting with someone, you have
“So now that the war is over, blasters, Imperial protocol, and your rent due, and there’s all this
what is a solider to do? He can “butt-scratchingly uncomfortable other stuff that’s present for you.
be very strategic in his own way, armor.” Older smiles as he recalls So I was interested in writing a
but he’s no politician. His are the that line. “That was one of many character who has all this other
politics of the blaster,” Older says things I wasn’t sure they would stuff happening and is speaking
with a laugh. let pass, but they did!” through this incident report
Despite being a New York But, as well as being a laugh- form, exactly like the ones we
Times best-selling author, Older, out-loud rant on everything that had to fi ll out.”




STAR WARS INSIDER / 53




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INTERVIEW: DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER


The short story even touches inhabitants to its used, weather- “Han and Leia are dealing
upon the compassionate side of beaten, and sometimes falling-
the soldier, when Sardis fi nds a apart spaceships, would help to with politics and family
majestic dewback. “I was obsessed shape Older into the writer that
life and all these other
with dewbacks as a child,” says he would become.
Older. “I didn’t know what they “The world-building is so
were called, because we didn’t in-depth. The original vision is things, and then Lando
have starwars.com in 1986. But so grandiose and expansive and
I thought it was just such a cool fascinating, with so much room shows up and brings a
little detail that gave rise to so for growth. That’s the model
much world-building.” In the for how to think about world- whole world of trouble
original cut, the beasts are on building. It’s not just about the to their door again.”
screen for just a few seconds, but one character. You really feel like
long enough to capture Older’s every character in that cantina
imagination. “That was incredible has a life story and needs of their
to me,” he says. own, and is there for a reason. Aside from the special effects,
And that’s so rare.” Older also reveres the powerful
No greater power As an adult looking back on human drama within the saga.
Older clearly remembers the the special-effects masters who “That’s great storytelling,” he
feeling of coming home from brought the story to life, Older says. “It’s really powerful. There
seeing Return of the Jedi (1983) is still in awe of the magic that are so many dynamics at play in
in the theater for the fi rst time. turned simple materials into the that world. At the heart of it, you
“It changed my life,” he says. extraordinary. “The power of have a good-versus-evil story, but
“I was too young to understand Frank Oz with a piece of rubber that’s where the simplicity ends
how, but I was totally immersed on his hand! There’s no greater because beyond that you fi nd so
in the world from there on out. power on Earth when it comes to many varieties of behavior within
We had all the toys and the other special effects,” he says. “None this huge realm.”
stuff that came along with it, and of these were things that I could As an author invited to further
02 Han faces
I watched the other two fi lms on articulate as a kid, of course, but off against a explore the galaxy in novel form,
video over and over again.” they still resonated. I felt like Star gang of new translating the vividness of Star
foes, in Solo:
The vividness of the galaxy Wars was real on a level that all of Wars posed its own challenges—
A Star Wars

far, far away, from its strange that sparkly sci-fi is not.” Story like how to convey Han’s easy
charisma and Lando’s panache
on paper. “How do you write that
02
cape?” he laughs. “That was a
struggle. How do you give him
that true ‘oomph’ that he has
as a character? Because so much
of that is in the really beautiful
micro details of how Billy Dee
Williams moves and how he
carries himself; his posture and
the tenor of his voice. So that was
a great challenge as a writer.
“It’s very easy to have Lando
just constantly sashaying from
one kind of conquest to another,
but I wanted him to go through
stuff and be wrestling with what
it means to live in peacetime.
What does it mean to want to
settle down after a life of fl ying
around the galaxy, participating
in all these ridiculous stunts and
barely making it out alive?”
Star Wars taken as a whole is
complex. At the heart of it is the
Hero’s Journey, but take a few
steps back and the rest of the




54 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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INTERVIEW: DANIEL JOSÉ OLDER


03







































For Last Shot, Older bounces 03 Has Han
(Alden
between life for Han and Lando
Ehrenreich)
after the Galactic Civil War and finally found
their younger days, in a story that a home?
has connections to Solo: A Star
04 Star Wars:
Wars Story when it debuts in May Last Shot
of this year. In the same vein as features
older and
Claudia Gray in Bloodline and younger
Chuck Wendig in his Aftermath versions of
Han and
trilogy, Older also sheds further
Lando
light on the turbulent years of (Donald

fledgling democracy following Glover as
Lando in
the end of the Empire.
Solo: A Star
“Han is dealing with the Wars Story)
question of what it means to
04 be settled a little bit more,” he
ventures. “After being on the
run and living this ridiculous
galaxy comes into focus, teeming Older found the character to romantic and dangerous life for
with gangsters and smugglers, be multifaceted and intriguing. so long, he now has a wife and a
evil Empires and alliances, and, From the first moment we saw two-year-old kid. Han and Leia

says Older, “political questions him with Han on the landing are dealing with politics and
about war, spirituality, militarism, platform, it was clear the two family life and all these other
and different understandings of had a deep connection, and a things, and then Lando shows
what it means to rebel and to be complicated friendship. “You up and brings a whole world of
a hero.” feel the whole weight of their trouble to their door again.
Just look at Calrissian. Even relationship in just that little “A lot of the problems that
though he has relatively limited interaction,” he says. “That’s they are dealing with in this
screen time in the original trilogy, great writing and great acting.” story are rooted in events that




STAR WARS INSIDER / 55




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happened a decade earlier. The
past is stubborn, even when you
think you’ve dealt with it. What
happens to a friendship after a
tremendous betrayal? Do they
talk about that? Do they deal
with it? I think that’s very real. I
wanted Han and Lando to have
at least one moment where that
rises to the surface again and
they have to confront that with
each other. The past is rushing
up to meet the present and both
narratives are intertwined. They
build up to a climax together.”
Intimidating Thrill 05
The whole experience of writing
the novel has been something
of a dream come true for Older.
When he got the commission,
he was ecstatic. “I might have
blacked out or something,” he
jokes. “I remember an email with
the words ‘Han’ and ‘Lando’ in
there, and then just writing a
frantic reply back to my agent
before I even fi nished reading
it. ‘Yeah, yeah, definitely that!’ I

really wanted to do it. My own
understanding of success is being
able to do the project you want
to do. So, by that standard, I’m
a very successful writer, which is
just great.”
To prepare for the intense
three-month writing frenzy that
lay ahead, Older took time out
to re-watch the original trilogy,
re-read the most recent Star Wars 06
novels, immersed himself in Star
Wars lore from every resource

he could find, and fl ew from “I’ve been a Star Wars “It was a lot of fun, and
his New Orleans home to San fan all my life, so these were
Francisco to attend a briefi ng on characters that I already knew just such an honor to bring
the Solo standalone movie. as if they were old friends,” says
As for the novel itself, Older is Older. “In my head, I tried to these characters to life.”
determined to keep mum on the see every moment as if it were
plot details of his tale, and on the on a screen—and as if it were
additional characters that feature brilliantly directed by Rian 05 Han (Alden in, but Star Wars is the one that
beyond its roguish leads. “I will Johnson, J.J. Abrams, or George Ehrenreich) I’ve always wanted to write for. It
and Chewie
say that we go to Utapau,” he Lucas! If I could see it, then I (Joonas was a lot of fun, and just such an
says, referring to the planet where could also hear it, and then I Suotamo) honor to bring these characters
enjoy their
Obi-Wan Kenobi clashes with would write it. to life. In my mind, I have been
new ship.
General Grievous in Revenge of “It was defi nitely intimidating, playing in this universe for my
the Sith (2005), “as well as some but in equal parts intimidating 06 The duo find entire life.”
trouble, in
brand new planets. Chewbacca and exciting,” he concludes. Star Wars: Last Shot is out
Solo: A Star
is along for the ride, of course… “There aren’t that many universes Wars Movie. on April 17. Read an exclusive
Oh, and there’s an Ugnaught! that I would even care to play extract now at starwars.com

56 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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NOVELIZING STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI



Star Wars Insider: What were
your starting points for these
two books?
Jason Fry: Early on, I was thinking
about what we wouldn’t see on
screen that would work in a book:
What did I want as a lifelong fan
and as a reader? That took me to
some interesting places in terms of
which characters’ heads I wanted to
be inside to better understand their
BEHOLD thoughts and motivations.
Overall, the novel is really
Rey’s story. She is struggling to
THE understand what has happened
to Luke, who he has become, and
what that means for her and the
galaxy. Getting to be in Luke’s
SACRED head was tempting, but ultimately
worked against that story. I had
to stay on Rey’s shoulder, not on
Luke’s. That didn’t mean I couldn’t
be in Luke’s head, too, but I had
JEDI to pick my spots and make them
count. That was a lesson that took
me a while to work through.
Michael Kogge: I had a similar
TEXTS! method. When I wrote The Force
Awakens junior novel I tried to
focus my points of view on the
younger characters—Rey, Finn,
Poe, Rose, and Kylo Ren—only
With additional scenes and unique branching out to Han or Leia when
viewpoints on the story of Star Wars: necessary. I continued that in The
Last Jedi. Luke and Leia get their
The Last Jedi, the adult and junior deserved moments, but I had to
novelizations of the movie offer resist the temptation to go straight
alternate takes on the latest episode to them. The core of a junior novel
should revolve around the younger
in the Star Wars saga. Insider offered heroes and villains, and the reader
authors Jason Fry (Star Wars: The should spend most time with them.
Last Jedi) and Michael Kogge (Star How does writing a novelization
Wars: The Last Jedi: A Junior Novel) differ from your other work?
the chance to discuss their separate JF: The biggest difference is a good
approaches to adapting the movie. lesson for any writer to learn: take
your ego out of it. It was a great
honor and privilege to tell the
story, but it isn’t my story. It’s Rian
Johnson’s. When it came to any
expansions on the story, I looked at
my job as: “Rian would’ve written
this if he had the running time to
include it.” I had to be true to the
narrative, but also do things the

film couldn’t do, such as getting
into the characters’ heads to




STAR WARS INSIDER / 59




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NOVELIZING STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI


explore their motivations, their staring at the X-wing and thinking
histories, and their doubts. The trick about it like she would on Jakku:
is making sure that my role does What’s salvageable in it? That leads
not pass from interpretation and her to thinking about the Falcon,
maybe a little augmentation into and then Chewie, as she fi gures out
something else. that Luke might listen to an angry
MK: I like to say that this isn’t my Wookiee even if he won’t listen to
story, but these are my characters. her. You look for opportunities like
Because, as a writer, if you don’t that, moments that allow a writer
completely own the to go into a character’s
characters—if you history and get into her
don’t understand all THE or his head a little bit,
their motivations and in a way that hopefully 01
emotions—the book’s AUTHORS is true to the movie and
not going to be any JASON FRY deepens it. You want
Jason Fry has
good. And while I might good connective tissue,
written over two
not get to plot the beats dozen Star Wars not just extra stuff you
of what happens, I do books, including the could insert just because.
Star Wars Rebels:
have to live in Rey and I made sure that nothing
Servants of the
Finn and Poe and Kylo Empire quadrology I did felt like that.
Ren’s shoes to fi gure and Star Wars: The MK: I feel the same
Last Jedi Incredible
them out and to make Cross Sections. He way. You look for ways

them real on the page. is also the author to flesh out the story in
of the young-adult
So, I’m very possessive ways the fi lm doesn’t
space-fantasy saga
about these characters. Jupiter Pirates. have time to do. One
When I see Rey or Finn Jason Fry: of the great things of
being cosplayed at a @jasoncfry collaborating with Jason
jasonfry.net
convention, I see a little was that we discussed
bit of me in them, even MICHAEL KOGGE the areas where there
if the person in the Michael Kogge is a was room for the novels
regular contributor
costume isn’t familiar to expand. Some scenes
to Star Wars Insider,
with the books. and penned the might work well for
JF: That’s a good way junior novelization the junior novel, some
of Star Wars: The
of putting it. These are better for the adult, so
Force Awakens. He

fictional characters that was also Head Writer there could be new, 02
matter enormously on the augmented exclusive material suited
reality video game
to people. There’s a Star Wars: Jedi to each. One such scene
responsibility there. Challenges. for the junior novel was and he is heading in the direction
And the writer’s job is to Michael Kogge: planned to have Luke that he needs to go.
@michaelkogge
inhabit everyone’s head and Chewbacca saying JF: I love that scene! We have
michaelkogge.com
and be true to them as goodbye. But I thought slightly different canvases for the
they see things. about it for a few days same story. With a good story, there
and decided that it will be many more canvases to
So how do your books expand would be better with R2-D2 instead visit—which is awesome!
on the fi lm? of Chewbacca, since R2 is such a
JF: One of the scenes in my book, close and loyal friend of Luke’s. So Were there any scenes that didn’t
which works in a novelization but before the Falcon leaves Ahch-To, make the fi nal edit?
would stop the movie cold, expands Luke says farewell to the astromech JF: In an earlier version of the
on Rey seeing Luke’s X-wing in in the rain. It’s a small moment that script that I read, the sequence
the water off the island. I have her shows Luke’s character is changing with the Master Codebreaker plays
out differently, in what feels like
“The novel is really Rey’s story. She a wonderful homage to To Catch
a Thief. It ends as disastrously
is struggling to understand what has as before, but it just takes a little
happened to Luke, who he has become, and longer. In my book, I tried writing
that, because we thought it would
what that means for her and the galaxy.” be a lot of fun. But in the end it
was decided that it was too big a
Jason Fry departure and we’d exceeded the



60 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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03


proper role of a novelization. It was What was it like tackling 01 Rose (Kelly One thing I did get to do was to
Marie Tran)
certainly an interesting experiment Luke’s existential crisis? open the novelization with Luke,
and Finn
for me. Who knows? Maybe it will JF: Luke is a character who’s (John so we get a look at him before Rey
see the light of day somewhere been incredibly important to Boyega) arrives. I wanted to get a sense of
witness the
down the line. me since I was eight years old. galaxy’s the emotions we see on his face
MK: For me, it wasn’t so much To me, the most interesting inequities on when she offers him the saber.
Canto Bight.
the scenes that were cut, as bits thing about his crisis is how he Start with the idea that the Force
of background and character got there. I tried a lot of things 02 Poe Dameron is literally awake—or, if you prefer,
psychology. That is typical of to answer that. I wrote eight (Oscar the cosmic Force is looking for a
Isaacs)
any good book—you have to or nine interludes from Luke’s new vessel—and it is making its
prepares to
tell the story without too much journey—I called them inter- defend the mark on the galaxy again, after
embellishment—but it doesn’t Lukes—starting with Darth Resistance. this period of dormancy. But Luke
mean that the unused writing has Vader’s funeral pyre on Endor 03 Chewbacca has closed himself off to the Force
been a waste. One can spend days and then leading to the island. (Joonas and is literally refusing to hear its
Suotamo)
writing a scene or a chapter only They didn’t tell the whole story, voice. Since the Force has agency
faithfully
to realize you have to throw it out. but just gave glimpses of what waits for Rey here, how does it get through
It’s all part of a writer’s journey. You he’d been up to. But much as on Ahch-To. the defenses he’s thrown up? My
have to go down every rabbit hole I hated to admit it, they just answer was a dream: Luke can’t
in order to make things really work. didn’t work. They were interesting close himself off so thoroughly that
Often you get a line or an idea or on their own, sure, but they took he can shut that door, and the Force
an emotional beat that you would the reader away from the story that uses it to get at him and insist he
never have gotten otherwise. was being told. hear its message. So the novel



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04





























































































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NOVELIZING STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI


starts with a dream sequence, and the Force, and I’m going to be the “I didn’t want to kill
when Luke wakes up, he knows that guy that gets to describe it on the
the Force is at work and he knows page! How do I do that?” By the off Han, and I didn’t
something’s coming. That sequence time I actually got to write that want to kill off Luke.
was one I really enjoyed doing. scene, I think I’d written it in my
MK: Jason and I talked at Star head 50 times! But I believe within
Wars Celebration in Orlando. He MK: Yeah, that scene became a the structure of these
pitched his opening to me and I goal for me, too. It was something
thought it worked really well. I’d I looked forward to reaching, not stories these moments
already started my book, and the because I was eager to kill Luke, but make sense.”
opening prologue I’d written was because it was so momentous. I had
from an elevated point of view, an to write a similar scene for Han Solo Michael Kogge
omniscient narrator recounting in The Force Awakens, and now
the life of Luke Skywalker, almost I had to do it for Luke Skywalker.
like old-man Luke is looking back It felt like I was killing off my JF: I did the same thing. I was
at his life from a distance. What is childhood heroes one by one. It’s tweaking at the very last minute,
marvelous is that both the adult really bizarre. It’s not therapeutic! thinking: “Oh, I need to underscore
and junior novel approach it in a JF: No, it’s not. this scene and that scene,” but
slightly different way, yet they’re MK: It’s very sad. I didn’t want to eventually you just need to let it
both thematically the same and kill off Han, and I didn’t want to go. What George Lucas said about
they both go straight to the confl ict kill off Luke. But I believe, within movies is also true about books:

in Luke. When I finally read Jason’s the structure of these stories, these They don’t get finished, but they

manuscript, I thought: This is moments make sense. As a writer, eventually escape. And so be it!
fantastic, they connect well. We’re as an artist, it was a great challenge.
both saying the same thing in a I felt a little emboldened. You gotta Where do you see the story
different way. do this. You’ve got to make their heading in Episode IX?
endings really good. You have to let JF: I don’t have an answer, but I
What other considerations did them go out in a blaze of glory. know the key questions I would
you have to take into account? ask: When are we starting and what
04 Rey (Daisy
JF: Obviously, you have to think With your books not coming has changed? To me, that will say
Ridley)
about the big, pivotal moments in out until three months after discovers her a lot about what’s going to unfold.

the story. What are the moments the film’s release, were you past and her Are we going to be a day later or
future on

that will make the book fly or die? able to make revisions after Ahch-To are we going to be three years later?
For me, Luke’s death was one of seeing the fi nal cut? (right). I think that we’re going to get a
them. It was really useful, as the MK: I had a week after seeing very different Rey or Kylo or Poe
05 Luke (Mark
process was unfolding, to have my the film to make any fi nal Hamill) and or anyone else depending on the

subconscious noodling away on changes. But things still occur R2-D2 look answer to that question.
on as the
that scene, saying: “Oh my God, to you later that you really wish MK: That’s a brilliant way to look
Jedi training
this is Luke Skywalker passing into you could have added! temple burns. at the future: through a question.
05

























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The Wizard Archetype
Wizards are a familiar and
longstanding archetype in
fiction—whether the magic-

wielding sorcerers of high
fantasy or the technological
masterminds of science-fi ction.
The iconic examples are easy
to name: Merlin, The Lord of
the Rings’ Gandalf, and Harry
Potter’s Dumbledore in the fi rst
category; and in the second, the
In Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Doctor (as in Doctor Who), the
Back to the Future Trilogy’s Doc
Luke Skywalker goes beyond Brown, and Plutarch Heavensbee
his Hero’s Journey to embark on (The Hunger Games). Frequently,
though, these characters don’t
a different type of adventure… have a story arc of their own.
They may be revered for the
W ORDS: TR I C IA B ARR role they play as mentors to
a younger hero undertaking
the Hero’s Journey, but they
are not separately undergoing
n discussions of the Hero’s Journey a metamorphosis to become a
I in contemporary storytelling, better version of themselves.
Luke Skywalker is one of the most
That is the difference between
frequently cited examples. Joseph a character who represents the
Campbell—the academic whose wizard archetype and a character
work on the subject infl uenced whose Wizard’s Journey brings
George Lucas’ writing—viewed Luke’s path them through a final heroic cycle

in Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) as a modern to reach self-mastery.
execution of what he called the “monomyth:” In Star Wars, a Jedi Knight
the archetypal hero’s story common to every may reach the rank of Jedi Master
culture and era. Likewise, Christopher Vogler— by training an apprentice, but
who reframed Campbell’s ideas into a model few will attain the transcendent
specifically designed for cinematic storytelling— understanding of the Force that

used A New Hope as one of his primary examples brings the spiritual wisdom to
in his 1992 book The Writer’s Journey. become more powerful than
Yet Luke’s story did not, of course, end with A one can possibly imagine. Of all
New Hope. What seemed like a complete Hero’s the masters seen in the prequels

Journey in that film was expanded and developed and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
upon in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1981) on TV, only three have become
and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983), making the one with the Force after death:
path from farmboy to Jedi far more involved than Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi,
simply using the Force to destroy the Death Star. The and Yoda. Each has completed
prequel trilogy then expanded the story of Luke’s a Wizard’s Journey in order to
father, and how the pieces came to be in place for do so (although Anakin seems
Luke’s own journey. to score a free pass in Return of
In the new trilogy, the Hero’s Journey belongs to the Jedi), but for the most part
Rey, Finn, and Kylo Ren. Each has progressed along this has occurred beyond the
their own path as the story has unfolded. But Luke’s view of the audience. Star Wars:
journey is not over. In the events between trilogies, The Phantom Menace (1999)
Luke has gone from Jedi Knight to Jedi Master, and establishes Qui-Gon’s iconoclastic
then disappeared into exile. Having elevated him to perspective on the Force—the
mythic status within his own fictional universe in source of his differences with the

The Force Awakens, the latest trilogy has one more Jedi Council—but we do not see
cycle for Luke to complete in The Last Jedi: that of how he acquired the views that
the Wizard’s Journey. became vindicated later.




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THE WIZARD’S JOURNEY


Obi-Wan learns much from 01
his former master during his
long exile on Tatooine, but we
only saw the origin and end
of that process in Star Wars:
Revenge of the Sith (2005) and
A New Hope, not his progress in
between. For Yoda, The Clone
Wars offers a brief glimpse into
his spiritual and philosophical
transformation, when he visits
the mysterious Force Priestesses
and learns how to reconnect with
Qui-Gon during the Season One
episode, “Destiny.”
In The Last Jedi, however,
we see a Jedi Master take his
Wizard’s Journey onscreen. In his

first interactions with Rey, Luke
is very much the archetype of a
wizard mentor—and an especially
grumpy one at that. But then the
story moves him forward, and he
becomes not simply a Gandalf, or
a Yoda in Empire, but something
more: Rocky Balboa learning to
become a teacher and mentor to
Adonis in Creed (2015); Captain

America redefining his nature
and purpose as a hero in the
face of fundamental confl icts
over power and accountability
in Captain America: Civil War

(2016); and in The Hunger Games the ability to wield magic, an to redefine their identity, reconciling who they have
movies, Haymitch and Finnick innate or artifi cially induced been with who they are now becoming. As one cycle
evolving to become not merely superpower—and must learn builds upon another, the hero draws progressively
former victors and allies to to use that gift in the course closer to their true self.
Katniss, but icons of the rebellion of succeeding on a quest. Luke For comparison, this iteration of heroic cycles
in their own right. Luke fulfi lls blows up the Death Star, then is quite distinct from more contemporary forms of
his Wizard’s Journey before our later saves his father. Katniss storytelling in which the character becomes more
very eyes. wins the Hunger Games, then powerful over time. With its origins in roleplaying
helps liberate Panem. Wonder games, and now common in videogames, the
Luke Skywalker’s Woman defeats Ares, and saves concept is a familiar one: ongoing adventures
Heroic Cycles the World of Man. provide the character with experience which allows
The first iteration of a Hero’s Once the hero’s origin story them to “level up” in power, unlocking increasingly

Journey, according to Campbell is completed, they can progress stronger abilities and requiring opposition from
and Vogler, is what a modern through further heroic cycles. increasingly dangerous adversaries. The best
audience would call the “origin Each new adventure brings a creative storytellers will ensure that the characters’
story.” The hero has some special new metamorphosis. Each new aspirations and motivations evolve alongside their
gift—a connection to the Force, transformation compels the hero abilities, but often—especially in YA fi ction—a
gaming-style focus on “power creep” predominates
over personal growth. Arguably the Star Wars
“In the events between Legends tales struggled over time with this dynamic,
trilogies, Luke has gone from particularly in relation to Luke and other Jedi, by
focusing on combat prowess or feats of the Force
Jedi Knight to Jedi Master, and rather than exploring their emotional crises or
spiritual development.
then disappeared into exile.” In the films, Luke’s origin story establishes the

basis for his subsequent heroic cycles. In A New



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THE WIZARD’S JOURNEY


“Luke is not the first Jedi Master

to face terrible tragedy at the
02
hands of a fallen apprentice...”












































03
04

01 Luke Skywalker’s Hope, he learns of his ability to use the Force, and success founded in his faith that he can reach the
heroic journey successfully draws upon this gift to fire the torpedoes good that still remains within his father. On the

begins in
Star Wars: that destroy the Death Star. He also meets the mentor second Death Star, Luke’s moment of triumph
A New Hope. and friends who will shape his journey, along with comes when he tosses away his lightsaber and truly
the adversary who seeks to thwart his victory. In becomes a Jedi. It’s a show of emotional fortitude in
02 Luke (Mark

Hamill) hears his first iteration of the Hero’s Journey, he has only the face of extreme adversity that inspires Anakin
Leia’s plea for begun to discover the power of the Force, and the to return from the dark side. Luke saves his father,
help from his
mentor, Ben man he will become. not through combat or with the Force, but with
Kenobi (Sir Alec In Empire and Jedi, Luke’s continuing Hero’s compassion and unconditional love.
Guinness).

Journey refines his self-awareness as he transforms Luke completes at least one more heroic cycle
03 In The Empire from apprentice to Jedi Knight. He learns more about prior to The Last Jedi, though its details remain
Strikes Back, the Force, and the dangers of the dark side that come hidden. Like the audiences of the 1980s, who
Luke finds a new
mentor in Yoda hand-in-hand with the light. The story also reveals wondered about offhand references to the Clone
(Frank Oz). the core nature of Luke’s heroism: his compassion. Wars or the Kessel Run, today’s fans can only infer
He is less concerned with Jedi tutelage on Dagobah from brief bits of dialogue in the films and nuggets

04 Luke’s
compassion than with saving his friends on Cloud City. He steps of backstory in novels and comics. Those hints
takes him to away from the battle against the Empire to rescue indicate that after redeeming his father, saving his
Cloud City to
rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. He risks everything friends, and defeating the Empire, Luke’s compassion

his friends. to confront Vader and the Emperor, his belief in becomes writ large. He endeavors to fulfill the task
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THE WIZARD’S JOURNEY


Yoda set for him: to pass on what he has learned, and 05 Luke risks far away from his parents when the galaxy learns the
everything
rebuild the Jedi to once again serve the cause of peace truth that his mother, Leia, is the daughter of Darth
to confront
and justice in the galaxy. He searches far and wide Darth Vader Vader (as detailed in the novel Bloodline). Along
for information about the nature of the Force and and the with Supreme Leader Snoke’s manipulation, this
Emperor in
the Jedi Order of old, seeking whatever knowledge revelation plays a large part in Ben’s turn to the dark
Return of

the Empire has not erased or destroyed. Later, he the Jedi. side, which finds its full expression one fateful night
establishes a training temple and takes on a dozen at the training temple. When Luke senses the extent
students as Jedi apprentices, including his nephew, of the darkness already within Ben, his instincts urge
Ben Solo. Over time, this heroic cycle takes Luke him to prioritize his compassion for others over his
from being a Jedi Knight to a Jedi Master. compassion for one young man capable of infl icting
Luke continues to travel in search of knowledge, so much suffering. In the instant it takes for Luke to
training Ben at his side. This means the young man is pull back, recognizing his own mistake in thinking
that carrying out one horrific deed would prevent

many more, it is too late. Ben has already seen the
05
ignited lightsaber in Luke’s hand, and unleashes a
heinous vengeance.
Everything You Just Said is Wrong

Luke is not the first Jedi Master to face terrible
tragedy at the hands of a fallen apprentice, of course.
At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan and
Yoda go into exile having seen their greatest protégé
turn to evil. They hide the newborn Skywalker twins
and commit to wait, biding their time on the fringes
of the galaxy, until the moment is right to fi nally
make a move against the Sith. After the destruction
of his training temple, and the massacre of most of
his students, Luke too goes into exile. Unlike his
teachers, though, Luke is not hiding with a plan to
re-emerge. Instead, Luke has chosen to live out his

final years on Ahch-To alone, so that—when the
time comes—the Jedi way will die with him.
While some fans struggle with where Luke starts
his Wizard’s Journey, his backstory suggests he was
less prepared to face the emotional toll of being
a Jedi Knight compared to Obi-Wan and Yoda,
who received a sophisticated education in the Jedi
Temple and were taught from their youngling days
of their value in the galactic balance. Similarly, his
sister, Leia—who throughout the novel Leia: Princess
of Alderaan is shown failing but persisting—has
learned from a young age to accept failures while
continuing to fi ght on.
When Rey arrives to break Luke’s seclusion, he
explains his refusal to take up his old lightsaber in
simple terms. The galaxy, he says, does not need
Luke Skywalker. The idea that he could stand alone
against the First Order armed only with a laser sword
is a fantasy, he scoffs. There is no “One.” It is time,
he insists, for the Jedi to end.


“It is Yoda who guides Luke to see

the one final lesson he must learn:
that failure is not a reason to quit...”








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THE WIZARD’S JOURNEY

06













07

















08

















09

In his Wizard’s Journey, Luke 06 Luke refuses failure came not in Ben Solo’s fall to the dark side,
discovers the same lesson that he to take up his but in Luke’s own reaction to it, both in exiling
old lightsaber
imparted to Rey and Kylo: that when Rey himself from the galaxy and in rejecting Rey’s plea
everything he said was wrong. (Daisy for training and guidance. A Jedi does not fail when
Ridley)
Luke holds himself to blame his objective is not achieved; a Jedi fails only when
returns it
for creating Kylo Ren. In Rey’s to him. he no longer seeks any objective at all.
strength in the Force, he sees only In that moment, Luke recognizes a fundamental
07 Luke sees
danger, not potential. The guilt truth: it may be too late to save Ben Solo’s soul,
only danger
he carries for his error that night in Rey’s but it is not too late for Luke Skywalker to make a
in the training temple drives his strength in difference once again.
the Force.
refusal to train anyone else in the Luke completes his Wizard’s Journey by accepting
ways of the Jedi. The Jedi Order 08 In The Last this truth about himself and his role as a Jedi Master.
Jedi, Luke
of old failed due to its hubris, and Leia is in danger; the Resistance is at the brink of
insists there
so, Luke believes, did he. is no “One.” annihilation. On the verge of military conquest by
It is Yoda who guides Luke to the First Order, the galaxy needs a spark of hope.
09 Is it time
see the one final lesson he must Luke bids farewell to his sister, apologizing as much

for the Jedi
learn: that failure is not a reason to end? for his own choices as for the fates of Ben and Han.
to quit, but a source of knowledge He releases his guilt and regret. And then he does
for the challenges ahead. Luke’s what Rey had asked. He becomes a legend.
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WORLDWIDE






CELEBR A TING THE S A G A















































TOY DRIVE HITS the word out to the fans, resulting in
more than 800 incredible Star Wars
toys being donated. Brandon’s new
HYPERDRIVE! home was filled right up to the brim

with the sheer “graciousness of Star
Wars fans,” marvels Jason. “Then,
Fan friends launch Kessel Run for sick kids on December 15, some volunteers

including Brad Crihfield, whose very
hen Star Wars fans team Hospital—suggested mounting young daughter was a patient at the
up to help children for a toy drive for the holiday season. hospital, podcaster Sal Perales, and
W charity, they become more “We discussed how, when a sibling the Saber Guild: Temple Prime
powerful than you could possibly is ill, the other siblings are suffering, costumers handed out the toys at
imagine. Just ask Jason Ward and too,” says Jason. “We decided to the hospital.”
Brandon Manriquez, the duo behind collect the toys for the children and Jason and Brandon are already
the inaugural Kessel Toy Run. their siblings so that they could all planning how to make the Kessel
Last fall, Jason’s longtime friend enjoy a fun day and have Star Wars Toy Run 2018 even bigger. “Anytime

Brandon —an ER nurse at California’s to share together.” we can do something selfless in this
Long Beach Memorial Medical The friends used the Making world while enjoying Star Wars, the
Center and Miller’s Children’s Star Wars Podcast Network to get thing we love, it is totally worth it.”



70 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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INSIDER NEEDS YOU!
We want to hear from you! Tell us about your
Star Wars experience. What made you want
to become a fan? What have you done in the
name of Star Wars? Tell us your Star Wars
story by sending your photos, art, and ARTISTS’ ALLEY
letters here:
[email protected]
Talented Star Wars fans share their amazing
Or via regular post:
UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM drawings inspired by the galaxy far, far away....
Star Wars Worldwide, Star Wars Worldwide,
Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Insider,
Titan Magazines, 144 Southwark
2819 Rosehall Lane, Street
Aurora, IL, 60503, London, SE1 0UP, 01. LEIA IN THE FLESH
U.S.A. U.K.
As a child, Holly Griffith, 39, had

always wanted to be Princess Leia
Organa when she grew up. With a
little help from tattoo artist Steven
Compton at Red Dagger Tattoo
near her home in Houston, Texas,
the fan who grew up to work in
NASA’s Mission Control now has a
permanent reminder of the fearless
rebel leader.








02. FORCES OF CHIBI
Melissa Thomas, 23, from Indiana, was
inspired to create this chibi-style digital
piece when she first saw the Star Wars:

Forces of Destiny shorts last year. “I’m a
big fan of Star Wars animated content,
and the ladies of Star Wars are one of
my favorite things to draw,” she tells us.

03. THE LAST POSTER

U.K. based artist Liam
Brazier, 37, was totally
consumed with creative
thoughts about Star Wars:
The Last Jedi that he
came up with this digital
poster as a rough sketch

before the film had even
premiered. “Because of
my general aversion to
curved lines, I scribbled
my expectations down in
Illustrator as more physical
compulsion than design,
prior to seeing the movie,”
he says from his home in
London, U.K., or as he puts
it “in a galaxy near, nearby.”













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WORLDWIDE
BOUNTY HUNTERS
Scouring the galaxy for the
stars of Star Wars...




Meet the stars, show the evidence, win
the bounty! Bounty Hunters is sponsored
by Kotobukiya. Each issue's winner will
receive a fantastic Kotobukiya Star
Wars statue kit! To see more,
visit www.facebook.com/kotobukiya


ot only is Spencer Cohen a huge
Star Wars and Muppets fan, but
N he’s also a freelance puppeteer.
So, when he heard Frank Oz was set to
appear in front of a live audience as part
of the AOL Build Series being fi lmed in
Manhattan, the 23-year-old puppeteer
from Westchester County, New York,
made it his mission to be there.
“After the interview, Frank was kind
enough to have photos taken with the
fans in the audience, one of them being
me!” Spencer tells Insider.
“I still can’t believe it happened!” he
adds. “Frank Oz has brought to life some
of my favorite characters through the RUN, TROOPER, RUN!
wonderful art of puppetry: the Cookie
Monster, Grover, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear,
and of course, Yoda! Meeting Frank was Jez Allinson is now a Guinness World Record holder
such a wonderful experience, as I have
looked up to him for years. This was a ack in Insider #172 (May exceeding his £10,000 fundraising
day that I’ll never forget.” 2017), we reported on Jez goal for Make-A-Wish Foundation
B Allinson, a.k.a. the Running U.K., and raising well over £13,000
01 Stormtrooper. Now, the Royal Air ($18,345). The route fi nished under

Force officer from Oxfordshire in a ticker-tape cannon outside the
the U.K. has sent us an update on Lucasfi lm building.
his marathon efforts for charity. For anyone thinking that they
“Since then,” he writes, “I have might follow in Jez’s footsteps,
smashed my target of running four the Running Stormtrooper has
half-marathons on a treadmill at some cautionary advice. “There’s
Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, very little leg and knee mobility in
before returning to the U.K. to run the armor,” he says. “When the legs
in the London Marathon just four are on, I can’t bend over to put
days later!” my shoes on, so I need some help.
As a result of his London run, Jez Visibility is also a problem, and the
is now the Guinness World Record chaffing can be an absolute pain.

holder for being the fastest person It’s not a costume designed for
to run a marathon dressed as a Star mobility, that’s for sure!”
Wars character. “The target time set Jez still enjoys the experience of
by Guinness World Records was shy running as a Star Wars icon, and has

of five hours,” he explains. “I was vowed to make a comeback in 2018.
able to complete the run in four “In a world full of doom and gloom,
hours, 59 minutes, and 12 seconds, we are surrounded by people who
with just 47 seconds to spare!” are willing to do good,” he says. “I
As part of last year’s May the was overwhelmed by the generosity
Fourth celebrations, Jez strapped of people keen to help out or raise
on his armor once more to run 40 money. They all helped to prove that
01 Freelance puppeteer Spencer Cohen meets his
idol, Frank Oz (left) at an AOL Build event. miles around Pinewood Studios, a stormtrooper can hit his target!”



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WORLDWIDE


THE ART Admiral Thrawn, then
recruited 11 artists to
contribute other key
OF SAYING characters and icons
from the show.
GOODBYE Elisa Ardell painted
“For the Spectres,
Ezra, Melissa Thomas
Talented fans bid did Hera, Olivia Moy
farewell to Rebels provided Sabine and
Chopper, Bethany Moy
s Star Wars Rebels reaches came up with Kanan,
its finale, a collective of fan and Misty Hillard gave

A artists has come together us our Zeb,” Michael
to create an epic poster honoring explains.
the Ghost crew, their allies, and even “Then Ksenia
their foes. Zelentsova added Rex
“I have actually always wanted and Governor Pryce,
to try a collaboration like this, but I Darren Tibbles handled
was really worried that artistic styles the death troopers,

would conflict with each other,” says Shane Molina took on
Michael Pasquale, a Florida-based spaceships, Courtney
professional designer and avid fan Morelock resurrected
artist. Over the years, he has built a Bo-Katan, Carsten
crew of talented friends and fellow Bradley tackled the
fans that have become a supportive Loth-wolf and Saw

community on individual projects. Gerrera, and James Raiz did Fenn the finished poster, which he
“These are the folks I talk to almost Rau! Melissa and Bethany also gave describes as being “All about
daily now,” he says. “I had a feeling us Agent Kallus and Mon Mothma. family, which is the true essence
that we’d all have artwork planned “What had started out as just the of Star Wars.
for Season Four, so I thought, ‘Why Ghost crew on a simple background “This motley crew of characters
not share this moment together and snowballed into a dozen artists have formed such a tight-knit family
salute the cast and crew?’” working on a movie-style poster!” who, no matter what, are always
Using the initial teaser trailer as Michael digitally merged each of there to support each other as they
inspiration, Michael illustrated Grand the individual artists’ work to make persevere through the dark times.”



THE SODA CHRONICLES


Aluminum astromech is a canny creation

pen any closet in the Compounding Roy’s big challenge
North Fork, California was the fact that his astromech has
O home of Roy Greenwood no supporting structure beneath all
and you could be buried by a sea of the soda cans, meaning that the
of soda cans. Roy, a card carrying blueprints available from the various
member of the International Plastic R2-D2 builder’s clubs online were of
Modeler’s Society, uses the cans to little use to him. Instead, he used a
build scales models of airplanes paper template as his guide, and so
and spaceships. painstakingly constructed layer-
Roy’s most ambitious build to upon-layer of thin metal to build up
date is a life-sized replica of R2-D2, the body. The same technique made

built over the course of four months the little droid’s stout legs strong “I wanted to be the first person to
from more than 1,400 soda cans, enough to support its weight. build R2-D2 out of soda cans,” Roy
with help from his children Evelyn Today, R2 sits in his very own explains. “I think the most obvious
and Neil Jr. “I affectionately call custom-built display case, emitting choice for my next build would be
them the ‘soda can elves,’” he says. beeps from a built-in MP3 player. a C-3PO.”



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RICHARD MARQUAND



Before the Jedi returned


It’s an astounding 35 years since Return of the Jedi brought the original Star Wars
trilogy to its epic conclusion, and to commemorate, Insider brings you this fascinating
archive interview with the movie’s director Richard Marquand.

Interview by Katherine Catalano












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ARCHIVE INTERVIEW


George Lucas has been 01
called a 20th-century
mythmaker, and he created
the Star Wars saga to be a
contemporary fairytale. How
do you feel about directing a
mythological tale?
I think that any successful drama
contains an enormous amount
of myth. Otherwise, what is it?
It’s superfi cial, of no signifi cance.
My previous experience with this
aspect of drama has to do with
working as a theater director with
the Jacobean plays of Marlowe,
or Shakespeare. These men were
the greatest mythmakers of their
time. As for today, I do think very
much that the Star Wars saga does
carry a huge barrel of myth with
it. The more that movies go back message in there. Although these 01 Luke had the brilliance to consider doing
in time or far out in space or into are not message movies, they tell Skywalker it, and to present it as an absolute
(Mark
some legendary land, the stronger a lot about love and sacrifi ce and Hamill) reality. A lot of people who’ve tried
the chances are of wielding a danger, about individuality and confronts to do the Star Wars thing have not
his destiny
magic wand and making a real aggression and good. Also very succeeded because they’ve missed
in Return of
myth. The Star Wars saga seems fascinating to me is the subtle the Jedi. this point. It cannot be campy, or

to invite comparison to other definition of evil in Jedi, which is put-on in any way. It has absolutely
tales and histories, but the fact sort of interwoven into the skein of got to have the smell of reality.
is—completely on its own terms the film. There is a suggestion as to That sense of real, real truth has

and not looking for parallels—it what evil really is. The other thing to be kept throughout the saga. In
is a true saga. It holds up in its for me, just purely as a director, was Jedi, we have pushed that sense to
own right. It taps a deep response to get the chance to put that on the the danger point—absolutely to the
in the audience. This very strong screen using all the techniques that brink—because we have all these

mythology is why, although they Lucasfilm has at its disposal. That extraordinary creatures.
don’t quite realize it, people go was irresistible. So it was the magic
back to Star Wars time and time that attracted me, and the chance How do you direct the creatures?
again for succor, for nourishment, to put my hands on it. This is pure Do you think of the people inside

relief… like an oasis when filmmaking—the ultimate in fi lm Jabba the Hut who articulate the
crossing the desert. techniques. The movie experience creature? Do you direct an Ewok,
is practically three-dimensional. or an actor in an Ewok suit?
What attracted you to the saga Well, you don’t direct an actor in
as a director? Did you see Star Wars when it an Ewok suit. You’re dead if you
First of all was the magic we’ve was fi rst released? do. And actually as a director you
been talking about: The Jedi I’ve always been an ardent movie are talking to Jabba himself, or to
myth, the dark side, the threat to fan, and I’ll never forget when I Wicket, or Admiral Ackbar, or Bib
your individuality and your soul, fi rst saw Star Wars. My son, who Fortuna. You’re telling them what
whether one can survive as an was then a young 12-year-old to do. Oh, in the early stages when
entity or not. I like the inherent going to school in Boston, had you are casting the people who will

seen it five, six, seven times. He later put on the outward show of
“The Star Wars said, “Dad, this movie is amazing. these characters, you are thinking
of them as the manipulators. At
It’s something you’ve just got to
saga seems to see. It’s on a par with all the great that point you are interested in
invite comparison westerns, with Robin Hood.” So their shape and personality and
to other tales and when I was next in New York I temperament—whether or not they
found it was still running and I
can stand being in costume for any
histories, but saw it. I was completely knocked length of time, and what ideas they
the fact is...it is out by it. I was astounded that it have about the character. But once
a true saga.” was possible to do that on fi lm. It that is set and they are in costume:

Yes, I definitely deal with Jabba!
was hard to imagine how anybody

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Must the actor playing the part How can this be accomplished along, they see that they are
forget his humanity and be an on set? actually Ewoks; they are not people
Ewok, or a Pig Guard? If the creature is huge like Jabba, anymore. Each Ewok actor has to
It’s a very schizophrenic exercise you organize it so that a small see [themselves] as an Ewok or they
being an actor in a costume, inside television monitor screen inside will never come off as one.
a mask or an outfit that doesn’t the body of the creature can be

look like you, or feel like you. The matched with a camera outside Can the audience tell right away
actors need to see themselves pointing back at him, like a in Jedi whether a creature has
02 “Who is
and get used to themselves in mirror. This way the people inside good or evil intentions?
in there?
their new persona. Masks are Who is he?” can see what the creature they are One of the incredibly important
very rich and magical, and can Marquand articulating looks like as he makes things about the saga, or the
asks of
give out a whole lot more than Darth Vader. this or that movement. For small way it’s presented, is that it
you can imagine just seeing them creatures like Ewoks, with one demonstrates that the man in the
03 Luke almost
hanging on a wall. The actor person per costume, you make white hat is not necessarily the
succumbs
needs to get the sense of this—to to the sure they have holes in the eyes good guy—or the bad guy either. I
see what he looks like again and Emperor’s of the headpiece of the costume. think this is especially relevant for
tempation in
again in that mask or costume— Then you set up mirrors wherever the young people who are going
Return of
before they can be that character. the Jedi. they go so that as they are walking out to live in the society of the
future, which seems to be heading
toward increasing uniformity in
02
people’s lives. People often judge
quickly. I’m reminded of the fi rst
time I saw Chewbacca in the
cantina. The first impression is

definitely—from everything we’ve

been taught in the way of prejudice
and cliché—“Uh-oh! Look out!
Chewbacca is a very big, dangerous
creature.” And, of course, he is a
very emotional character as we
come to know him, but he’s not
like one would expect. You don’t
always know which way he’s going
to go, but he does have a heart
of gold and all that. So he’s an
anti-stereotype. Another example
of that is the Ewoks. They’re little
furry things, but they’re not teddy
bears by any means. On the other
hand, there are baddies who are
ugly. We sort of mix it up.
03
What about Darth Vader? He’s
extremely popular, and bad.
The Darth Vader thing is sort of
different. Vader is popular not just
because he’s a baddie—though they
are usually the most interesting
characters—but because of other
fascinating things about him.
One of them is that he has a kind
of subtle sense of humor, which
makes him more attractive than
some of the other bad guys. Also in
Jedi, he is only really outfl anked by
the real bad guy, who has an even
better sense of humor, as well as
being more evil. Vader has a very
wry, mean way of looking at life,




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ARCHIVE INTERVIEW



Richard Marquand on
the Imperial bunker set RICHARD
for Return of the Jedi.
MARQUAND
1937-1987
Welsh-born Richard Marquand,
the son of a British MP, lead a truly
international life. Educated at King’s
College, Cambridge, and later in
France, he studied Mandarin while
serving in the British Army, and
even presented the news on Hong
Kong Television. Marquand’s early
theatrical background extended
from his fi rst youthful screenplay to
writing to acting in university drama
productions. While living in the Far
East, he gained behind-the-scenes
experience as a producer, writer, and
director in television, before directing
numerous productions for the BBC in
the U.K. His theatrical directing debut
came in 1978 with The Legacy, but it
was his 1981 movie starring Donald
Sutherland, Eye of the Needle, which
drew the attention of George Lucas,
who offered him the director’s chair
on Return of the Jedi.




because he is a wry, mean man. An actor’s eyes alone can “Vader has a very wry,
Another thing that sets him apart express anger, especially in a mean way of looking at
from other movie bad guys is that close-up. How about emotional
he has tremendous power, which manifestation in creatures? life, because he is a wry,
is very attractive. If I were an eight- The main problem along those mean man.”
year-old I would like to have him lines, in a fast-moving story like
by my bedside. My R2 night-light is we’re dealing with, is that you
sort of nice, but it couldn’t protect don’t have much time to develop At the same time, we wanted to
me in the middle of the night. a deep psychology for everyone. convey that, just as with the school
Ultimately, the most interesting But within the limitations of the bully, you can outmaneuver them
thing is that you don’t really know amount of screen-time that any if you’re smart and they will turn
who he is. He provokes the same given character has got, you have into cowards. This is what happens
curiosity as the Mona Lisa. Why is to inject as much as you possibly in the movie. Also, I thought an
she smiling? You keep coming back can of the little bits and pieces interesting characteristic for them
to it with Vader, too. Who is in that hint at the undercurrents of to have would be for them to
there? Who is he? psychology going on. Jabba, for relish witnessing the discomfort of
instance, has a tail, like a cat’s tail, one of their own: To enjoy seeing
So you see Darth Vader as a which moves slowly up and down another Pig Guard being given a
fascinating enigma? when he is really angry or excited hard time. We actually managed to
Yes, he takes us off our guard the or disturbed. This is an extra useful get that into the fi lm.
whole time. People don’t know if piece of descriptive action—a little
he’s lying or not. He constantly insight into his emotional pattern. How do you decide on what
pulls the rug out from underneath You’ve got to keep this attention to is appropriate behavior for a
you. When you look at his face you detail going. This richness… This creature; what his motivations
can have no idea what is going on reality, if you will. Even with the are?
inside him. Again, it’s what makes lesser characters like the Pig Guards These are the areas where the
that mask thing so interesting. [Gamorrean Guards], we attempted collaborative aspects of making

Human faces are much easier to pin to show several levels of behavior. I these films most comes into
down. You can look into someone’s felt that the Pig Guards were totally play. Motivation, emotional
eyes and get a sense of what is unintelligent, neo-fascist types. characteristics, physical traits,
going on, of what’s happening Their dumb attitude to carrying body language, and movement
in there. out order is one level of behavior. absolutely require input from




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the man who invented the universe Was there anything you learned 04
in the first place. All through as a child that relates to what

pre-production, the shoot, and you’re doing as an adult?
post-production, George made I’ll tell you how it all began,
himself available. A good example because I don’t think I ever told
of his creative collaboration anybody this and I do think it’s
involved the Ewoks. Early on, rather interesting. When I was
during pre-production, I had hired 12, I had a very eccentric English
a choreographer to work with the master, a Mr. Craddock, who wore
actors, the little people, who were a rather strange tweed suit and
to play the Ewoks. The idea was smoked a pipe. The class had been
to get them into some kind of reading the poem “Locksley Hall”
physical situation and some kind of by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, which
costume as early as possible. Well, is an extraordinary 19th-century
at this point we devised a whole set vision of what the future would
of body language for them—how be like, way before H.G. Wells. It
they would scratch their fl eas, goes: “For I dipt into the future,
look up, interact with each other, far as human eye could see, Saw
etcetera. George saw one of these the vision of the world, and all
early rehearsals and he really didn’t the wonder that would be.” I was
like the way the Ewoks ran. He loving it, but some of the boys
thought they were too uniform, didn’t appreciate the higher forms
and preferred that they return to of poetic art. We were coming to
their own methods of running. I the end of a semester and there was

said, “Sure, fine.” As it turned out, to be a two-week break at Easter.
he was absolutely right. Mr. Craddock said at the end of
the last day: “You’ve got a task to
You seem to see the making do this vacation. Take any four
of Return of the Jedi as a truly verses of this poem, and during
collaborative effort. the vacation write a screenplay
This movie has reconfi rmed based on those verses.” There was
my belief in the essence of a groan from some of the boys,
collaboration possible between the but I thought, “Gee, this could be
director, the creative producer, the really good.” He explained roughly

production office, and the people how to lay it out—I don’t think had no such intentions. At the time
who actually make the movie. The he had it exactly right, but that I wanted to be either a farmer or an
proof of the effectiveness of this really didn’t matter. The important actor. It’s funny—the question has
joint effort has really come to me thing was that that vacation I went keyed this memory of mine, which

profoundly in this huge film. I have off with my four verses and I just I had totally forgotten about for 25
been virtually given carte blanche wrote a film. I had never really years.

by George and the producers thought before how you could put
as far as my selection of people it down on paper with headings Mythological tales usually end
that matter to a director—other and descriptions. I remember that with the triumph of good over
actors, cameramen, remaining my brother and I were vacationing evil. Do you think the Star Wars
crew. I was free to choose people on this farm. I loved farming. I’ve audience will be happy with the
whose strengths I knew, whom always been a country boy. Well, I outcome?

I could rely on. We were a team. showed it to my brother, who was The difficult thing about doing a

In the business of making movies then 15, and he read it. “That’s film of this nature is that, at the
there are no loners. Everybody is fantastic,” he said, “you’re going to start of it, you don’t want the

doing it together. There is no one be a film director.” Well, of course, I audience to know how it’s going

Michelangelo. The effort involves to end. It’s difficult to keep a
a lot of people mixing paint, certain amount of tension going,

preparing the brushes, building the “The temptations facing but this film does it—I think quite
scaffolding, preparing the ceiling, Luke are so enormous brilliantly. We’ve achieved a sense
and even doing some sketches of jeopardy to the very end. You
around the sides. That’s probably that you cannot see how never get the idea that this is a
how the Sistine Chapel got painted, it’s possible to solve formula idea where the lovers meet
and it’s certainly how most movies and, although they have their ups
are made. them and save him.” and downs, you know very well



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ARCHIVE INTERVIEW
05












































06

that they will eventually go off possible to solve them and save 04 Under balked at it. I thought: Hey, there
Marquand’s
into the sunset. him. Luke’s involvement is must be someone older, wiser, and
direction,
We’ve got a really good story terribly complex. And George Sebastian with more experience. I didn’t
here. It’s about individual people. has come up with the most Shaw is know, going in, that it could be
prepped for
There are no generalizations. We terrible Emperor-like double- so much fun. Also I don’t think I
his reveal as
know these people and they know cross, which is just incredible. Anakin ever worked so hard. There were
each other. They’re friends, and In the movie it just takes Skywalker. times when I wasn’t absolutely
they’re concerned about the world your breath away. With each 05 “As a certain I could possibly survive.
in which they live. The story character it’s the same thing: director, you It was really due to the constant
are talking to
becomes more complex as the constant confrontations with encouragement and fellowship of
Jabba
saga progresses, and going into the twists and turns of fate. At himself,” my co-workers that I was able to get
the third movie—although you the end—because it’s been such Marquand through it. There was tremendous
says of his
hope for the best—you’ve no idea an appalling journey, because support and great loyalty, which is
costumed and
how their overwhelming problems you’ve had such a tough puppet cast so important in this business. I was
are going to be resolved. ride—you feel wonderful. A members. very fortunate. I felt, as the director
I think we’ve managed to keep tremendous sense of uplift. Oh, 06 Marquand of this movie, like the pilot in the
totally away from the old style it’s a real celebration. (left) cameos cockpit of a plane about to take off.
as an AT-ST
in which the good guys are sure He knows the ground crew and he
pilot with
to win, because you really don’t Could you summarize your Jedi co- trusts the machine. He knows that
know. I mean, you don’t know experience as director of producer everything is OK, and that even in
Robert Watts.
whether Han is going to get away. Return of the Jedi? an exhausted state he can count

You have no idea who will come In the early stages I was so on the plane to fly. That’s a good
to get him. And the temptations amazed that anybody would feeling—a wonderful feeling. And
facing Luke are so enormous consider me as the director of when you land at the other end,

that you cannot see how it’s such a rich, rich film, that I almost as we have now, and it’s still OK…
STAR WARS INSIDER / 79




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Dennis Muren takes
a light reading as
Mark Hamill (Luke)
and Carrie Fisher
(Leia) prepare to film
Return of the Jedi ’s
speederbike chase.






80 / STAR WARS INSIDER




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The

Star Wars

Archive

Lights! Camera! Action!
Rare images from the
Star Wars photo archives.






































































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