A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away
December 13, 2017 7:31 AM Subscribe
Trailer for The Star Wars based on the concept art of Ralph McQuarrie (SLVimeo)
As we learned from the Prequels, what Star Wars really needs is more folks with lightsabers.
I kid. It's beautiful.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:49 AM on December 13, 2017
I kid. It's beautiful.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:49 AM on December 13, 2017
Interesting.
As a kid who loved Star Wars when it first came out and had to spend a chunk of time in hospital that autumn, I received rather a lot of tie-in gifts that Christmas. The one that struck 12 year old me as noticeably of a superior quality was a pack of glossy prints of McQuarrie's concept paintings. Still have them tucked away in a box in my parents' basement.
posted by senor biggles at 7:52 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
As a kid who loved Star Wars when it first came out and had to spend a chunk of time in hospital that autumn, I received rather a lot of tie-in gifts that Christmas. The one that struck 12 year old me as noticeably of a superior quality was a pack of glossy prints of McQuarrie's concept paintings. Still have them tucked away in a box in my parents' basement.
posted by senor biggles at 7:52 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
McQuarrie's influence seems to be all over the new Star Wars films. I felt like some of those shots from this trailer were actually in Force Awakens, it felt strangely familiar.
posted by Fizz at 7:55 AM on December 13, 2017
posted by Fizz at 7:55 AM on December 13, 2017
I was obsessed with the whole making-of stories as a kid, and remember reading an interview with Anthony Daniels, talking about his initial meeting with George Lucas. It was really weird and awkward at first - George was shy and Anthony didn't really know what to make of the project. But then he saw that George Lucas had Ralph McQuarrie's concept art tacked around, and just out of desperation gestured at the picture of C-3PO and asked, "so, what is this? Is this the character sketch?"
And he said that George's face lit up and he began excitedly talking about the art and the concept thinking behind the character, and what he wanted the project as a whole to do, and how the characters would fit in...and it sucked him in too, not only because of the art but also because "enthusiasm in anyone is attractive".
Also, this art makes it way more obvious that the look of C-3PO was inspired by Metropolis.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:58 AM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
And he said that George's face lit up and he began excitedly talking about the art and the concept thinking behind the character, and what he wanted the project as a whole to do, and how the characters would fit in...and it sucked him in too, not only because of the art but also because "enthusiasm in anyone is attractive".
Also, this art makes it way more obvious that the look of C-3PO was inspired by Metropolis.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:58 AM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
Ralph McQuarrie even makes the boring-ass A-Wing look good.Ah, the A-Wing. I chased one of those around for over an hour in Tie Fighter before just giving up out of boredom. Keep the shattered wreckage of your supply depot, Rebel scum!
posted by Kikkoman at 8:12 AM on December 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
Okay... I got caught up on the idea that Luke could have been female and mourn the Star Wars where we would have had Lady Luke AND kick ass Princess Leia.
I mean, likely it would have just been one badass female character, but man, oh man, imagine two. And the dynamic that would have made.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 8:24 AM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
I mean, likely it would have just been one badass female character, but man, oh man, imagine two. And the dynamic that would have made.
posted by JustKeepSwimming at 8:24 AM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
There was a comic made from Lucas's early drafts. It was... not good. No idea if the comic makers or the quality of the source material are to blame there, but I have my suspicions.
posted by Artw at 8:26 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 8:26 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's worth noting that McQuarrie's original design for Chewbacca ultimately did make it to the (small) screen as the design for Rebel's Zeb.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:27 AM on December 13, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:27 AM on December 13, 2017 [9 favorites]
boring-ass A-Wing
You. Take. That. Back.
If you like McQuarrie designs, check out the actually-quite-good Rebels animated series, which uses a ton of McQuarrie designs (including the A-Wing).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:28 AM on December 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
You. Take. That. Back.
If you like McQuarrie designs, check out the actually-quite-good Rebels animated series, which uses a ton of McQuarrie designs (including the A-Wing).
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:28 AM on December 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
Ralph McQuarrie even makes the boring-ass A-Wing look good.
I would have words with thee.
posted by Molesome at 8:50 AM on December 13, 2017
I would have words with thee.
posted by Molesome at 8:50 AM on December 13, 2017
I would watch this movie.
posted by Gelatin at 9:07 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Gelatin at 9:07 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Boring space car.
...which brought down the Executor. #ArvelCrynyd
posted by Molesome at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
...which brought down the Executor. #ArvelCrynyd
posted by Molesome at 9:16 AM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
Boring crash-prone space car.
posted by Artw at 9:37 AM on December 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 9:37 AM on December 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm sitting here sipping coffee from my Ralph McQuarrie "Twin Suns over Mos Eisley" mug and thinking, "This was made for me."
posted by The Tensor at 10:44 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by The Tensor at 10:44 AM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
The A-wing is glorious, no matter what the io9 bandwagon says.
The X-wing is a classic, a beauty, looking like something that would fly aerodynamically in atmosphere. But its blasters draw waay too much power from its speed for the amount of firepower they add to the party, and its torpedo loadout is disappointing, to say the least.
If you want something that can take and dish out a beating, get a Y-wing, or if you're lucky enough, a B-wing. If you want to let every singly TIE know that they can't hide, and that they *definitely* can't run, get in the A-wing.
posted by pykrete jungle at 12:30 PM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
The X-wing is a classic, a beauty, looking like something that would fly aerodynamically in atmosphere. But its blasters draw waay too much power from its speed for the amount of firepower they add to the party, and its torpedo loadout is disappointing, to say the least.
If you want something that can take and dish out a beating, get a Y-wing, or if you're lucky enough, a B-wing. If you want to let every singly TIE know that they can't hide, and that they *definitely* can't run, get in the A-wing.
posted by pykrete jungle at 12:30 PM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
So, the female Luke in that trailer looks a lot like Dr Aphra. Which is cool. Dr Aphra needs her own film.
posted by NoMich at 12:42 PM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by NoMich at 12:42 PM on December 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
It looks a lot more like the prequels, reflecting Lucas was getting his inspiration from the Flash Gordon style pulps.
posted by Sebmojo at 3:27 PM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Sebmojo at 3:27 PM on December 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
this is really neat and i would've loved a whole movie like that.
also, i'm enjoying all the star-wars related topics or titles today! ^_^
posted by numaner at 2:12 PM on December 14, 2017
also, i'm enjoying all the star-wars related topics or titles today! ^_^
posted by numaner at 2:12 PM on December 14, 2017
« Older In the room when it happens | By case 3, Dr Brown Bear displays signs of... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Artw at 7:40 AM on December 13, 2017 [5 favorites]