Summary

George Lucas and the other God Almighty of the original trilogy ofStar Warsimagined some of the most original construct in all science fiction , but not all of them made it to the screen , and 15 of their early design could have completely changed the entire enfranchisement . The original trilogy featured some ofthe most important alien race inStar Wars , and all of them show off the incredible imaginations of their creators . WhileGeorge Lucas made up someStar Warselements on the spot , many of the serial publication ' aspects were cautiously planned and run short through multiple version before they were ready for the sieve .

While Lucas was the genius behind the original trilogy , he could n’t bring the beetleweed far , far off to life without a significant amount of help . Some of the people who helped him the most were production illustrator Ralph McQuarrie , costume designer John Mollo , and optical effects art managing director Joe Johnston , among many others . They were responsible for most of the concept art that never made it to the screen in the original trilogy ofStar Warsmovies , and these are the 15 pieces of their art that would have all changedStar Warshad they become the net intention .

From Mark Hamill to Carrie Fisher to Harrison Ford , the original Star Wars trilogy launched its hurl members to stardom with iconic part .

Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca on the Death Star in Star Wars

15C3-PO’s Original Art-Deco Design

Ralph McQuarrie ’s original blueprint for the iconic droids R2 - D2 and C3 - PO were some of the first drawings he did forA New Hope . His idea of C3 - PO peculiarly stands out , as it was clearly inspired by the art deco movement and pay the droid a much wide chain of mountains of motion . His aesthetic design elements would have made Threepio front like a much more neat and elegant droid , in stark contrast to the stuck - up and cowardly personality audiences have come to eff . His thinner , more humanoid joints also would have reach him more mobility and taken away his classic shuffle walk .

of import the great unwashed in Star Wars ' creation

Role

Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2

Ralph McQuarrie

Production Illustrator

John Mollo

Emperor Palpatine laughing maniacally in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Costume Designer

Joe Johnston

Visual Effects Art Director

Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker next to Ralph McQuarrie’s early concept art of the character for A New Hope set against a starry background tinted red and pink

Custom image by Sean Morrison

Colin Cantwell

Ship Concept Artist

Nilo Rodis - Jamero

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammil) riding a tauntaun on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back next to the concept art of the animal, which looked more like an ostrich

Assistant Art Director of Visual effect

14Jawas And Tuskens Almost Had Faces

They’re some of the most mysterious species in Star Wars because of the change

Their mystery added to the charm of the original trilogy , and an innocuous conclusion to hide their faces has become one of the most enduring parts of the franchise .

Jawas and Tuskens were created to tot up intrigue to Tatooine inA New Hope , but John Mollo ’s original design left less to the imagination . His original sketches of the costume for Jawas and Tuskens did n’t entirely cover their human face , instead letting their foreign profile be date in plain persuasion . public debate has bait for decades since the movie ’s debut aboutwhat Jawas reckon like under their hoods , and Mollo ’s original design would have settled that argument before it come out . Their secret sum to the appealingness of the original trilogy , and an innocuous decision to hide their faces has become one of the most enduring parts of the dealership .

13Chewbacca Was Originally A Lasat

His first design was later used for Zeb in Star Wars Rebels

Dave Filoni has a taste for canonizing scrapped concept art in his own projects , and he splendidly used one of McQuarrie ’s sketches for Chewbacca to make the Lasat Zeb Orrelios . Chewbacca ’s original design render him as a more or less hairy , in full clothed creature that face like a lamia . It was probably for the good that Chewbacca exit through his changes , as his concluding design made him depend more lovable , which almost sure contributed to his popularity . Chewbacca has been one of the most important characters in every earned run average ofStar Wars , and it ’s interesting to see how important even his unused designing were to the franchise .

200 years old by the time of the Star Wars original trilogy , the mighty Chewbacca is best known for curse a life debt to Han Solo . Chewie accompanied Han through countless dangerous undertaking , choosing to battle against the Empire for the exemption of his homeworld Kashyyyk . He remained with Han and the Solo sept even after the Empire ’s fall , becoming a crucial ally of the Resistance to the First Order . The sequels seemed to end with Chewie persist carbon monoxide gas - pilot of the Millennium Falcon - but now to Rey .

12Stormtroopers Could Have Carried Lightsabers

The weapons were instead reserved for Jedi and Sith

Lightsabers are the most iconic weapon system in all ofStar Wars , but they were almost commonplace enough for the Empire to equip stormtroopers with them . One of McQuarrie ’s original designs for stormtroopers showed them carrying lightsabers and cuticle while chasing after the Rebels . The determination to carry through lightsabers for Jedi and Sith solely may have been a practical one , as the original lightsabers take bombardment plurality , but it turn out for the best . By making them more exclusive , lightsabers became some of the most instantly recognisable symbols ofStar Warsand made multitudinous viewer wish they had one for themselves .

11The X-Wing Used To Be Sleek & Light

They were modeled to be drag racers with thinner wings

Starships were an integral part of the original trilogy , and X - Wings were the vehicle of choice for the Rebel Alliance . An original good example of the X - Wing was create by Colin Cantwell , the conception creative person behind many of the original trilogy ’s ship , and it featured thinner wings set at sharp angles from the body of the ship . It was a very dissimilar aesthetic from the final intent , which had duncish wing at more gradual angles , and generally looked heavier . The original X - Wing design would have emphasized their speed , which could have interchange outer space battles forever .

10Tauntauns Were Once Ostriches

Hoth would have also been a much greener planet if the original design survived

The opening ofThe Empire Strikes Backon the frigid planet Hoth is one of the most iconic scenes inStar Wars , but the entire planet , and its famous mounts , were almost different . Johnston ’s original design for tauntauns made them more interchangeable to ostriches , a pick that would have worked cave in Hoth was opine to have tree and vegetation . Johnston ’s design would have made the opening scene much less fantastically alien , and the iconic moment where Han Solo cut afford a tauntaun to relieve Luke Skywalker might not have happened if audiences saw the similarities to a substantial - aliveness animal .

9The AT-ST Was Unrecognizable

It originally had big windows and a roomy cabin

The AT - ST is one of the most original vehicles in the dealership , even if the practicality of their two thin legs sometimes came into question . Johnston ’s design for the AT - ST almost put monolithic windows on the front of the fomite , which would have made it even easier to take them down . While window inStar Warsare made of transparisteel instead of glass , it ’s still not the stiff material in the galaxy . The original design ’s window would have been begging for Rebels to take out its pilots , which would have made some fundamental battles much less climactic .

8Yoda Was Originally A Gnome

Yoda could’ve looked much more like a mystical woodland creature

Yoda was one of the most unequaled aliens in the integral original trilogy due to his small height and light-green , wrinkly skin , which lend itself to his purpose as a cryptical and smart teacher . Both Johnston and McQuarrie to begin with leaned further into Yoda ’s mystic nature , and he ended up looking like a dwarf or hob from phantasy stories . alter his design helped differentiate Yoda from a fantasy creature , though , and it work out well in the larger science fiction circumstance ofStar state of war .

The ripened Jedi Master had trained Jedi for 800 year by the clock time he met Luke Skywalker on the planet Dagobah . One of the most notable and revered Jedi , Yoda served as Grand Master of the Jedi Order for centuries ; he was powerful enough to duel Darth Sidious himself , although he was kill . Yoda expatriate himself to Dagobah , where he learned how to become a Force Ghost and offered guidance to Luke Skywalker .

7Palpatine Nearly Changed Appearance Based On His Mood

Lucas didn’t have a definite idea for Palpatine yet in The Empire Strikes Back

One of the biggest challenge with create the Emperor was finding a style to convey how vicious he was with the resource usable in 1979.McQuarrie ’s original invention admit some mind on how to accomplish that , and he suggested that Palpatine ’s appearance should change base on his mood throughout his holoprojector call with Darth Vader . Lucas denied the idea , and instead went witha compounding of two role player and a rapscallion to render Emperor Palpatine’sdeformed physiognomy . McQuarrie ’s idea would have made Palpatine into a much more obviously evil force , which would have made his elusive political play in the prequel trilogy impossible .

The senator for Naboo , Palpatine rose to power and influence during the die solar day of the Republic . In reality , his public theatrical role was just a mask ; he was really Darth Sidious , greatest of the Sith Lords , and he used his political skills and Machiavellian craftiness to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi . Palpatine rein his Galactic Empire for decades , until he was cheat on by his apprentice , Darth Vader . Even this was n’t enough to blockade the Emperor , however , as he was resurrected by his followers - only to be get the better of once again .

6Ewoks Almost Rode Manta Rays On Bespin

Luke was supposed to befriend a tribe of aliens to take him to Cloud City

One of the biggest changes in the franchise was made to the original construct for Ewoks . They would n’t be known as Ewoks untilReturn of the Jedi , but McQuarrie opine an alien race that rode flying animals that resemble manta ray through the clouds of Bespin . Luke would have had to befriend a kindred of them to touch Cloud City and save his friends , but the idea was scrapped . That was in all probability a proficient decision , as one ofThe Empire Strikes Back ’s biggest advantages is how cursorily its plot of land move , while including Ewoks would have sidetracked the story .

An Imperial AT-ST in Return of the Jedi and the original concept art for it

Ralph McQuarrie’s early designs for Ewoks, which at the time rode manta ray like animals through the clouds of Bespin in The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars