By now, most consumers of popular culture know the story of Star Wars through several films, TV series, and video games. But far fewer people know the inside story of how the landmark film and its two sequels that is truly fascinating, as director George Lucas and his crew faced incredible odds along the way. If you’ve ever wondered just how Lucas turned an idea into arguably the biggest sci-fi franchise of all time, these official books detailing the making of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi are essential reading.
- The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film (Hardcover) — $54 ($
85) - The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Hardcover) — $46 ($
85) - The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Hardcover) — $47 ($
85)
Star Wars scholar J. W. Rinzler dove deep into the Lucasfilm Archives , and through his exploration of unpublished interviews, photos, production notes, factoids, and anecdotes, he uncovered how the original trilogy came to be. The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film is an exhaustive look at the nearly decade-long quest of George Lucas and his key collaborators, revealing just how different the initial pitch for the film was before production began.
Then there are the stories of the grueling shoots in the deserts of Tunisia, the birth of Industrial Light and Magic as a special effects powerhouse, and excerpts from Lucas’s script notes that make for fascinating reading. The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back continues the behind-the-scenes saga with a look at how a life-sized Millennium Falcon was constructed, the challenges of shooting the epic battle of Hoth in the frozen reaches of Norway, and how master Muppeteer Frank Oz brought Yoda to life.
Finally, The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi focuses on how Lucas and his team were in a race against time and dwindling finances to make the threequel a worthy conclusion to the Star Wars saga. Each book is almost 400 pages in size, so these will make for informative reads when you start thumbing through them.
It’s a great time to read these books, as May 4 is Star Wars Day. If you’re interested in learning about the origins of the annual celebration of all things Star Wars, Fandom’s dedicated Wiki provides a quick rundown. Star Wars Day is older than you might think!
For more Star Wars fun, check out our roundup of the brand-new Star Wars Lego sets that released this week in celebration of Star Wars Day.