Star Wars: A New Hope, formerly titled Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, is a Legends novel ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster and credited to George Lucas. It adapts the film of the same name, and it was based on the screenplay by Lucas. The novelization was first published on November 12, 1976 by Ballantine Books, prior to the film's 1977 release. A sequel, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, was written by Foster and published in 1978. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope was later collecte
George Lucas wrote the screenplay. He shared the screenplay with a ghost writer, Alan Dean Foster, who wrote a novelization of the screenplay. In parallel to the book being written, Lucas made the film. The book was published before the movie was released.
It’s really an interesting part of the Star Wars history, because Lucas made changes and rewrites during the filmmaking process, and Foster took some minor liberties while adapting the original screenplay. Foster also published his own sequel to A New Hope which had nothing to do with The Empire Strikes Back.
I don’t know what this title is supposed to be about, but it seems like they are trying to say that the movies are all based on a book, which isn’t true. Lucas did not consult with Foster about changes to the movie, and filming was mostly complete by the time the book was published.
That used to be really common. Movie novelizations would come out before the movie, along with soundtracks, etc. It was part of the promotional campaign.
Once again here to say I’m not saying the movie is based on the book. I, like you, just thought it was fascinating it turned out this way, and that we could wonder if the book is technically considered the beginning of Star Wars mania.
It is a fascinating story, but no, the book was not the beginning of the mania because the book did not sell well at all in advance of the movie. Movies always boost book sales, but the novelization of A New Hope had almost no sales until two months after the movie came out.
As for me personally, The book absolutely caused me and the wife to be there in line that Friday night when the movie finally came out Summer of '77. I don’t think it opened in May at my local theater. Did I mention there was a line? Did I mention there was a table full of merchandise? I should have got the t-shirt!
Edit, Luke had an older brother in the book. Must have been cut out of the movie.
No, it isn’t, since the screenplay the book was based on existed before, and that’s what George used for the movie; his own screenplay, not a book written based on his screenplay.
What?
George Lucas wrote the screenplay. He shared the screenplay with a ghost writer, Alan Dean Foster, who wrote a novelization of the screenplay. In parallel to the book being written, Lucas made the film. The book was published before the movie was released.
It’s really an interesting part of the Star Wars history, because Lucas made changes and rewrites during the filmmaking process, and Foster took some minor liberties while adapting the original screenplay. Foster also published his own sequel to A New Hope which had nothing to do with The Empire Strikes Back.
I don’t know what this title is supposed to be about, but it seems like they are trying to say that the movies are all based on a book, which isn’t true. Lucas did not consult with Foster about changes to the movie, and filming was mostly complete by the time the book was published.
That used to be really common. Movie novelizations would come out before the movie, along with soundtracks, etc. It was part of the promotional campaign.
Once again here to say I’m not saying the movie is based on the book. I, like you, just thought it was fascinating it turned out this way, and that we could wonder if the book is technically considered the beginning of Star Wars mania.
It is a fascinating story, but no, the book was not the beginning of the mania because the book did not sell well at all in advance of the movie. Movies always boost book sales, but the novelization of A New Hope had almost no sales until two months after the movie came out.
As for me personally, The book absolutely caused me and the wife to be there in line that Friday night when the movie finally came out Summer of '77. I don’t think it opened in May at my local theater. Did I mention there was a line? Did I mention there was a table full of merchandise? I should have got the t-shirt!
Edit, Luke had an older brother in the book. Must have been cut out of the movie.
No, it isn’t, since the screenplay the book was based on existed before, and that’s what George used for the movie; his own screenplay, not a book written based on his screenplay.