The Star Wars galaxy is vast, intricate, and endlessly fascinating, but few projects in its storied history stand out quite like Shadows of the Empire. This multimedia experiment was a bold move by Lucasfilm in the mid-90s, delivering a full narrative experience without a movie. Instead, the story unfolded through a book, a comic series, a video game, a soundtrack, and even action figures. The goal? To create a cinematic feel without actually filming anything. But how did it come together? Let’s break down the creative vision behind Shadows of the Empire and explore why it remains such a fan-favorite cornerstone in Star Wars lore. George Lucas and the Vision of an Organized Underworld When George Lucas envisioned Shadows of the Empire, he wanted it to explore an area of Star Wars that had previously been sidelined: the galaxy’s criminal underworld. “We’d never before shown organized crime in the Star…
Legends
Crafting an Epic: Exploring the New Jedi Order Documentary, Part II – Invasion
The Star Wars Expanded Universe is a treasure trove of lore, and few projects shine brighter in that galaxy of stories than the New Jedi Order. Now, in a stunning seven-part documentary series, creator Xezene dives deep into the making of this monumental 19-book series. Part II, titled “Invasion”, takes viewers on an intricate journey through some of the saga’s most pivotal moments, blending fascinating interviews, lost archives, and stunning visuals that would make even a Jedi Master say, “Impressive. Most impressive.” What Is the New Jedi Order? Published between 1999 and 2004, the New Jedi Order is a 19-book saga chronicling the galactic battle against the Yuuzhan Vong, a terrifying alien species invading from outside the known galaxy. The series is a bold departure from traditional Star Wars stories, featuring high-stakes conflicts, character deaths that shook readers to their core, and some of the most ambitious storytelling ever attempted…
George Lucas and the Bantam Era: Shaping the Expanded Star Wars Universe
When it comes to the galaxy far, far away, George Lucas’s fingerprints are everywhere—even in the sprawling world of Star Wars novels, comics, and video games. The original creator of Star Wars wasn’t just focused on the big screen; his vision influenced almost every corner of the expanded universe. From greenlighting storylines to vetoing Mandalorian pilots, Lucas had an undeniable hand in shaping these adventures. Let’s take a closer look at some fascinating behind-the-scenes moments that illustrate his influence, as highlighted in Bantam Spectra’s Star Wars works of the ’90s. The Lucas Checklist: A Guiding Light for Star Wars Stories In the early days of Bantam’s Star Wars novels, the process of pitching ideas to Lucasfilm was surprisingly straightforward—or at least, it sounded that way. Authors and creatives would submit story ideas that included a one- to two-page checklist of key plot points. George Lucas himself would review them and…
George Lucas and The Jedi Academy Trilogy: Behind the Scenes of a Star Wars Legend
Ever wondered how the iconic Jedi Academy Trilogy came to life? Turns out, it wasn’t just a straightforward process of Jedi heroics and Sith lore. George Lucas, Kevin J. Anderson, and Tom Veitch had a mix of intriguing conversations, quirky suggestions, and even debates about what makes Star Wars, well, Star Wars. Let’s take a closer look behind the curtain at the fascinating creation of this legendary story arc. How George Lucas Shaped the Sith Backstory One of the most surprising insights into the making of the Jedi Academy Trilogy was how much creative freedom the authors were given—but with some unexpected twists. Tom Veitch, who co-wrote the comics and novels tied to the trilogy, initially proposed that Exar Kun (the trilogy’s Dark Lord antagonist) could be the spirit of a long-dead Sith. Sounds straightforward, right? Not so fast. Lucas responded with a classic curveball: “Make him a Dark Lord…
George Lucas and the Origins of the Sith: Behind the Scenes of “Tales of the Jedi”
The Sith and the Jedi—two polar opposites locked in an eternal struggle. Their ancient history forms the foundation of the Star Wars universe’s rich lore, but have you ever stopped to wonder how this history was crafted? The development of these iconic elements in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi wasn’t just George Lucas scribbling notes in a notebook. It was the result of meticulous planning, detailed questionnaires, countless sketches, and a team of talented creators. Let’s delve into how the ancient history of the Sith and Jedi was built, shedding light on the creative minds that collaborated with Lucas to make it happen. The Creation of Exar Kun: Defining a Dark Lord of the Sith Where exactly did the Sith come from? The seeds of their story were planted when Tom Veitch, one of the creators of Tales of the Jedi, pitched a character named Exar Kun to George…