Never far from fan’s minds, our enduring fascination in Star Wars has been renewed once again this summer as the very latest cinematic outing hits picture houses. To commemorate the graphic way in which the film’s characters and sets evolved – as the movie focusing on telling the story of Han Solo’s formative years – ‘The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story’ illustratively documents key moments in the brand new feature.
Collaborating with Disney, the title’s author has revealed some of the visual markers, storyboard art and blueprints and general conceptualizing which helped the production and direction teams paint the finished celluloid picture we are now privy to. Elsewhere readers can learn about costume sketches, and provides a rare opportunity to explore the creative development process of the worlds, characters, and creatures.
The book is not the first of its kind, and continues the series of lavishly-compiled and presented publications which give readers a unique insight into the original imagery dreamt up by the creative department. Among the many images found within the pages of ‘The Art of Solo’, one includes a detailed look at a late-stage mock-up of the back room sabacc game; where lead character, Han Solo and Lando Calrissian meet for the first time. In-keeping with previous Star Wars protocol, the illustrative piece sees aliens playing a high stakes card game where the prize is, what else, but the Millennium Falcon itself!
Speaking of the instantly recognizable ship belonging to Han Solo, the book explains how what we finally see today came as a result of various initial iterations and redesigns, amongst which was a long, slender-shaped intergalactic craft designed by Ian McQue. But this only tells half the story, and should you wish to be furnished on a cornucopia of other little-known factoids based around the blockbuster movie, check out the title for yourself. If you’re more of a pictures person than a words one per se, then why not peruse our back catalogue of movie and superhero artworks, available now and brought to you in association with a host of our favourite contemporary art practitioners. Such as Craig Davison who doesn’t so much create obvious superhero-y limited editions, but rather more subtle variations on a theme. Or JJ Adams, Mark Davies and of course, the more in-your-face Stan Lee Marvel Comics.