Star Wars

Key Facts

The expanded dramatisation of the Star Wars trilogy was created in 1981, 1983 and 1996.

The first two series were based on ‘A New Hope’ and ‘The Empire Strikes Back’. The last one was based on ‘Return Of The Jedi’.

They were all produced and broadcasted by American radio station ‘National Public Radio’ (NPR).

George Lucas (director of the Star Wars trilogy) helped create all three of the radio serials. He also allowed many of the sound effects and music used in the films to be used in the radio dramas.

A New Hope

A New Hope consisted of 13 episodes. It was written by Brian Daley from the original film, and directed by John Madden, with music by John Williams and sound design for Lucasfilm by Ben Burtt.

• Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker• Ann Sachs as Princess Leia Organa• Perry King as Han Solo• Bernard Behrens as Obi-Wan Kenobi• Brock Peters as Lord Darth Vader• Anthony Daniels as C-3PO• Keene Curtis as Grand Moff Tarkin• John Considine as Lord Tion• Stephen Elliott as Prestor – more widely known as Bail Organa• David Ackroyd as Captain Antilles

Many of the actors involved in the movie were unable to take part in this adaptation, however Anthony Daniels and Mark Hamill did take up their roles again for this radio serial.

New scenes were added to the radio drama that weren’t in the original movies.

The Empire Strikes Back

The success of the first part led to the second series which consisted of 10 episodes. It was also written and directed by the same people.

Again they decided to add new scenes to what was in the movie.

National Public Radio's promoted the series in part by getting Craig Claiborne (American food critic) to create his version of Yoda's rootleaf recipe, which the Jedi Master serves Luke in the hut on Dagobah. The recipe ran in magazines and newspapers across the country

Many of the same actors from the first series came back to play the same roles again in this series.

Return Of The Jedi

Return Of The Jedi was put on hold because NPR’s funds were reduced. Plans to produce this series eventually fell in the 80’s due to financial disagreements between KUSC and Lucasfilm.

It wasn’t until 1996 that a six-part adaptation of Return of the Jedi was made by Highbridge Audio, who also released the first two series on tape and CD.

Just like the last two series, this series also added new scenes to what was in the original movie.

The adaptation used many of the original radio cast, although Joshua Fardon took over as Luke and Arye Gross replaced Billy Dee Williams as Lando.

Summary

The movie’s director (George Lucas) helped out with the radio serial.

New scenes that weren’t in the original films were added to the radio serial.

Only some of the actors returned from the films to reprise their roles in the radio serial such as Mark Hamill who played Luke Skywalker, however he didn’t return for the last series as Joshua Fardon took over. Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) was the only actor to play in all three of the movies as well as all three of the radio series.

The radio series used the same scriptwriter as the original films.