The Star Wars: Concept Trailer

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away... we might have seen a version of Star Wars that featured a Han Solo with green skin and gills, Stormtroopers with lightsabers, and a female heroine named Luka Starkiller.
Many of these anomalies can be seen in concept artist, Ralph McQuarrie's early illustrations of the Star Wars universe. While looking back at these early paintings we can't help but wonder what Star Wars would have been like had it remained loyal to the concept art and early drafts of the script.
The DAVE School graduating class of August and October 2017 have answered that question by bringing Ralph McQuarrie's paintings to life in a concept trailer for what might have been... The Star Wars.
Find out more about our Visual Effects program at www.daveschool.com
Images from "Star Wars™ Art Ralph Mcquarrie" By Brandon Alinger, Wade Lageose, and David Mandel - Abrams, New York
Star Wars™ and its characters are registered trademarks of LucasFilm Entertainment Company LTD. or LucasFilm LTD. This production is not sponsored, endorsed by or affiliated with LucasFilm Entertainment Company LTD. LucasFilm LTD, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and/or third-party licensors.

[@lukerope1906]

Every Star Wars fan should read THE STAR WARS comic. It's excellent look at what we could have got.

[@funkotron9198]

In 1977 I got the Star Wars Portfolio by Ralph McQuarrie for Christmas when I was 11 years old. Seeing these images brought to life made me feel like a kid again. Really amazing work!

[@SturkGaming]

This feels more like a TV show with the way it was set up. And I loved every second of it. I'd watch this so hard.

[@Digital_Ninja279]

Dark Horse did a comic book series based on this and Marvel republished it.

[@zcar4me]

Ok, that was awesome! I've seen this art for years now. Amazing to see it come to life!!!

[@tillterilltilltill]

Man, I would've loved it just as much as the Originals. Looks awesome! These concept arts of McQuarrie are gorgeous.

[@PrinceAlhorian]

Ralph would be proud to see his actual art come alive

[@williamkinsey4979]

This is wonderful. Ralph is smiling down from heaven. 😊

[@joedigger9919]

Some may like to know that there is a graphic novel out there that tells the story that you see here and it is VERY different.

[@IssacHam714]

Joe Digger where can I find this?!?!?

[@joeyjoe003]

What's it called? I must read it.

[@jacobooooo]

Wow, really? What's the name of it?

[@_skirdybirdy1788]

Do you have a name for that novel?

[@MrImastinker]

Not QUITE the same. This trailer is indeed based on an early draft, but the comic was based on a different early draft. The story went through MANY rewrites.

[@MythosFilmsYT]

So they now used the early design for Chewbacca to create Zeb in Star Wars Rebels? That's pretty cool!

[@nathonfleming6631]

Frixcon yes actually!

[@akhdanyf1533]

That creature name as han solo😁😁

[@Gyarretto7]

Which is why it's really funny that they try to pass Zeb off as a Wookiee in one of the first episodes XD.

[@shikamarunara5445]

They also used designs from Ralph McQuarrie in Force Awakens. Funny thing is, one of his sketches for R2D2 looks like a ball droid. Which eventually became BB8!

[@squattingheads]

Yeah and the girl looks like the mandalorian, and the jedi like the blind guy (never watched it, its def a childrens show)

[@chasefreak]

The original 1973 draft is crazy but interesting still. Luke was known as Luke Starkiller, Obi-Wan was more "Lord Of The Rings Wizard Like" and the Force was this glowing crystal object. Lucas attempted to sell it to 20th Century Fox then and was laughed at practically. There were 2 more drafts before he final one and they STILL didn't really want to make it, but Alan Ladd was persistent to 20th Century and the rest, as they say, is history

[@copperboltwire320]

As many have said, would love to see a full feature film! The changes of designs from what we got and the concept would make the movie a whole other one, but the story almost the same. Would watch!!!

[@AndyPaxTheGameCat]

Dude. I'd watch the shit outta that.

[@koloth5139]

You say that, but likely if it had been made like this it would be another generic bad sci-fi that we all would have forgotten long ago. In truth the edits and rewrites saved Star Wars and made it something far better than it could have been. Now in retrospect though it would be fun to go back and see what might have been.

[@Themouras]

Congratulations to all the students and the school.

[@AlexMoenR]

I saw these early McQuarrie paintings more than 2 decades ago, and I think you nailed it.

[@MGSBigBoss77]

Sweet Jesus, this is friggin cool. Never thought i'd see Ralph Mcquarrie's concept drawings for Star Wars in live-action. Its incredible to see it come to life like this! Hope you could possibly also do his concepts for Battlestar Galactica in live action like this too along with Andrew Probert's design works. Cheers; The DAVE School.

[@nepashas]

this version of c3po is almost exact copy of original Maria android from the Metropolis (1927). Thanks for the video, awesome job!

[@MGSBigBoss77]

Yup!

[@telepathy90]

It would be so cool to Get a series or a movie with this style of Star Wars. So vintage so different but yet so similar. It’s kool to see this is where zeb from Star Wars Rebels kinda came from.

[@cheloxmv]

Rebels re-used a lot of Mcquarrie initial concepts

[@karekarenohay4432]

¡Magnífico! Now, you have to do the rest 118 minutes.

[@MrKajithecat]

Maybe these characters could be repurposed into their own story. I know they are prototypes for the OT but I like the idea of having a gruffier and mature male lead, a female droid, a strong man alien that's not Chewbacca and a spry female of action would be so cool along with a fun and original story.

[@plissken94th57]

MrKajithecat some of Ralph mcquarries original concepts were used in rebels but I totally agree with having new characters with the original concept

[@MrKajithecat]

Samuel De La Rosa Shoot they could give the lead a lighsaber. He's not a Jedi but was good friends with a fallen Jedi who gave him his weapon as a gift of their friendship. He'd use is sparsely because its an "ancient weapon" that means a lot to him as reminder of his deceased friend that he must return. Unfortunately he finds out the rest of the Jedi have been wiped out in the end except for Obi-Wan and Yoda.

[@jessealexander3116]

PLEASE PLEASE DO A FULL LENGTH VERSION OF STAR WARS THIS WAY PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU PLEASE!

[@MrColuber]

Yeah, it would be better than what I saw yesterday.

[@frankesposito2182]

It is coming.....

[@HamidShibataBennett]

My goodness... I loved this artwork back in the day. This is truly the most immersive, deep dive fan art project I've ever seen. The team was brilliant! Bravo, good folk!

[@DrymouthCWW]

At 1.58 a creature is shot square in the balls. Drops to his knees and scene cuts. Legendary.

[@WozzzaTV]

Awesome work, I wanna see a full movie and would happily pay top dollar as I'm sure millions of others would too!

[@minjod]

Just read "The Star Wars" comics by Dark Horse

[@residentgrigo4701]

I still can´t believe how bad the plot of that mini series was and how much of later films was foreshadowed. No way would any of that have fit into 2 hours.

[@italuiss]

Why?

[@CaptGage]

Thanks for the heads-up!

[@ray24051]

This was awesome you guys brought those paintings to life and captured the feel of them, too bad Ralph is not alive to see this well done!

[@GlennHemanes]

I love it. Great to see the paintings I looked at over and over as a kid come to life. I want to see more! Great job.

[@aperson2943]

I'm almost more of a fan of Ralph Macquarrie's artwork than the films themselves. This was all kinds of awesome. Truly amazing.

[@Filbi]

I love the big-eyed original design for Chewbacca. I like how Lucasfilm reused the design for another species, the Lasat.

[@Gnarlando]

This is dope! You should all be very proud of yourselves!

[@plissken94th57]

That moment you realize that original Chewbacca looks like Zeb from rebels

[@envy8503]

Dude they based Zeb off of the original concept art for chewbacca....

[@CalicoJackal]

Zeb was inspired by the original Chewbacca.

[@snoopbeerus4091]

That’s the idea. Zeb is literally what the Wookiee were supposed to look like but instead they changed it. They added the design to Zebs race.

[@Howyaduing]

A lot of the characters designs were all based off of Ralph Macquarrie concept art

[@Waltham1892]

1:57 HAN SHOT FIRST!

[@FatherCorn]

There is also a comic book series about this exact thing. It sure is interesting. Bringing the full series to life would be spectacular. This is cool though too.

[@markherbert1978]

Who were the characters in this? Obviously someone is missing. The set up talks about a Han Solo with gills. Guess he didn't make the cut? Yes this was cool to see. It lacks clarity.

[@MarkHevingham]

My utmost admiration for this superb work. Echoing others please make a full length film! The best Star Wars fan film I have seen

[@SciFifan2109]

......WWWWOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! That was.........so INCREDIBLE!! The idea and compositions, mixed with all that retro nostalgia..........(exhales) I'm speechless. This is beyond measure, you guys. Sublime work!!

[@ThorfinnSonofThors892]

I would totally pay to see this movie. Even if its just a short, hour-and-a-half movie I'd still really like it to happen.

[@benjaminstorace6699]

What i'm taking from this is that the new canon is borrowing heavily from the original concepts for Star Wars, the Han Solo here resembling the Lasat from Rebels and the Female protagonist reminding me of Rey. . .

[@karekarenohay4432]

The female protagonist reminds me more Sabine or Hera, more a warrior than a rag picker. And Chewbacca is the equivalent to the Lasat, I think. Oh, and I see McQuarrie's "R2D2" has little arms at both sides of the head, just like Chopper!

[@codemancz798]

She looks more like a make-upless Padmé.

[@k1productions87]

I was about to say, I saw a lot of SW Rebels in this

[@ender7278]

Rebels is basically Ralph McQuarrie: The Animated Series.

[@Yusuf1187]

I've read the plot summaries of the original scripts available online and they don't strike me of being at all like the new trilogy. Literally only one or two scenes from maybe one version seem to have a possible influence. The vast majority of the original story ideas very clearly made it into the OT and the prequels.

[@CLMoss36]

My God. . .that was beautiful! Kudos to everyone who worked on it.

[@williamstone1536]

That was freaking AWESOME! Way to go Dave School crew!! That was so much fun, I'd give anything to see a full film done!

[@timothyvandenberg2905]

friggin' amazing! I actually have a "The Star Wars" promo sticker from '76/'77 promotion.

[@CorsetGrace]

This was brilliant! I remember all these concept paintings (and still have the original Ralph McQuarrie portfolio they sold in 1976) but I just wish you'd put the original trailer's voice over on this.

[@visionist7]

Captures the 70s aesthetic perfectly. Who would score? John Barry?

[@geoffreydavisiii7678]

I remember seeing some of that artwork in "StarLog" sometime in 1976 May McQuarrie rest in Peace..

[@drobinka]

Simply fantastic piece of art. What a shame Lucasfilm isn't spreading such great things around.

[@cameronsmith5016]

This is so good! I’d love to see a full film made to look like this

[@StarTrooper]

This is awesome. I want to see the movie.

[@Deuronius]

Simply beyond awesome...and tbh I'd really wouldn't mind watching a full movie. Like wow!

[@kingsousa1]

This is the best thing ever! Superb

[@shannonhigdon5397]

I loved all those painting as a child and you guys to an amazing job bringing them to fruition. well done all the way around.

[@peanutbutterfly796]

Parallel dimension of Starwars. Wow!

[@peppermintspacecapsule9898]

This is the film I've been waiting to see ever since I first saw Ralph McQuarrie's concepts back in the 1980s! Dave School, you should ask if they'll let you make the whole film. You could include the concept Bounty Hunters, as Dark Horse Comics did. There's more actual Star Wars in these 323 seconds than in the whole of The Last Jedi!

[@russellwagus8224]

I would love to see you guys do a faux trailer for Splinter of a Minds Eye

[@RogbodgeVideo]

Better still - a SOAME Movie!

[@batdetectivetheknight4563]

Earth 2 star wars

[@ZAD720]

Yess!

[@kdawg198]

Stooop

[@joshuajones3557]

Exactly! I got a huge DC multiverse vibe while watching this; it's as if this is a parallel universe's version of Star Wars.

[@ern45009]

DAMMIT BARRY

[@toweypat]

True!

[@tylerdurden8948]

In the concept design Chewbacca looks exactly like Zeb from Star Wars Rebels ;-)!

[@HeatMyShorts]

I just noticed that

[@gochem3013]

The alternate universe of star wars.

[@pkmovies92]

Ooor the Star Wars movie of an alternate Earth.

[@JamyzGenius]

Still looks amazing. I bet Star Wars was meant to blow minds, no matter what.

[@SNOTNUF_]

I actually want to read the original scripts now :0 Luke Starkiller

[@Filbi]

And Mace Windy!

[@Bassmanwcm]

4:47-4:50 "Little Drummer Boy" in the music huh? My rum-pa-pa-pummmm...

[@habitsrabbit]

it's so amazing to see the original concept brought to life..it's hard to imagine this is what it could have looked like

[@MyBichSustained]

WOW!AMAZING!Want to see some more in this visual style!Bravo!

[@zerozeroone4424]

I LOVE the look of this. As a star wars fan, i have always been interested in Ralphs artwork for the conecpts, and had always wondered what it would look like. You literally filled the void of my interest

[@monkeywrangler5200]

Can't believe there isn't a comment yet. This was amazing to longtime Star Wars fans and to McQuarrie fanatics in particular. Well done stuff, thank you for sharing that.

[@spoclogik]

Beautiful - you really captured the essence of Ralph McQuarrie's work...

[@voorheestv1299]

This is an awesome trailer. How long did it take to make all this?

[@dannycruz5446]

Probably could've used some shots that incorporated that strong 1-point perspective that was prominent in McQuarrie's SW production art but still really freaking cool nonetheless!! Great job!!!

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

One year for Christmas I got a sweet calendar of Star Wars concept art, and I ended up posting all the pictures on a wall in my childhood room to make a sick AF collage. Tore it all down this past year as I repainted my room for a last goodbye. Sad to see them go. (GREAT WORK BTW!!!)

[@jeremypayne2040]

This is amazing.Great work guys!

[@ErikWoodsCinSoundRadio]

Sensational work!

[@slickwyldeplaysgames635]

Awesome project! I'm glad we got the Star Wars we did though. This would've stayed a cult favorite (which is fine) but I think the product we got ended up being much more memorable because of the changes.

[@scottreacher]

This was delightful!! Amazing job!

[@mikecurtis11]

I would love to see this expanded to a full length feature

[@pauldack5129]

That was fucking BRILLIANT! I remember seeing this McQuarrie artwork as a child. He was a visionary and was mostly responsible for the look of the SW universe.

[@aygwm]

McQuarrie was the soul of Star Wars for me. So much of that industrial design and set piece design is missing from the new movies.

[@snarkus63]

I have been waiting for YEARS for someone to do this...when the original movie came out,one of the first pieces of merchandise that I bought was the Star Wars portfolio,which had reproductions of McQuarrie's concept art. I still have it today.

[@zilverwing]

Wow, it was surreal seen all those artwork come to life!

[@ThreeToesofFury]

great work Dave school team! The force strong with your film making skills is!

[@Angaris2099]

FANTASTIC!!!

[@403punk3]

Now I want to see “this” movie if adapted from the comics that came from like the second or third draft

[@LostFleet]

Great work :) those Y-wings with bubble canopy such a different style from the actuals ones.

[@TeddyLeppard]

Very cool! I like the alternate reality feel of this and the total adherence to the original Ralph McQuarrie paintings.

[@kevreads3269]

Well done. I want to see the rest of this movie!

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

This is fantastic! Thank you for putting this together!

[@wabisabi3343]

I've always felt that they should start working his stuff directly into the movies, if only as background pieces. They all fit in somewhere, many just as variants on what's already there. The original C-3PO concept would look perfect in a palace somewhere.

[@sdjohnsononyoutube]

Now that has to be the best thing I've seen since the 1st trilogy. Well done!

[@dirtyharry1844]

Looks like a cheesy 70´s scifi B movie....perfect!

[@gundamleader]

This was the best thing ever. I want more!!! You are fantastic.

[@juanm.aguayo-leal9795]

This is brilliant!!!! Absolutely brilliant!!!!! Bravo!!!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@neildavis2999]

Neato. Next do a Frazetta trailer.

[@PhilipHarwell]

Very cool! I love it! and it just so happens that a couple of weeks ago, I started reading the comic book adaptation of the rough draft script, and I discovered this tonight.

[@paulonius42]

This is absolutely beautiful work! So much fun! Thank you! :)

[@AnyDudeUSA]

Fantastic. Attention to detail par none. Give those students a medal ceremony!

[@Volzarok]

That's so cool!!!

[@ethanevans2689]

Been wanting someone to do something like this for a long time.

[@wizardking9829]

I read the comic book of the star wars i enjoyed it! Would love if some made a fan film out of this someday...

[@abundy1104]

Well done. Any chance of a short serial of this?

[@kaligasm1947]

Very well done.

[@momoproductions1020]

awesome. great job guys!

[@keithb2055]

glad they stuck with what we got... mind you some where a long time ago (or yet to be) in another galaxy, in another universe far far away..............

[@Cmmdre977]

This was basically just a montage of what his paintings looked like