'SOLO': DOWN IN THE MUD!

 

It's the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but just not in the way you expected, as a mud covered showdown is created between the young Han Solo and the angry Chewbacca so as to escape their confinement on Mimban, in another memorable scene from Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': WAR BUDDIES!

War is hell, as the saying goes, and that's especially true for Imperial grunt Han Solo and his new hairy comrade Chewbacca as they're caught in an epic confrontation. Intriguing concept art for Solo: A Star Wars Story prior to the film's script being fully locked down.

CLASSIC ART: THE YUZZEM BREAKOUT!

It's time for our Rebel heroes to escape their Imperial captors on the swamp world of Mimban, and this time they have mighty, ferocious help from several formidable Yuzzem creatures, in this terrific cover issue art by Hugh Fleming and Mark Harrison for the splendid Dark Horse comics adaptation of Alan Dean Foster's excellent Star Wars continuation of 1978, Splinter of the Mind's Eye.

'SOLO': THE UN-IMPERIAL IMPERIAL!

Things are looking decidedly bleak for Imperial infantry mug Han Solo and other soldiers what with the death of their commander on the intense front lines of battle of Mimban. Gloomy that is, until the talented and blaster-ready arrival of a new 'officer', and a certainly memorable and courageous one at that for the impressionable Solo, especially when showcasing his unique gun-slinger twirling talents.

Welcome to Mimban and Solo: A Star Wars Story, Tobias Beckett!

In the thick of frontline battle!

Filming the classic blaster twirl sequence at Pinewood.

'SOLO': FIERCE CREATURES!

Fighting for their lives and their world, now under attack and planned takeover by Emperor Palpatine and his overwhelming Imperial war machine, the alien swamp warriors of Mimban prove an effective fighting force, once more echoing the might of the primitive against the high-tech concept that has been seen through the saga over the years. 

It was great to see the creatures of Alan Dean Foster's 1978 gem novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye make it to cinematic reality during the opening to Solo: A Star Wars Story.

'SOLO': A LASTING FIRST IMPRESSION!

It's not exactly the greatest of ways to meet the being who will be your best friend and co-pilot for the next thirty-plus years, but the coming together of Han Solo with the chained, starved and angry 'beast' prisoner Chewbacca, on the swamp world of Mimban, was certainly unexpected, dramatic, fun and a well conceived/ executed idea for Solo: A Star Wars Story. Their soon leg-chained escape from the pit reminded me of a Star Wars version of that classic on-the-run drama The Defiant Ones, which starred Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier. Though here it was clearly done in a much more humorous vein.

Image via Arrie Decker/TWITTER.

Very interesting information on the film's first draft and the original ideas pairing Han and Chewie for the first time:
https://screenrant.com/solo-movie-original-script-han-chewie-meeting/amp/

Image: DK BOOKS. © & TM 2018 LUCASFILM LTD. Used Under Authorization.

Find out more about our ever-lovable Wookiee hero of the cinematic adventure Solo: A Star Wars Story via the colourful, informative and gloriously photo-packed The Official Guide to the film, comprehensively written and compiled by Lucasfilm Story Group expert Pablo Hidalgo, published by DK Books.

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solo-Star-Story-Official-Guide/dp/0241301742/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528829182&sr=8-1&keywords=solo+a+star+wars+story+visual+dictionary

'SOLO': THE STORMTROOPERS RETURN!

One of the Mimban-based Imperial Stormtroopers.

Where the Empire spreads its cruel dominion, so too comes the presence of the Imperial Stormtroopers. We've seen many iterations of them now, yet Solo: A Star Wars Story cleverly reveals new types of environmental fighting soldier that will surely keep the 501st fans entertained for years to come...

Imperial Range Troopers protect the Conyeyex transport on Vandor.

Mimban Stormtroopers endure the swamps.

A new variation of the speeder bike pilot.

'SOLO': INTRODUCING THANDIE NEWTON AS VAL...

Ready for the next 'job': Thandie Newton as Val.

MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!

It's been a great couple of years for Brit star Thandie Newton, entering an all-new phase of an already diverse career, what with the well-deserved acclaim she's received for her truly captivating performance as an android brothel keeper in the sci-fi nightmare of HBO's Westworld, and now getting to play with even bigger franchise toys, as well as portraying an even more iconic and memorable figure in film history, inhabiting the fiery and efficient thief and crack shot Val, part of the game-changing rogue hero-shaping events of the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story.

On the battlefield of Mimban. But are Val and Beckett really fighting for the Empire?

Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsDdQwwF8-E

And as the next formidable female figure of the saga, Newton's action anti-hero-of-sorts in Val clearly doesn't suffer fools gladly, speaks her mind and readies her blaster when necessary, and trusts only a few key people- most notably the efficient and versatile Tobias Beckett- leader of the band of thieves and fortune hunters she's been long-time hooked up with. And when that young and feisty Han Solo turns ups with his own cocksure attitude and abilities, and wants in on their schemes of glory and plunder, you can bet things will be getting pretty tense!

Planning their unique heist on the cold world of Vandor.

Always a fan of the saga, Thandie Newton talked to the UK's Radio Times magazine (April 2018) on the importance of being in Solo:

'I'm the first woman of colour to have a prominent role in the Star Wars legacy. There have been others with one line and Lupita Nyong'o was a computer generated character, but you didn't get to see the colour of her skin.

I'm the first. I'm going to have a toy and everything. It's exciting, but that's all I can say. It's a big deal.'

UPDATE: New UK interview:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/may/19/thandie-newton-being-the-first-dark-skinned-woman-in-star-wars-is-great-and-awful

Val, prepared for heist action with her cable equipment.

Thandie Newton and fellow Brit babe Emilia Clarke at the Solo premiere in Los Angeles.

'SOLO': INTRODUCING TOBIAS BECKETT...

Recognising something about his own once cocky personality and talents in the raw and impulsive Han Solo, we know that the important character of Tobias Beckett, having known the Corellian hotshot since their days together seemingly 'fighting' for the Empire on the swamp world of Mimban, will recruit him and his wookiee partner to his special team for a unique train heist on the snow world of Vandor. We also know that Beckett will give the soon-to-be-icon his classic blaster (which Harrison Ford held and used from 1977 onwards), and that he is good friends with the mysterious former Imperial known as Val (an intense Thandie Newton, judging from trailer footage shown so far). Presumably, Beckett becomes a respected father figure-type to the ambitious Solo, too. But, in an Imperial controlled galaxy where everybody's out for themselves, can the formidable and likely highly manipulative leader ultimately be trusted?

Woody Harrelson interview: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsDdQwwF8-E

An Imperial past of sorts for Beckett and Han, from conflicts on Mimban.

Putting together a crew!

With a brilliant ability to play comedy, drama, and tough-edged action, Woody Harrelson is a most welcome addition to the STAR WARS universe, of which we look forward to seeing how Beckett, a true western/sci-fi fusion concoction by Lawrence Kasdan and Jake Kasdan, plays out during the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

More on Beckett and Val: http://ew.com/movies/2018/02/09/solo-a-star-wars-story-woody-harrelson-thandie-newton-paul-bettany/

Box Office opens May 4th, 2018.

THE MIMBAN ENCOUNTER! CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF 'SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE'!

Very cool early layout concept from Ralph McQuarrie, for what eventually became the dramatic cover of Splinter of the Mind's Eye. Love that prototype logo idea!

It was the book that showed Princess Leia piloting a Y-wing fighter, introduced the swamp world of Mimban (mentioned in The Clone Wars animated series and now about to be given reality in Solo- A Star Wars Story) plus the notion of 'Kiburr/Kiber' crystals (later seen for real with Rogue One), provided an excellent and quirky support character in Halla (who should come back one day!), and unleashed the Yuzzum beasts before they became a singular shrunken Muppet-like creation officially seen in Return of the Jedi. Additionally, we were witness to Luke getting early hots for Leia (before the bad news came along!), and saw the young duo partake in an epic finale lightsaber duel against a genuinely merciless Darth Vader- a conflict which would see the dark lord lose his arm. Plus the glorious image of Leia taking the saber against her former torturous captor: the kind of cool action moment/idea for our heroine we'll now be cruelly denied from ever seeing onscreen, what with the truly sad passing of Carrie Fisher.

Leia takes on Vader. A classic scene from Splinter made reality by Adam Hughes.

All that exciting material was in Alan Dean Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye- the first officially sanctioned adventure set after and beyond the original 1977 film, once planned as a cheap-to-make sequel by Lucasfilm should the first movie only be a moderate box office success. It was the beginning of a legend in science fiction/fantasy tie-in book publishing.

If you haven't already read this terrific adventure (originally published on this date (1978) in the US by Del Rey, and later in the UK by Sphere), or the 1995 four-part DARK HORSE comic adaptation, showing us a time before the STAR WARS universe/franchise was cemented, altered, then re-cemented, then go out and do so now!

Check out our original PDF archive on the story:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRX3hFdUpvWFFyTk0/edit

Happy Fortieth Anniversary!

CLASSIC ART: OF MIMBAN AND THE MIND'S EYE!

Their important mission for the Rebel Alliance put on the back burner, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa survey the lush but not so silent jungle environment of Mimban to which they've now fatefully arrived, in this lovely art by Hugh Fleming for the first issue of DARK HORSE COMICS sterling adaptation of the classic 1978 novel/unmade sequel to the original Star Wars, Splinter of the Mind's Eye.

FACEBOOK: (1) Hugh Fleming

STAR WARS AFICIONADO was thrilled to hear the recent news from LUCAS BOOKS that Alan Dean Foster will be returning to the STAR WARS literary universe, penning the all-important adaptation of THE FORCE AWAKENS, out for Xmas/New Year 2016, meaning that he has now written books for all three movie trilogies (so far).

Alan Dean Foster talks about his novelisation career, STAR WARS and STAR TREK, the state of Hollywood and much more, in this great five-part talk:

▶ Alan Dean Foster- "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" Book Talk- 1 of 5 - YouTube
▶ Alan Dean Foster- "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" Book Talk- 2 of 5 - YouTube
▶ Alan Dean Foster- "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" Book Talk- 3 of 5 - YouTube
▶ Alan Dean Foster- "Splinter of the Mind's Ey"e Book Talk- 4 of 5 - YouTube
▶ Alan Dean Foster- "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" Book Talk- 5 of 5 - YouTube

LAIR OF THE DARK SIDE. CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF 'SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE'!

Danger and darkness await Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa within the ruins of a long-lost Mimban Temple, as the evil Darth Vader emerges from the shadows to claim the Force-powered Kaiburr crystal for the Empire, and exact his revenge on the bold Rebel Alliance leaders that destroyed the Death Star, in this truly gorgeous original art by Ralph McQuarrie, that has since become the stuff of artistic history, for the 1978 Del Rey book cover of SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE-then the first all-new original novel featuring the main STAR WARS characters, written by Alan Dean Foster and approved by George Lucas- to generate continued interest in the saga in the eventual build-up to the next feature adventure, which was then a few years off. The Expanded Universe of STAR WARS had well and truly begun!

The new adventure was a huge success internationally, as seen her with its UK Sphere Books release media publicity.

Originally published on the February 12th, 1978, next month's STAR WARS INSIDER, celebrating the classic book's 35th Anniversary, has an exclusive original transcript meeting between George Lucas and Alan Dean Foster from 1977 about the book and what it should be about, that will surely prove a terrific read!

And don't forget our original, highly detailed AFICIONADO ARCHIVE from a few years back on the book and its later DARK HORSE comic adaptation: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRX3hFdUpvWFFyTk0/edit?usp=sharing

Note: To see the PDF in its best viewing quality, please download the file to your desktop.

2015 UPDATE: The 'Star Wars' Sequel That Never Happened

CLASSIC ART: LEIA'S TURN...

Ever since she boldly held her own against Darth Vader in the captured bridge of the Rebel Blockade Runner, and later his brutal interrogation techniques on the Death Star, I've always wanted to see our plucky Princess Leia get some payback and take on the Dark Lord of the Sith in a fight. If not with a blaster then certainly with a lightsaber, and that's exactly what we get in part of the finale action of Alan Dean Foster's terrific 1978 original novel featuring her and Luke: SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE, as she handles a lightsaber against the Sith Lord when Luke is briefly out of the fight.

It's a great Leia's a badass moment that I wish had been in one of the films, here nicely realised in art form. I don't know who the artist who did this piece is- I'm assuming it's either Chris Trevas or Hugh Fleming-but it's terrific.

It's hard to believe that, in the original story conference meetings for SPLINTER, with author Alan Dean Foster and Charles Lippincott back in 1976, George Lucas was ready to see Leia die fighting Vader, so as to make Luke angry in confronting the Dark Lord. Thankfully, Foster decided not to go down that route with the finished novel.

For more on SPLINTER, check out our definitive AFICIONADO archive: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRX3hFdUpvWFFyTk0/edit?usp=sharing