Marcus Errico

Mind-Blowing 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Concept Art, From Kira to the Jedi Killer

Marcus ErricoEditor-in-Chief, Yahoo Entertainment

Wed, December 23, 2015 at 10:41 PM UTC

Fire & Ice Concept (Jan. 2013) — To symbolize the inner conflict of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (known only as Jedi Killer at this point), and the two sides of the Force he represented, the antagonist was initially going to have separate red and blue beams, per artist Erik Tiemens. At one point during the concept phase, when Michael Arndt was still involved as screenwriter, Ren was given this unique double-bladed lightsaber, which eventually gave way to his crossguard weapon. (Credit: Tiemens/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Alt. Kira (Jan. 2013) — At the outset, our heroine Rey had a different name (Kira) but the same plucky spirit, captured here in this “guided imagery” sketch from the conceptual phase. (Credit: Iain McCaig/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Princess Leia Revised (Jan. 2013) — Artist Iain McCaig gave the princess-turned-general a high-collared jacket inspired by the wardrobe of the venerable actress Sarah Bernhardt. “It’s such an attractive choice, because it really sculpts the face,” says McCaig. (Credit: Iain McCaig/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Trooper B (March 2013) — “We updated the stormtrooper and gave it some edges. Things today have smaller radii, tighter lines. And they’re more lightly faceted, as opposed to smooth and windswept like the stuff was in the ‘70s,” says concept artist Christian Alzmann, whose designs can be seen here and on the next three pages. (Credit: Christian Alzmann/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Trooper B, Version 3 (March 2013) — (Credit: Christian Alzmann/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Trooper C (March 2013) — (Credit: Christian Alzmann/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Trooper G (March 2013) — Elements of this cloaked trooper would be repurposed with an early Kylo Ren design to create the signature look of Captain Phasma. The single eye slot recalls the Cylons from *Battlestar Galactica*. (Credit: Christian Alzmann/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Imperial Rally (April 2013) — “I just took Olympic Third Reich photos, put them on my computer screen, modeled them in 3D, and put in little TIE fighters instead of guys. And I switched the flag logo to the Empire logo,” says artist Yanick Dusseault of this image created during the concept phase. J.J. Abrams closely matched this visual for the scene when General Hux addresses the First Order troops on Starkiller Base shortly before the attack on the Hosnian System. (Credit: Yanick Dusseault/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Cockpit Jacket (March 2014) — As filmmakers moved from the concept phase to pre-production in spring of 2014, it was time to “lock” the looks of various characters, notably Kylo Ren (then still known only as Jedi Killer) and Han Solo. “We designed quite a few costumes, but again, Han Solo only ended up wearing the short brown jacket,” says artist Glyn Dillon. “But he had a duster coat, and for a while, J.J. and [costume designer] Michael Kaplan wanted the original vest.” (Credit: Glyn Dillon/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Rally Site Troops View (March 2014) — J.J. Abrams stuck close to Kevin Jenkins’s pre-production rendering of the First Order forces mustered at Starkiller Base. (Credit: Kevin Jenkins/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Snow Crash 01 (Sept. 2014) — As principal photography continued at England’s Pinewood Studios, ILM artists Yanick Dusseault and James Clyne began “look-development” (i.e. CG concept designs) for the *Millennium Falcon* chase on Jakku and crash sequence on Starkiller Base. (Credit: James Clyne/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

TIE Loading Wide — James Clyne conceived this look at the hangar of Hux and Ren’s flagship Star Destroyer, *Finalizer*. Although the design of Ren’s shuttle became more streamlined, the stacked TIEs were virtually unchanged in the final cut. (Credit: James Clyne/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Jedi Killer in Snow — This dramatic image by Doug Chiang, used as the book’s cover, perfectly captures the feel of Kylo Ren, referred to as Jedi Killer in early drafts. (Credit: Doug Chiang/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Fire & Ice Concept (Jan. 2013)

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To symbolize the inner conflict of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (known only as Jedi Killer at this point), and the two sides of the Force he represented, the antagonist was initially going to have separate red and blue beams, per artist Erik Tiemens. At one point during the concept phase, when Michael Arndt was still involved as screenwriter, Ren was given this unique double-bladed lightsaber, which eventually gave way to his crossguard weapon. (Credit: Tiemens/Lucasfilm/Abrams Books)

Could you imagine a Star Wars: The Force Awakens in which the Force-sensitive scavenger Kira holds her own against the the blue-and-red double-bladed saber wielded by the Jedi Killer? Those are early, eventually scrapped ideas, that have come to light in The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Phil Szostak. The volume, released to coincide with the film, is packed with breathtaking concept art revealing alternative visions and early ideas for the film. Here are some of the stunning highlights.

All images: The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Phil Szostak © Abrams Books, 2015 © 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. And TM. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

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