Star Wars: The Blueprints

Overview

Written by J. W. Rinzler.

Re-release of the same book initially released September 15, 2011 by publisher Epic Ink (larger at 15.86 x 1.97 x 17.44 inches). October 15 is also noted as a publication date, too.

From a distributor:

Star Wars: The Blueprints brings together the original technical drawings from deep within the Lucasfilm Archives. Combined with insightful commentary from best-selling author J. W. Rinzler, the collection maps in precise, vivid, and intricate detail the very genesis of one of the most enduring and beloved stories to appear onscreen.

The meticulously researched text gives voice to the groundbreaking and brilliant engineers, designers, and artists that have, in film after film, created the most imaginative and iconic locales. Blueprints shows how in bringing this extraordinary epic to life, early concepts were translated into iconic sets – the rebel blockade runner, the Millennium Falcon, the bridge of General Grievous's flagship, Jabba the Hutt's throne room, and many others – thanks to the exquisite craftsmanship and artistry of successive art departments.

Special Features:
* More than 250 blueprints
* More than 500 photographs and illustrations
* Ten gatefolds

Relevant Excerpts about Boba Fett:

STORMTROOPER II - EPISODE V

As many Empire aficionados knows, bounty hunter Boba Fett started out as an all-white supertrooper. The origins of his evolution began in February/March 1978 when Johnston did several concept drawings of the next-generation stormtrooper's armor and secret weaponry. In April, Lucas's second draft introduced Fett, a bounty hunter, though in May the costume was still designated as a "stormtrooper II" in Reynolds's very early backpack drawing (no. 02). In June, a film test in the States, using a prototype based on Reynolds's series, still featured an all-white costume, presumably that of the supertrooper. But in September a fully clothed and painted Fett marched through Marin County in his final incarnation during a local fair. In November, Fett appeared to the rest of the United States as an animated character in the Star Wars Holiday Special on television.

The exact day or month that Fett and the supertrooper costume combined is subject to speculation. Clearly for the Holiday Special to be aired in November, plans had to have been finalized at least a couple of months earlier—possibly around the time Lucas was writing his second draft in March or, at the latest, June 1978, when a concept drawing by Johnston is clearly labeled "Boba Fett."

"As I recall, just before I started full-time on Empire, Robert Watts received a sketch from ILM depicting what was described as a super stormtrooper," says Reynolds. "He asked me if I would develop the character and produce an outfit for George to consider, so I enlisted the aid of a sculptor, Jan Stevens, and model maker, Brian Archer (who previously had helped me with Threepio's costume), and produced the outfit complete with backpack and helmet range finder. When George finally received the outfit, he decided to change the concept from stormtrooper to bounty hunter.

That would also pinpoint the change in May/June. Eventually, Watt's half-brother, Jeremy Bulloch, was cast to play Fett—partially because he fit the costume—and an iconic character was born, despite his relatively brief screen time.

These excerpts are referencing drawings on the page:

SET. STORMTROOPER II BACKPACK [FAR RIGHT]
DETAIL: FULL-SIZED
ORG. NO: 02
SCALE: FS
DATE: MAY 2, 1978
DRAWN BY: NORMAN REYNOLDS

TOP SET SUPERTROOPER II (PROTOTYPE MOCKUP)
DETAIL: HELMET
ORG. NO: N/A
SCALE: FS
DATE: MAY 1978
DRAWN BY: NORMAN REYNOLDS

ABOVE: The all-white supertrooper costume, like C-3PO's, came with a "poster" to aid assembly, as shown here at Elstree.

There's more on page 165 and 337.

Helmet tip to RafalFett for transcribing and sharing this text. We've corrected some errors in that original transcript after reviewing the actual source material.