STAR WARS PROGRESSION

To see which element of Star Wars came from which draft, consult the following coded list.

KEY CODE

1/ JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS (EARLY 1973): JOTW

2/ THE STAR WARS TREATMENT (MAY 1973): TSWT

3/ THE STAR WARS ROUGH DRAFT (MAY 1974): SWRD

4/ THE STAR WARS FIRST DRAFT (JULY 1974): TSW1

5/ ADVENTURES OF THE STARKILLER, EPISODE I: THE STAR WARS, SECOND DRAFT (JANUARY 28, 1975): TSW2

6/ THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER (EPISODE ONE) “THE STAR WARS,” STORY SYNOPSIS AND TYPED OUTLINE (CIRCA MAY 1, 1975): TSWS

7/ THE STAR WARS: FROM THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER, THIRD DRAFT (AUGUST 1975): TSW3

8/ THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER AS TAKEN FROM THE “JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS” (SAGA I) STAR WARS, FOURTH DRAFT (JANUARY 1, 1976): TSW4

9/ THE ADVENTURES OF LUKE STARKILLER, AS TAKEN FROM THE “JOURNAL OF THE WHILLS” (SAGA I) STAR WARS, REVISED FOURTH DRAFT, SHOOTING SCRIPT, MARCH 15, 1976: SWSS

3/ STORY BEGINS WITH ROLL-UP (SWRD)

9/ “A LONG TIME AGO …” (SWSS)

1/ GALACTIC EMPIRE (JOTW)

2/ REBELS ON THE RUN DURING A CIVIL WAR (TSWT)

2/ A PRINCESS (TSWT)

3/ PRINCESS LEIA (ON THE PLANET AQUILAE) (SWRD)

5/ LEIA (LARS, COUSIN TO LUKE STARKILLER, DAUGHTER OF OWEN AND BERU LARS; LIVES ON UTAPAU HOMESTEAD) (TSW2)

5/ LEIA (STARKILLER, HERO OF STORY, ON UTAPAU HOMESTEAD) (TSW2, TEMPORARY REVISION)

7/ PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA ABOARD THE REBEL SHIP (TSW3)

2/ A SPACE FORTRESS (TSWT)

3/ DEATH STAR (ALTERNATE NAME FOR SPACE FORTRESS) (SWRD)

3/ STAR DESTROYER (TWO-PERSON SIZE) (SWRD)

5/ STORY OPENS WITH PURSUIT OF REBEL SHIP BY GIANT STAR DESTROYERS (TSW2)

2/ TWO BICKERING CHARACTERS (BUREAUCRATS, WORKING FOR THE EMPIRE) (TSWT)

3/ TWO BICKERING ROBOTS, R2D2 AND C3PO (WORKING FOR THE EMPIRE; R2 TALKS) (SWRD)

5/ R2-D2 AND C-3PO IN SERVICE OF REBELS (TSW2)

5/ R2-D2 COMMUNICATES WITH “ELECTRONIC SOUNDS” (TSW2)

3/ STORMTROOPERS (SWRD)

5/ STORMTROOPERS BLOW OPEN DOOR OF THE REBEL SHIP’S MAIN PASSAGEWAY (AFTER RAPPELLING FROM SHIP ABOVE THROUGH SPACE) (TSW2)

3/ KNIGHTS OF THE SITH (SWRD)

3/ SEVEN-FOOT-TALL SITH KNIGHT (SWRD)

3/ HALF-MAN/HALF-MACHINE CHARACTER (KANE STARKILLER) (SWRD)

3/ DARTH VADER (A HUMANOID GENERAL) (SWRD)

5/ DARTH VADER, A SEVEN-FOOT-TALL SITH KNIGHT (TSW2)

8/ DARTH VADER, HALF-MAN/HALF-MACHINE (TSW4)

5/ FIGHT ON REBEL SHIP (BETWEEN DEAK STARKILLER AND DARTH VADER) (TSW2)

7/ VADER KILLS REBEL OFFICER (RIPS ARM OFF; THROWS OBJECTS WITH FORCE) (TSW3)

8/ VADER STRANGLES REBEL OFFICER (TSW4)

5/ ROBOTS SENT TO SURFACE OF DESERT PLANET (UTAPAU) ON A MISSION (TO FIND OWEN LARS) (TSW2)

7/ PRINCESS LEIA PLACES DEATH STAR PLANS INTO R2-D2 (AND SENDS HIM TO “WHOEVER” ON PLANET SURFACE) (TSW3)

8/ PRINCESS LEIA SENDS R2-D2, WITH PLANS, TO BEN KENOBI (TSW4)

5/ LIFEPOD WITH ROBOTS NOT DESTROYED BECAUSE NO LIFE-FORMS ARE DETECTED (TSW2)

8/ DESERT PLANET “UTAPAU” BECOMES “TATOOINE” (TSW4)

3/ TWO ROBOTS, TREKKING ACROSS DUNE SEA, ARGUE AND SEPARATE (SWRD)

4/ JAWAS (HUGE GRAY, FURRY BEASTS) (TSW1)

5/ R2-D2 SHOT BY JAWAS (THREE-FOOT-TALL PEOPLE) AND TAKEN TO A SANDCRAWLER (TWO STORIES HIGH) (TSW2)

3/ LANDSPEEDER (DRIVEN BY ANNIKIN) PICKS UP TWO ROBOTS ON THE RUN (SWRD)

5/ ROBOTS ON HOMESTEAD (WHO HAVE ESCAPED FROM JAWAS, AND RECEIVED DIRECTIONS FOR OWEN LARS) (TSW2)

6/ ROBOTS SOLD TO OWEN LARS BY JAWAS (TSWS)

7/ R2-D2 IS OWEN’S SECOND CHOICE (BOUGHT WHEN LUKE NOTICES A BAD MOTIVATOR ON HIS FIRST CHOICE) (TSW3)

9/ C-3PO SUGGESTS THEY PURCHASE R2-D2 AFTER FIRST ASTROMECH DROID BLOWS ITS TOP (SWSS)

5/ HOMESTEAD (SEVERAL CONCRETE BUILDINGS) (TSW2)

9/ HOMESTEAD IN HOLE (SWSS)

2/ A CANTANKEROUS OLD FARMER (TSWT)

3/ OWEN LARS (AN ANTHROPOLOGIST ON YAVIN) (SWRD)

5/ OWEN LARS (EX-WARRIOR/FARMER ON UTAPAU) (TSW2)

6/ OWEN LARS, A FARMER, ANTAGONISTIC TOWARD LUKE (TSWS)

2/ SKYWALKER (A GENERAL) (TSWT)

1/ JEDI (TEMPLAR TRAINEE, CHUIEE TWO THORPE OF KISSEL) (JOTW)

3/ JEDI IN TRAINING (ANNIKIN STARKILLER) (SWRD)

5/ LUKE (STARKILLER, BOOKWORM, RELUCTANT SOLDIER) (TSW2)

9/ LUKE SKYWALKER (FARMER WHO LEARNS JEDI WAYS) (SWSS, WITH LATE REVISIONS)

1/ AN ACADEMY (JOTW)

3/ ANCHORHEAD, A PLACE (SWRD)

3/ DARKLIGHTER AND BIGGS (AS NAMES: SEIG DARKLIGHTER, A REBEL LEADER; BIGGS IS A YOUNG BOY PRINCE) (SWRD)

5/ DARKLIGHTER (BOGAN APPRENTICE) (TSW2)

7/ BIGGS DARKLIGHTER, A CADET, FRIENDS WITH LUKE (TSW3)

5/ DROIDS (AS A WORD, USED BY BIGGS, LUKE’S LITTLE BROTHER, TO REFER TO THE ROBOTS) (TSW2)

7/ C-3PO HAS OIL BATH (TSW3)

5/ R2-D2 PROJECTS 3-D HOLOGRAM SOS (ADDRESSED TO LUKE FROM DEAK, HIS BROTHER) (TSW2)

7/ R2-D2 PROJECTS HOLOGRAM OF LEIA (ADDRESSED TO “WHOEVER”) (TSW3)

8/ R2-D2 PROJECTS HOLOGRAM OF LEIA FOR GENERAL KENOBI (TSW4)

3/ TWIN SUNS (WATCHED BY KING KAYOS AND QUEEN BREHA) (SWRD)

5/ TWIN SUNS (SET AS LUKE WALKS FROM HIS MOTHER’S GRAVE SITE) (TSW2)

7/ LUKE WATCHES TWIN SUNS (TSW3)

2/ A LANDSPEEDER GOING ACROSS WASTELANDS IN SEARCH OF LARGER SPACECRAFT FOR TRANSPORT TO A FRIENDLY PLANET (TSWT)

8/ R2-D2 RUNS AWAY (TSW4)

9/ LUKE REMOVES R2-D2’S RESTRAINING BOLT (SWSS)

5/ TUSKENS (SPECIAL SOLDIERS WORKING FOR THE EMPIRE) (TSW2)

3/ BANTA (AS A WORD; “BANTA FOUR,” AN ENEMY SITH) (SWRD)

5/ BANTA (“BANTA ONE,” A REBEL FIGHTER IN ATTACK ON DEATH STAR) (TSW2)

7/ TUSKEN RAIDERS, SAVAGE DESERT NOMADS WHO RIDE “MONSTROUS” BANTHAS, ATTACK LUKE (TSW3)

1/ THE JEDI (JOTW)

1/ A “GREAT” JEDI (MACE WINDY) (JOTW)

3/ A FATHER JEDI (BENDU, KANE STARKILLER) (SWRD)

6/ AN OLD MAN/JEDI, WHOM LUKE MEETS (ON THE ROAD TO MOS EISLEY), AND WHO TELLS LUKE ABOUT THE MYSTICAL WAYS OF THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) (TSWS)

7/ GENERAL BEN KENOBI (NAME ADDED TO OLD MAN, HALF-MAN/HALF-MACHINE) (TSW3)

8/ BEN KENOBI 100 PERCENT HUMAN (TSW4)

9/ BEN KENOBI NOW “OBI-WAN KENOBI” (SWSS)

7/ BEN KENOBI RESCUES LUKE (TSW3)

7/ AT HIS HOUSE, BEN EXPLAINS THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) TO LUKE, AND ONE CHARACTER MUST CONVINCE THE OTHER TO DELIVER VALUABLE INFORMATION (TSW3)

8/ CIRCUMSTANCES PLAY A LARGER PART IN PUSHING LUKE TOWARD HIS DESTINY (TSW4)

8/ LUKE DOESN’T KNOW WHO HIS FATHER IS (TSW4)

9/ KENOBI ASKS LUKE TO ACCOMPANY HIM AND LEARN THE WAYS OF THE FORCE, BUT LUKE HESITATES (SWSS)

3/ THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) (SWRD)

5/ EVIL OR DARK SIDE TO THE FORCE (OF OTHERS, THE BOGAN) (TSW2)

2/ “LAZER SWORD,” A WEAPON (TSWT)

7/ “LASERSWORD” NOW “LIGHTSABER” (TSW3)

3/ THE SENATE (SWRD)

3/ GRANDE MOUFF TARKIN (A CORRUPT RELIGIOUS SENATOR) (SWRD)

7/ TARKIN (ON YAVIN, COMMANDER OF THE KESSELIAN DRAGOONS) (TSW3)

8/ GRANDE MOUFF TARKIN ON THE SIDE OF THE EMPIRE (TSW4)

3/ THE EMPEROR (SWRD)

8/ IMPERIAL CHARACTERS COMMANDER TAGGE AND ADMIRAL MOTTI (TSW4)

8/ JAWAS ATTACKED, AND UNCLE OWEN AND AUNT BERU KILLED, BY STORMTROOPERS (TSW4)

8/ BONFIRE OF DEAD JAWAS (TSW4)

5/ LUKE GOES TO MOS EISLEY (TSW2)

7/ BEN AND LUKE VIEW MOS EISLEY TOGETHER FROM A BLUFF OVERLOOKING THE TOWN (TSW3)

8/ STORMTROOPERS QUESTION THE ORIGINS OF DROIDS IN MOS EISLEY (TSW4)

9/ KENOBI DOES MIND TRICK ON STORMTROOPER IN MOS EISLEY (SWSS)

2/ CANTINA CONFRONTATION (GENERAL SKYWALKER KILLS ALIEN BULLY WITH HIS LAZER SWORD) (TSWT)

5/ CANTINA CONFRONTATION (AFTER HAN SOLO IS PUSHED ASIDE, LUKE STARKILLER CUTS DOWN SEVERAL ALIENS) (TSW2)

7/ CANTINA CONFRONTATION: LUKE IS PUSHED ASIDE AND BEN CUTS DOWN (TWO) ALIENS (TSW3)

1/ THE PHONETICS OF CHUIEE (JOTW)

1/ A PILOT NAMED HAN (DARDELL THORPE, “CHIEF PILOT OF THE RENOWN GALACTIC CRUISER TARNACK”) (JOTW)

2/ A GIANT FURRY ALIEN (TSWT)

3/ CHEWIE (NICKNAME OF DEVIL TWO, A HOTSHOT PILOT) (SWRD)

3/ HAN SOLO (AN ALIEN UREALLIAN, FRIEND OF KANE STARKILLER) (SWRD)

3/ CHEWBACCA, A HUGE FURRY WOOKEE, WITH WHOM HAN SOLO CAN COMMUNICATE (THEY MEET ON THE JUNGLE PLANET YAVIN) (SWRD)

4/ A HHUT CHARACTER (OR “SON HHAT,” RULER OF THE GALACTIC KINGDOM) (TSW1)

5/ HAN SOLO, HUMANOID CORELLIAN PIRATE/PILOT WITHOUT A SHIP OF HIS OWN, TEAMED UP WITH CHEWBACCA THE WOOKIEE, AND IN DEBT (TO AN ENORMOUSLY FAT CHARACTER NAMED OXUS—ALL ON UTAPAU) (TSW2)

5/ JABBA THE HUTT (A PIRATE) (TSW2)

9/ PIRATE SHIP NAMED MILLENNIUM FALCON (SWSS)

7/ HAN SOLO OWES JABBA THE HUTT MONEY (FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SHIP) (TSW3)

8/ HAN SOLO MEETS BEN AND LUKE IN CANTINA (TSW4)

9/ HAN SOLO SHOOTS AN ALIEN IN CANTINA (SWSS)

9/ HAN IS IN DEBT TO JABBA THE HUTT FOR DROPPING AN ILLEGAL SPICE SHIPMENT (SWSS)

1/ KISSEL (AS A PLACE) (JOTW)

3/ THE KESSIL SYSTEM (SWRD)

2/ AFTER CANTINA, A SPY (TSWT)

3/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP (WHICH HE’S HELPED STEAL FROM IMPERIALS IN GORDON SPACEPORT) (SWRD)

5/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP (WHICH HE’S STOLEN SINGLE-HANDEDLY FROM JABBA) (TSW2)

6/ HAN SOLO, CAPTAIN OF HIS SHIP (TSWS)

8/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP (AFTER OUTDRAWING IMPERIAL BUREAUCRAT MONTROSS, WHO HAD CLOSED DOWN THE SPACEPORT) (TSW4)

9/ HAN SOLO BLASTS OFF IN SHIP AFTER SHOOTOUT WITH STORMTROOPERS (SWSS)

5/ PIRATE SHIP MAKES JUMP TO “HYPER-SKIP” (TSW2)

8/ JUMP TO “HYPER-SPACE” (TSW4)

2/ ALDERAAN (A PLANET, CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE) (TSWT)

3/ SPACE FORTRESS ATTACKS A PLANET (AQUILAE) (SWRD)

5/ LUKE, HAN, ET AL. TRAVEL TO A PLANET (OGANA MAJOR), WHICH HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY THE DEATH STAR (TSW2)

7/ KENOBI SENSES THE DESTRUCTION OF A PLANET (ORGANA MAJOR) (TSW3)

8/ ALDERAAN DESTROYED BY DEATH STAR (OFF SCREEN) (TSW4)

9/ ALDERAAN BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS ON SCREEN (SWSS)

3/ DROIDS PLAYING CHESS (SWRD)

5/ ROBOTS PLAY CHESS-LIKE GAME AGAINST CHEWBACCA (TSW2)

5/ LUKE PRACTICES WITH TRAINING BALL (ON UTAPAU) (TSW2)

7/ KENOBI TELLS LUKE TO FEEL THE FORCE, WITH TRAINING REMOTE, ON SHIP (TSW3)

3/ DARTH VADER PUTS PRINCESS LEIA IN DEATH STAR PRISON (SWRD)

7/ VADER USES TORTURE ROBOT ON LEIA (IN ALDERAAN PRISON) (TSW3)

8/ VADER USES ROBOT ON LEIA IN DEATH STAR PRISON (TSW4)

5/ PIRATE SHIP ESCORTED BY TIES (TO ALDERAAN PRISON PLANET) (TSW2)

8/ PIRATE SHIP CAUGHT IN DEATH STAR TRACTOR BEAM AFTER CHASING TIE FIGHTER (TSW4)

5/ HAN, LUKE, AND COMPANY HIDE IN LOCKERS IN THEIR SHIP (WHICH FACILITATES THEIR SNEAKING ONTO ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

3/ ARTWO PLUGS INTO DEATH STAR (SWRD)

6/ OLD MAN/JEDI GOES ON HIS OWN MISSION (IN ALDERAAN, TO FIND THE KIBER CRYSTAL) (TSWS)

8/ ABOARD DEATH STAR, BEN’S MISSION IS TO DISENGAGE TRACTOR BEAM (TSW4)

3/ “MAY THE FORCE (OF OTHERS) BE WITH YOU” (SAYS KING KAYOS) (SWRD)

7/ “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU,” BEN SAYS (TSW3)

8/ HAN AND LUKE DISCOVER THE PRINCESS IS SCHEDULED TO BE TERMINATED (TSW4)

3/ HERO (ANNIKIN STARKILLER) DISGUISES HIMSELF TO PENETRATE DEATH STAR INTERIOR (SWRD)

5/ HAN AND LUKE DRESS UP AS STORMTROOPERS AND PRETEND CHEWBACCA IS A PRISONER (TSW2)

3/ TWO HEROES (ANNIKIN AND VALORUM) RESCUE PRINCESS LEIA FROM THE DEATH STAR DETENTION AREA, ESCAPING INTO A GARBAGE CHUTE (SWRD)

5/ HAN AND LUKE RESCUE PRISONER (DEAK STARKILLER, ON ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

6/ HEROES (LUKE, HAN, ET AL.) RESCUE PRINCESS FROM HER DETENTION CELL (ON ALDERAAN) (TSWS)

6/ PRINCESS LEIA AT ODDS WITH HAN, ATTRACTED TO LUKE (TSWS)

7/ PRINCESS FINDS ACCESS TO THE GARBAGE CHUTE (TSW3)

7/ GENERAL KENOBI CAN WALK AROUND UNNOTICED THANKS TO THE FORCE (TSW3)

4/ DAI NOGA, AS A NAME (FOR JEDI) (TSW1)

5/ DAI NOGA (A SPIDER-LIKE CREATURE, TRIES TO KILL THE HEROES ON ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

7/ HEROES FLEE INTO AN AREA (ON ALDERAAN) COVERED WITH SLIMY LIQUID AND ENCOUNTER A DIA NOGU, WHICH YANKS LUKE UNDER WATER (TSW3)

9/ HEROES RESCUE PRINCESS LEIA FROM CELL ON DEATH STAR, AND THEIR ESCAPE FROM DETENTION AREA LEADS STRAIGHT TO SCENE IN GARBAGE MASHER, WHICH NOW HOLDS
DIA NOGA (SWSS)

8/ LUKE AND LEIA SWING ACROSS ABYSS (TSW4)

2/ PRISON RESCUE AND ENSUING SPACE DOGFIGHT (TSWT)

3/ SPACE DOGFIGHT WITH GOOD GUYS IN GUNPORTS (SWRD)

5/ HAN AND LUKE IN GUNPORTS FIGHTING TIES (AFTER ESCAPE FROM ALDERAAN) (TSW2)

9/ GUNPORT BATTLE FOLLOWS ESCAPE FROM THE DEATH STAR (SWSS)

1/ YAVIN (AS A PLANET) (JOTW)

2/ YAVIN, A JUNGLE PLANET (HOME OF THE WOOKEES) (TSWT)

5/ REBEL OUTPOST ON FOURTH MOON OF YAVIN (TSW2)

2/ A RUINED TEMPLE (TSWT)

3/ ARTWO PROJECTS IMAGE OF DEATH STAR FOR PLANNING PURPOSES (SWRD)

4/ DODONNA, AS A NAME (A SITH KNIGHT) (TSW1)

5/ DEBRIEFING OF ATTACK ON DEATH STAR BY DODANA (TSW2)

5/ HAN REFUSES TO JOIN THE REBELS (TSW2)

2/ FIGHTER-TYPE SPACECRAFT ATTACK A SPACE FORTRESS (TSWT)

8/ “X-WING” STARFIGHTER (TSW4)

5/ LUKE LEADS FIGHT (MAKING TWO PASSES ON EXHAUST PORT; C-3PO AND BAIL ANTILLES FIRE SHOT THAT DESTROYS DEATH STAR) (TSW2)

3/ A GOVERNOR (WHO WON’T LEAVE THE SPACE FORTRESS WHEN IT IS IN DANGER) (SWRD)

8/ WEDGE ANTILLES, A PILOT (TSW4)

8/ R2-D2 DAMAGED IN END BATTLE (TSW4)

5/ DARTH VADER NEARLY KILLS LUKE, WHEN HAN AND CHEWBACCA COME TO RESCUE (TSW2)

6/ LUKE BLOWS UP DEATH STAR (WITH BOMB) (TSWS)

7/ LUKE FIRES SHOT THAT DESTROYS DEATH STAR (TSW3)

8/ BEN ADVISES USE OF THE FORCE TO LUKE, WHO DOESN’T USE TARGETING COMPUTER (TSW4)

2/ AWARD CEREMONY (TSWT)