Artist Ralph McQuarrie was born #OTD in 1929. He is probably best known as the primary concept artist for the Star Wars movies, but he also did work for Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, and E.T., and he won an Academy Award for his work on Cocoon.
Image: Ralph McQuarrie
@mcnees Little known fact... In "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", JJ recreated one of McQuarrie's iconic illustrations of a wookie-like creature confronting an early draft of Han Solo on the streets of Mose Eisley.
I saw it being shot as part of the scene in Maz's castle and I was bummed it didn't make the final cut. It was such a great homage to the artist!
@mcnees Oh! And here's a scan of the scene from the DK Book "Star Wars: The Force Awakens- Visual Dictionary"! Notice them off to the right of the shot under the doorway. See how they match the McQuarrie illustration?
In the brief sequence, the proto-wookie approaches the Han-like character, they briefly square off as if to draw their guns on each other, then embrace in a welcome before the camera pans away to take in the rest of the bar patrons.
Robert McNees
J. Trent Adams
emberquill 