Call me Lenny/LeniTIL the first Star Wars movie (A New Hope) was actually made after a book adaptation, which means Star Wars hype is technically literary-based in nature
phoneymouseGeorge Lucas wrote the screenplay. He shared the screenplay with a ghost writer, who wrote a novelization of the screenplay. In parallel to the book being written, Lucas made the film. The book was published before the movie was released.
It’s really an interesting part of the Star Wars history, because Lucas made changes and rewrites during the filmmaking process, and the author of the novel took some minor liberties while adapting the original screenplay. The author also published his own sequel to A New Hope.
I don’t know what this title is supposed to be about, but it seems like they are trying to say that the movies are all based on a book, which isn’t true. Lucas did not consult with the author about changes to the movie, and filming was mostly complete by the time the book was published.
Once again here to say I’m not saying the movie is based on the book. I, like you, just thought it was fascinating it turned out this way, and that we could wonder if the book is technically considered the beginning of Star Wars mania.
It is a fascinating story, but no, the book was not the beginning of the mania because the book did not sell well at all in advance of the movie. Movies always boost book sales, but the novelization of A New Hope had almost no sales until two months after the movie came out.
DasusNo, it isn’t, since the screenplay the book was based on existed before, and that’s what George used for the movie; his own screenplay, not a book written based on his screenplay.
As for me personally, The book absolutely caused me and the wife to be there in line that Friday night when the movie finally came out Summer of '77. I don't think it opened in May at my local theater. Did I mention there was a line? Did I mention there was a table full of merchandise? I should have got the t-shirt!
pwnicholsonThat used to be really common. Movie novelizations would come out before the movie, along with soundtracks, etc. It was part of the promotional campaign.