Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace Illustrated Screenplay

by George Lucas

For the first time in more than a decade, movie fans can revel in the complete illustrated screenplay from a brand new STAR WARS film: Episode I--the long-awaited story that begins the epic saga. Revisit your favorite characters . . . encounter new heroes and villains . . . journey back to familiar places . . . and enter strange, exciting new worlds . . .

From the page to screen, this beautiful volume unveils the origins of the world's greatest space epic--starring young Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, the plucky droid R2-D2, the ever-efficient C-3PO, and all of their daring and exotic allies as they face the growing threat ignited by political intrigue and the decay of the Galactic Republic.

As a bonus, this special volume is lavishly illustrated with pages of original line-art storyboards pulled from the legendary Lucasfilm archives. These sequential drawings whisk you through the wondrous events of the movie itself, transporting you behind the scenes and revealing a vital part of the creative process--one in which filmmaker George Lucas choreographs every shot of the action from the opening titles to the final roll of the credits.

Whether you're a serious collector or a new STAR WARS fan, this book allows you to experience the wonder of EPISODE I firsthand--today and for years to come.

Genres: Star Wars, Fiction, Science Fiction, Art, Media Tie In, Ebooks, Film

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

George Walton Lucas Jr. is an American filmmaker and philanthropist. He created the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises and founded Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic and THX. He served as chairman of Lucasfilm before selling it to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. Nominated for four Academy Awards, he is considered to be one of the most significant figures of the 20th-century New Hollywood movement, and a pioneer of the modern blockbuster. Despite this, he has remained an independent filmmaker away from Hollywood for most of his career.
After graduating from the University of Southern California in 1967, Lucas moved to San Francisco and co-founded American Zoetrope with filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. He wrote and directed THX 1138 (1971), based on his student short Electronic Labyrinth: THX 1138 4EB, which was a critical success but a financial failure. His next work as a writer-director was American Graffiti (1973), inspired by his youth in early 1960s Modesto, California, and produced through the newly founded Lucasfilm. The film was critically and commercially successful and received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture. Lucas's next film, the epic space opera Star Wars (1977), later retitled A New Hope, had a troubled production but was a surprise hit, becoming the highest-grossing film at the time, winning six Academy Awards and sparking a cultural phenomenon. Lucas produced and co-wrote the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). With director Steven Spielberg, he created, produced, and co-wrote Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989) and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and served as an executive producer, with a cursory involvement in pre and post-production, on The Dial of Destiny (2023).
In 1997, Lucas re-released the original Star Wars trilogy as part of a Special Edition featuring several modifications; home media versions with further changes were released in 2004 and 2011. He returned to directing with a Star Wars prequel trilogy comprising The Phantom Menace (1999), Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005). He last collaborated on the CGI-animated movie and television series of the same name, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2014, 2020), the war film Red Tails (2012) and the CGI film Strange Magic (2015). Lucas is also known for his collaboration with composer John Williams, who was recommended to him by Spielberg, and with whom he has worked for all the films in both of these franchises. He also produced and wrote a variety of films and television series through Lucasfilm between the 1970s and the 2010s.
Lucas is one of history's most financially successful filmmakers. He directed or wrote the story for ten of the 100 highest-grossing movies at the North American box office, adjusted for ticket-price inflation. Through his companies Industrial Light and Magic and Skywalker Sound, Lucas was involved in the production of, and financially benefited from, almost every big-budget film released in the U.S. from the late 1980s until the 2012 Disney sale. In addition to his career as a filmmaker, Lucas has founded and supported multiple philanthropic organizations and campaigns dedicated to education and the arts, including the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which has been noted as a key supporter in the creation of the federal E-Rate program to provide broadband funding to schools and libraries, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, a forthcoming art museum in Los Angeles developed with his wife, Mellody Hobson.

Reviews

[Sam B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know many don't like the prequel movies to star wars but this book is a good book if you want a little bit more detail into the Star Wars saga. This book personally would be good for and advanced second grader but is at a good level for a third or fourth grader. This book really opened up a new look at the prequels to where I don't agree with what most people say about the movies any more that's what they had at the time these were filmed, and yes I do know the original was filmed first but at that time the puppeteers and sculptors were masters unlike when they filmed the CGI people were still getting use to the CGI and it wasn't mastered yet. But at this time they can fit every thing they needed in a book because they didn't have limitations.

[Daze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite film of the star wars series. Anakin’s character progression is yet to be seen but it is always sweet to read about the younger, innocent years of a child prodigy who has yet to discover who he really is. I loved reading about the Gungan species, too. The storyboards are amazing! I learned the Ian McCaig was one of the few artists Lucas hired to create the story whilst completing the script which is unusual since usually a fully crafted script is made before the story boarding process. Loved seeing the panels.

[Elliot Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a Star Wars fan as such, the only reason I read this was for the pictures. The storyboards are really well done, I love the style and can 'hear' the film in my head just looking at them. As for the script itself, it's average at best, not something I found easy to read without reference to the final film. Still, I think if you like storyboards in general this is really nice.

[Mikey Coffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not the best film or script but it's always valuable to read a script when you're an aspiring writer, especially one with the unique voice and vision of George Lucas. Combined with the storyboards this is a great read and worthwhile for any aspiring writers.

[Kendal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the deleted scenes.

[Grog · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the phantom menace with a script and pictures, love it

[Johnny Baillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Phantom Menace is an action-packed graphic novel about the rebel alliance fighting the evil empire. Follow Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin through tense, emotional, page-gripping and terrifying moments with the fight against the evil sith-lord Darth Maul.
Join the Jedi’s as they explore through the small planet of Naboo and meet evil, nasty and trustworthy characters to join them on their quest. The reader will be glued to the book reading and looking through the intense adventures of the most prestigious Jedi Knights in the galaxy.
At the end of the book you’ll become so compelled to read more you’ll finish the entire series.

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the fact that this was an actual screenplay, however I would have preferred that some of the illustrations would have been in colour.Maybe some photos of finalized costumes, sets, props or praphanalia? I would have appreciated that so much more than just black and white sketches. I'm a real Star Wars buff so I only gave this. 4 instead of a 5.
But the script work is definately worth it, if I ever want to film my own version on Utube! Ha !

[C.J. Stunkard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A different--but not better--experience than watching the film. Interesting to see the lines/moments that were cut from the film but originally part of the story. Feels very much like an early draft as opposed to a final one, but it has interesting pacing and ideas. I can see why those involved read it and felt it was "good enough" to proceed, though it could have easily used revisions/improvements.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw the movie before reading the book, but having read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy before I saw the Star Wars movie I was shocked at the blatant lifting of plot and characters from Tolkien's work, and the fact that none of the critics or any of my friends seemed to notice.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrible! Absolutely horrible. There was pretty much nothing redeeming about this, probably because I had such high expectations for this.

[Hoover Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes the movie and expands on it and really develops the characters much more.

[Amber the Human · Rating 2 out of 5]

When this movie first came out, I was a bit of a fiend for it. Bought this then. Later realized the prequels were no good (oh, denial, how you love to blind us). This book has just been sitting next to my other Star Wars books for over a decade. The book? I mean ... it's a screenplay. Of a not-so-hot movie.