The Star Wars (Story Synopsis)

The Star Wars is the story treatment for the film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope written by George Lucas that he finished in May 1973.

Appearances & Mentions

Characters

• alien friend
• alien leader
• bartender
• cantina bully
• Gordon city governor
• Imperial bureaucrat 1
• Imperial bureaucrat 2
• Imperial Captain
• Imperial spy
• Luke Skywalker
• old farmer
• princess' uncle
• rebel contact man
• rebel princess
• trader ship captain

Alien Species

• giant furry alien
• Large bird-like creature
• Large Creature (Aquilae)

Droid Models

Events

• civil war

• Escape from Aquilae
• Skirmish on Yavin
• Escape from Alderaan

Locations

• the galaxy

• Alderaan

• Imperial prison complex

• Aquilae

• Gordon

Cantina (Gordon)

Gordon Spaceport

• Wastelands of Aquilae

• Desolate rest stop
• Religious Temple

• Ophuchi
• Yavin

• Imperial Outpost
• Yavin city
• Yavin farm

Organizations & Titles

• bureaucrats
• demigods
• Empire

• Emperor
• Imperial fleet
• Imperial guard
• Imperial rangers

• farmer
• princess' special guard
• rebel underground

• General
• Princess

• Ruler of Ophuchi

Vehicles & Vessels

• devil fighters
• gargantuan space fortress
• jet-sticks
• land speeder
• patrol craft
• sleek fighter-type spacecraft
• speed tank
• stolen space fighter
• trader's ship

Technology & Weapons

• lazer gun
• lazer sword
• rocket pack
• spear

The Force

Miscellanea

• aura spice

Trivia

• George Lucas originally set the story in the 33rd Century within presumably our galaxy. The final version of Star Wars has it set “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .”
• There are elements in this original synopsis which would later be reworked and make it all the way through to the final version of the films.
• Although it became a staple of Star Wars, the Force, Jedi or Sith is not mentioned at all within the Story Treatment, only a “ruin of a religious temple” on Aquilae is mentioned in the story.
• No droids or robots are mentioned at all in the treatment with the roles of C-3PO and R2-D2 being originally conceived of two bickering Imperial Bureaucrats who happened to be dragged along with the heroes. They serve as the comic relief in the synopsis.
• Alderaan serves as the Imperial Capitol in this version of the story and not as the home planet of the Princess character. Elements describing this version of Alderaan would go on to be adapted for use of the planet of Had Abbadon during the production of “Return of the Jedi” and later Coruscant in “Heir to the Empire” and “The Phantom Menace”.
• Unlike all other major elements and names in this Treatment the name of the planet Ophuchi is one that has never reappeared within the wider Star Wars continuity.