Original Trilogy news & articles thread: online write-ups on the OT films, cast and crew — Page 3

Drew Struzan, Iconic Movie Poster Artist and Favorite of Spielberg and Lucas, Dies at 78

He created some of the most memorable movie posters of all-time in his own signature style.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/drew-struzan-dies-movie-posters-1236400361
 

 
a snippet…

'Drew Struzan, the iconic movie poster artist who created the marketing art for an enormous number of popular films, has died at 78. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago and retreated from public life.

Struzan’s official Instagram account announced the news Tuesday: “It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday, October 13th. I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art.”

Struzan was once dubbed the “one-sheet wonder,” a go-to artist for Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, who created the posters for films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Risky Business, the special edition of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Back to the Future, The Goonies, The Thing and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.’
 

^ more info in the above link.

RIP Drew Struzan.
 

New ‘Star Wars’ record: Artwork from ‘Star Wars’ sells for $3.875 million

www.cllct.com/sports-collectibles/auctions/new-star-wars-record-artwork-from-new-hope-sells-for-3-875-million
 

 
'There is a new record for the most expensive “Star Wars” item in the galaxy!

An original painting for the 1977 film, “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope,” sold Wednesday at Heritage Auctions for $3,875,000. Bidding began at $1 million.

The price dethrones the previous record-holder for George Lucas’ franchise, Darth Vader’s screen-matched lightsaber from “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” which fetched $3.65 million in September.

Tom Jung’s original artwork was later used on the film’s theatrical program, the 24-sheet billboard and many future promotional items.

“Heritage Auctions has had the privilege of offering countless extraordinary pieces of Star Wars history,” Charles Epting, Heritage’s director of pop culture and historical consignments, said in a statement. “But none embody the heart and spirit of the saga quite like this painting. This is the image that launched a mythology — the first glimpse of a universe that continues to inspire awe and wonder nearly 50 years later.”

Due to the early timing of the painting’s creation, with the film still in early development, droids C-3P0 and R2-D2 were not included and only added later by Jung to the lower right corner.

Following the film’s release, the painting was hung in the office of producer Gary Kurtz, who later moved it to his home in the early 1980s, where it remained prior to this auction.

“It has been an honor to have this wonderful painting with us all these years,” Kurtz’s daughter Melissa added in a statement. “It serves as a warm reminder of that incredible experience — being part of the making of a film that has touched so many lives.”’

The history of STAR WARS movie posters, explained - an 18 minute video from the Paper and Light youtube channel.