The Man Who Designed Star Wars: Appreciating the Art of Ralph McQuarrie

John Summers • Contributor

Jun 28, 2024 10:00 PM EDT

Not to diminish George Lucas's influence on modern cinema, but I truly believe that without the people around him, we would have lived in a totally different world—one where "Star Wars" was just a forgotten, cheesy, and pretty bad B-movie. If it wasn't for Marcia Lucas stepping in at the last second to re-edit the entire movie, without John Williams elevating every moment to crazy heights, and without the charisma and talent of Harrison, Mark, and Carrie, this movie would have never gotten off the ground.

However, I have always believed that without the vision of one man, Ralph McQuarrie, the entire franchise would never have come to life. Ralph single-handedly defined a new genre of science fiction—the "Ancient Future" genre. A futuristic world that wears its long history on its sleeve. Sure, there are robots, but they need a little repair and a lot of cleaning. Spaceships look like they have seen some mileage, and cities are dirty, grimy, and lived in. Let's take a moment to appreciate this man's talent.

01
Very early concept art

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie

This is when Luke was called Starkiller, Chewbacca looked like Zeb, C3PO looked like Maria from Metropolis and R2D2 had a little arm sticking out his head
02
Cloud city

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
03
Original design for R2D2 and C3PO

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
04
A-wings

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
05
Chewie doesn't get a medal

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
06
The trench run

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
07
"No, I am your father"

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
08
Early Death Star design

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
09
R2 and C3PO hiding

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
10
Fallen AT-AT

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
11
Cloud city

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
12
Early Tauntaun design

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
13
Early cantina concept art

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
14
Speeder chase

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
15
Early concept art

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
16
Battle of Hoth

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
17
Unlimited Power!

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
18
Early design for the Millennium Falcon

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
19
Final design

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
20
Luke vs the Rancor

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
21
Father son quality time

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
22
Rebel base

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
23
Stormtroopers used to have lightsabers

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
24
THIS is Star Wars!

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
25
Classic!

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
26
The emperors room

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
27
Early concept art

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
28
Early concept art

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
29
Space battle

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
30
At Jabba's palace

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
31
Bacta tank

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
32
The falcon being tractor beamed into the space station

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
33
Boobie blaster :)

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
34
Luke during the battle of Hoth

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
35
Tauntaun time!

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
36
Setting up the epic battle between good and evil

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
37
Bib fortuna greeting R2 and C3PO

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
38
The aesthetic is so good!

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
39
So many royal guards!

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
40
Teddy bear picnic

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
41
Attack on Hoth

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
42
Space worm

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
43
The trench run

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie
44
Ralph McQuarrie

via Art by: Ralph McQuarrie