STAR WARS EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI Speeder Bike Concept Art by Joe Johnston, Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ralph McQuarrie


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Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi concept art by Joe Johnston
Check out Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi speeder bike concept art by Joe Johnston, Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ralph McQuarrie!
 
Every Friday I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983).

For the third Star Wars film, Return of the Jedi, George Lucas asked the artists for a "rocket powered scooter. "

The name was eventually changed to "Speeder Bikes." Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) rode these in the Speeder Bike chase through the forests of Endor.

Nilo Rodis-Jamero designed a blockier Speeder Bike while Ralph McQuarrie gave a much sleeker look to the vehicles. After the designs were given to the modelers, like Joe Johnston, the final designs for the speeder bikes bore little resemblance to the concept art. But they're still cool.

Rodis-Jamero is a professional concept artist and costume designer who worked on major motion pictures like Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Alice in Wonderland (2010). McQuarrie was a professional film illustrator who worked on Star Wars (1977), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982).

Check out the rest of the images after the jump (click to enlarge).


These production illustrations were originally printed in the Return of the Jedi Sketchbook. While the artists aren't identified in these images the book gives credit to both illustrators.
Update: Thanks to the manager of Joe Johnston's Facebook page for giving me the correct attributions for these illustrations.
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Top-Joe Johnston, Bottom-Nilo Rodis-Jamero

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Top- three large sketches-Rodis...two smaller at left-Rodis, two sketches to the right of them- McQuarrie

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Top two-Rodis, Bottom sketch-Johnston

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Joe Johnston

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Joe Johnston

See more of Ralph McQuarrie's work at RalphMcQuarrie.com (now dreamsandvisionspress.com). See more of Joe Johnston's sketches on Facebook at facebook.com/JoeJohnstonSketchbook

Images via WhatIfModelers.com

Click on the links if you want to see more of Nilo Rodis-Jamero and Ralph McQuarrie's work and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi on my blog.

What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi what did you think?

Official Star Wars Episode VII: Return of the Jedi Synopsis:
In the epic conclusion of the saga, the Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star while the Rebel fleet mounts a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts his father Darth Vader in a final climactic duel before the evil Emperor. In the last second, Vader makes a momentous choice: he destroys the Emperor and saves his son. The Empire is finally defeated, the Sith are destroyed, and Anakin Skywalker is thus redeemed. At long last, freedom is restored to the galaxy.

The film is set three years after Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous Darth Vader, is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance. While Vader chases a small band of Luke's friends—Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and others—across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Jedi Master Yoda. But when Vader captures Luke's friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader and save his comrades.
Release date: May 25, 1983
Directed by Richard Marquand
Cinematography by Alan Hume, B.S.C.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Ian McDiarmid, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz
Official Site: http://www.starwars.com/explore/the-movies/episode-vi
© Copyright 1983 20th Century Fox, LucasFilm Ltd All rights reserved


Comments

  1. Maurice MitchellOctober 4, 2013 at 11:29 AM

    I'd not seen those before. I do have the Empire Strikes Back sketch book. (Or art design or something like that.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maurice MitchellNovember 8, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    Film Sketchr, please get your facts straight. A lot of what you're talking about here is common knowledge among fans and collectors. First, the sketch of the Ewok hanging onto the speeder bike is a Joe Johnston sketch. On the pages underneath the JJ sketch,
    page 1: top-Johnston, bottom-Rodis
    page 2: top- three large sketches-Rodis...two smaller at left-Rodis, two sketches to the right of them- McQuarrie
    page 3: top two-Rodis, bottom sketch-Johnston
    page 4: both sketches-Johnston
    page 5: both sketches-Johnston
    The speeder bike design was finalized in a kit bash model (as were many other SW ship and vehicle designs) that Johnston built. He did not work as a model builder per se, except for prototype models. Nilo Rodis designed a ton of cool stuff for ESB and ROTJ, most notably the costume designs on ROTJ, Boba Fett's ship, Slave 1, and others, but the speeder bike design was primarily Johnston's design. Minor modifications were made by the UK set builders since the bike had to work as a full size prop before it was needed by the visual effects team at ILM.


    I manage and maintain several art websites, including Joe Johnston's Facebook page and his upcoming Sketchbook website. Thanks for letting me set the record straight.
    A.M., managart

    ReplyDelete
  3. Maurice MitchellNovember 10, 2013 at 2:58 PM

    Thanks for your insights A.M. I do recognize his style and I'd be happy to update the attributions!

    ReplyDelete

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