Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama | 1981 Public Radio Broadcast

Star Wars: A New Hope Radio Drama | 1981 Public Radio Broadcast

Star Wars was a thirteen-part (6½ hour) expanded radio adaptation of the original Star Wars film, produced in 1981 and broadcast by National Public Radio as part of NPR Playhouse. It was adapted by Brian Daley, directed by John Madden and published by HighBridge Audio. It is the first in a series of radio dramatizations of the original Star Wars trilogy. Following its success, two more radio dramatizations were produced, of The Empire Strikes Back (1983) and Return of the Jedi (1996).

The series was made with the full cooperation of George Lucas, who donated the rights and allowed the use of sound effects and music from the films. As with other Legends material, only material matching what was featured in the original film is considered canon, but many elements of the story first featured in the radio broadcasts were later referenced in other Legends stories. Many of the actors involved in the movie were unavailable to reprise their roles (Harrison Ford, for instance, was committed to Raiders of the Lost Ark), but Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels returned to reprise Luke Skywalker and C-3PO, respectively.

In 2003, Dark Horse Comics released a two-issue story arc titled Star Wars: Empire: Princess... Warrior that expands on events from the radio drama.

In October 2013, HighBridge Audio released two limited-edition, mp3 Collector's Volumes: Star Wars: A New Hope - The Original Radio Drama, "Light Side" and "Dark Side." Each volume includes the original Star Wars: A New Hope radio drama, an exclusive trading card from Topps, and rare audio content and interviews from the making of the radio drama.

The medium of radio has a less demanding narrative pace than cinema, allowing script writer Brian Daley more freedom to expand the characters and explore the situations leading up to the first film. The first thirteen-episode drama thus includes lengthy scenes set in Anchorhead, on Alderaan, on Ralltiir, and on board the Tantive IV.

The series fleshes out the storyline by adding a great deal of backstory that had probably been created but not used by Lucas. For instance, there is a skyhopper race between Luke Skywalker and his friends that takes place days or weeks before the events of the movie.

The advertising slogan of the radio series was, "You may think you've seen the movie; wait 'til you hear it!" One of the strengths of radio is that listeners are called upon to use their imaginations and create their own visuals mentally. The drama succeeds by the auditory associations with the movies, drawing on the subliminal power of John Williams's incidental music, Ben Burtt's sound design, and of course the voices of the leading actors from the cinema screen, Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels.

Episodes:
A Wind To Shake The Stars
Points Of Origin
Black Knight, White Princess, And Pawns
While Giants Mark Time
Jedi That Was, Jedi To Be
The Millennium Falcon Deal
The Han Solo Solution
Death Star's Transit
Rogues, Rebels And Robots
The Luke Skywalker Initiative
The Jedi Nexus
The Case For Rebellion
Force And Counter Force