Star Wars: Check Out The Original Designs For Empire Strikes Back Logo

It’s hard to imagine the Star Wars logos looking any different.

The fat font of the saga’s lettering has since become iconic, gracing the opening crawl to almost every entry and being utilized on the cover of every piece of box art. But when the series was still fairly new, it almost underwent significant changes for its second entry.

Ralph McQuarrie brainstormed a few different logos for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, before the final design was settled on.

Now those unused McQuarrie logos for the fan-favorite entry in the Star Wars saga have been unveiled to the public courtesy of collector Gus Lopez.

Lopez, who runs the website the Star Wars Collectors Archive, posted a page of McQuarrie-penned sketches to his Instagram page, featuring many different versions of the early Empire Strikes Back logo. Check out the sketches below.

The logos are much different than what actually graced movie theaters, TV screens, and marketing material when Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was actually released, but it gives a great look into McQuarrie’s process for typography and logos. Normally you only see the concept art for characters, ships, and other objects pertaining to the Star Wars Universe.

This is a memorable occasion that offers a glimpse into his process as a graphic designer. And it also makes you wonder how much different the series would be if the design went in this direction instead of what we recognize today.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi releases in theaters December 15.


Are you excited to see the next film in the Star Wars saga? Let us know with your vote in the Anticipation Rankings below!

MORE STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI NEWS: Millennium Falcon Spotted On Google Earth / Fans Place Bets Over Rey’s Possible Skywalker Heritage / Get Your First Look At Marvel’s Captain Phasma #1

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second film in the new Star Wars sequel trilogy that began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. The film will deal with Luke training Rey to become a, and possibly the last, Jedi. Meanwhile, the Resistance, including Poe Dameron and First Order defector Finn, continues to fight against the First Order, led by General Hux, while Supreme Leader Snokeand his Dark Side follower Kylo Ren continue their mysterious plot.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson and stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern, and Kelly Marie Tran.