History of Star Wars in Timeline
Star Wars is a highly successful American space opera franchise created by George Lucas, beginning with the 1977 film. It evolved into a vast fictional universe encompassing movies, television, video games, novels, comics, theme park attractions, and more. The franchise achieved immense global popularity and is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
1977: Marvel Comics Publishes Star Wars Comic Book Series
In 1977, Marvel Comics published a Star Wars comic book series. In 1977, original Star Wars stories not directly adapted from the films appeared in print form in the Marvel magazine Pizzazz.
1977: The Story of Star Wars LP Release
In 1977, The Story of Star Wars, an LP using audio samples from the original film and a new narration to retell the story, was released.
1977: Topps Releases First Star Wars Trading Cards
In 1977, Topps released the first series of Star Wars trading cards, marking the beginning of a long history of Star Wars trading card production.
1977: Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star Board Game Release
In 1977, the board game Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star was released, marking an early entry in Star Wars-themed board games.
1977: Cultural Impact of the First Star Wars Film
In 1977, the first Star Wars film became a cultural unifier and helped launch the science-fiction boom, influencing popular culture and inspiring parodies.
1977: Original Film Release
In 1977, the original Star Wars film was released.
1977: 20th Century Fox's Financial Success
In 1977, the original Star Wars film's success led to a doubling of 20th Century Fox's stock price and record profits of $79 million.
1977: George Lucas Negotiates Merchandising Rights
In 1977, while filming the original film, George Lucas took a $500,000 pay cut in exchange for full ownership of the franchise's merchandising rights.
1977: Political Themes in Star Wars
Since the franchise launched in 1977, political science has been an important element of Star Wars, focusing on a struggle between democracy and dictatorship.
1978: Star Wars Comics Saved Marvel Financially
According to Marvel Comics former Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter, the strong sales of Star Wars comics saved Marvel financially in 1978.
1979: Kenner's Star Wars Electronic Battle Command
In 1979, Kenner released the first officially licensed electronic Star Wars game called Star Wars Electronic Battle Command.
1979: Star Wars Comics are Top Selling Titles
In 1979, Marvel's Star Wars series was one of the industry's top selling titles.
1979: Alien Influenced by Star Wars
In 1979, Ridley Scott's Alien was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
1980: Star Wars Comics are Top Selling Titles
In 1980, Marvel's Star Wars series was one of the industry's top selling titles.
1981: Mad Max 2 Influenced by Star Wars
In 1981, George Miller's Mad Max 2 was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
1981: Star Wars Radio Drama Adaptation
In 1981, National Public Radio broadcast a 13-episode adaptation of the original 1977 film, written by Brian Daley and directed by John Madden. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprised their film roles.
1982: Lucasfilm Founded Video Game Company
In 1982, Lucasfilm founded its own video game company, which later became LucasArts.
1982: Blade Runner Influenced by Star Wars
In 1982, Ridley Scott's Blade Runner was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
1983: Arcade Game and Lightsaber Combat
In 1983, Atari released the rail shooter arcade game Star Wars, with vector graphics to replicate the Death Star trench run scene from the 1977 film. Also in 1983, Star Wars: Jedi Arena, the first video game to depict lightsaber combat, was released.
1983: Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell Audio Drama
In 1983, Buena Vista Records released an original, 30-minute Star Wars audio drama titled Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell, written by Brian Daley.
1983: The Empire Strikes Back Radio Adaptation
In 1983, a 10-episode adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back debuted on National Public Radio. Billy Dee Williams joined Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels, reprising his role as Lando Calrissian.
1984: The Terminator Influenced by Star Wars
In 1984, James Cameron's The Terminator was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
1984: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Video Game
In 1984, the video game Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was released, featuring more traditional raster graphics.
1985: Ewoks and Droids Comic Series Inspired by Animated Series
From 1985, the animated children's series Ewoks and Droids inspired comic series from Marvel's Star Comics line.
1986: Aliens Influenced by Star Wars
In 1986, James Cameron's Aliens was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
1986: Marvel's Star Wars Comic Book Series Ends
In 1986, Marvel Comics' Star Wars comic book series came to an end.
1987: Merchandising Revenue Reaches US$2.6 Billion
By 1987, the first three Star Wars films had made US$2.6 billion in merchandising revenue.
1987: Star Tours Opens at Disneyland
In 1987, the Star Tours ride opened at Disneyland.
1987: Ewoks and Droids Comic Series Ends
In 1987, the comic series inspired by the animated children's series Ewoks and Droids from Marvel's Star Comics line came to an end.
1989: Original Star Wars Film Selected for Preservation
In 1989, the Library of Congress selected the original Star Wars film for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
1993: Tales of the Jedi Begins
In 1993, Dark Horse Comics launched the Tales of the Jedi comic series.
1993: Star Wars: X-Wing Released
In 1993, LucasArts released Star Wars: X-Wing, the first self-published Star Wars video game and the first space flight simulator based on the franchise. It was one of the bestselling video games of 1993.
1993: Galaxy Series II "floating Yoda" P3 Card
In 1993, the Galaxy Series II "floating Yoda" P3 card became highly valuable, commanding US$1,000 or more.
1993: Thrawn Trilogy Concludes
In 1993, the Thrawn trilogy concluded. The series featured Luke, Leia, and Han facing off against Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was plotting to retake the galaxy for the Empire.
1994: The Courtship of Princess Leia
In 1994, "The Courtship of Princess Leia" by Dave Wolverton was released. The story is set immediately before the Thrawn trilogy and features Leia considering a political marriage to Prince Isolder before she and Han ultimately marry.
1995: Decipher, Inc. Created Star Wars Customizable Card Game
From 1995, Decipher, Inc. had the license for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game.
1995: Dark Forces Released
In 1995, Dark Forces, the first Star Wars first-person shooter, was released by LucasArts. It introduced Kyle Katarn.
1995: X-wing Rogue Squadron Begins
In 1995, the X-wing Rogue Squadron comic series was launched by Dark Horse Comics.
1995: Young Jedi Knights series begins
In 1995, the Young Jedi Knights series, co-authored by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta, began publication.
1996: Shadows of the Empire Multimedia Project
In 1996, Shadows of the Empire was released as a multimedia project set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It included a novel, comic book series, video game, and action figures.
1996: Return of the Jedi adapted into 6-episodes
Return of the Jedi was adapted into 6-episodes in 1996, featuring Daniels.
1997: Special Edition Presented for Preservation
In 1997, 35 mm reels of the Special Edition version were presented for preservation.
1997: Star Wars Monopoly and Themed Games Release
In 1997, Star Wars Monopoly and themed versions of Trivial Pursuit and Battleship were released, expanding the franchise's presence in the board game market.
1997: Pez Dispensers Produced
In 1997, Star Wars Pez dispensers began production, adding to the merchandise based on the saga.
1998: Young Jedi Knights series ends
In 1998, the 14-book Young Jedi Knights series by Anderson and Moesta ended.
1998: Rogue Squadron series released
In 1998, the Rogue Squadron series was released, also focusing on space battles set during the films.
1999: Del Rey Takes Over Book Publishing, The New Jedi Order Begins
In 1999, Del Rey took over Star Wars book publishing and began releasing The New Jedi Order series. This 19-installment novel series was set 25 to 30 years after the original films and introduced the Yuuzhan Vong.
1999: Jedi Apprentice Series Begins
In 1999, Scholastic began publishing the Jedi Apprentice series, which chronicles the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in the years before The Phantom Menace.
2001: The Lord of the Rings trilogy influenced by Star Wars
In 2001, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
2001: Jedi Quest Series Begins
In 2001, Scholastic began publishing the Jedi Quest series. The series follows Obi-Wan and his own apprentice, Anakin Skywalker in between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.
2001: Decipher, Inc. Star Wars Customizable Card Game License Ends
Until 2001, Decipher, Inc. had the license for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game.
2002: Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards
In 2002, Lucasfilm sponsored the first annual Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards, officially recognizing filmmakers and the genre.
2002: Jedi Apprentice Series Ends
In 2002, the Jedi Apprentice series by Scholastic, which chronicles the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn in the years before The Phantom Menace, ended.
2003: The Lord of the Rings trilogy influenced by Star Wars
In 2003, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy was influenced by Lucas's concept of a "used universe" from Star Wars.
2003: The New Jedi Order Concludes
In 2003, The New Jedi Order, a 19-installment novel series written by multiple authors and published by Del Rey, concluded.
2003: Rogue Squadron series released
In 2003, the Rogue Squadron series was released, also focusing on space battles set during the films.
2003: Star Wars Galaxies Launched
In 2003, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Wars Galaxies, was launched.
2004: Jedi Quest Series Ends
In 2004, the Jedi Quest series by Scholastic ended. The series follows Obi-Wan and his own apprentice, Anakin Skywalker in between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.
2005: Risk: The Clone Wars Edition Release
In 2005, Hasbro released the Clone Wars Edition of the board game Risk, adapting the popular strategy game to the Star Wars universe.
2005: The Last of the Jedi Series Begins
In 2005, Scholastic began publishing The Last of the Jedi series. The series, set almost immediately after Revenge of the Sith, features Obi-Wan and the last few surviving Jedi.
2006: Knights of the Old Republic Begins
In 2006, Dark Horse Comics launched the Knights of the Old Republic comic series.
2006: Risk: The Original Trilogy Edition Release
In 2006, Hasbro released the Original Trilogy Edition of the board game Risk, another adaptation of the game set in the Star Wars universe.
2006: Legacy of the Force Begins
In 2006, the Legacy of the Force series began. This series chronicles the crossover of Han and Leia's son Jacen Solo to the dark side of the Force.
2007: Lucasfilm Changes Fan Film Submission Standards
In 2007, Lucasfilm changed the submission standards for the Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards to allow in-universe fiction entries.
2008: The Force Unleashed Multimedia Project Begins
In 2008, The Force Unleashed multimedia project was released, set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It included a novel and a video game.
2008: The Last of the Jedi Series Ends
In 2008, The Last of the Jedi series by Scholastic ended. The series, set almost immediately after Revenge of the Sith, features Obi-Wan and the last few surviving Jedi.
2008: Legacy of the Force Concludes
In 2008, the Legacy of the Force series concluded. The series chronicles the crossover of Han and Leia's son Jacen Solo to the dark side of the Force; among his evil deeds, he kills Luke's wife Mara Jade as a sacrifice to join the Sith.
2009: Disney Purchased Marvel Entertainment
In 2009, Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment.
2010: Inception Influenced by Star Wars
In 2010, Christopher Nolan cited Star Wars as an influence when making Inception.
2010: Knights of the Old Republic Ends
In 2010, Dark Horse Comics' Knights of the Old Republic comic series ended.
2010: The Empire Strikes Back Selected for Preservation
In 2010, The Empire Strikes Back was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
2010: The Force Unleashed Multimedia Project Continues
In 2010, The Force Unleashed multimedia project continued with a sequel to the 2008 video game.
2011: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue Opens
In 2011, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, the successor to the original Star Tours ride, opened.
2011: Star Wars Galaxies Shut Down
In 2011, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Wars Galaxies, was shut down.
2012: Merchandising Revenue Reaches US$20 Billion
By 2012, the first six Star Wars films had produced approximately US$20 billion in merchandising revenue.
2012: X-wing series ends
In 2012, the X-wing series by Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston concluded.
2013: LucasArts Ceases Development Role
In 2013, after Disney bought Lucasfilm, LucasArts ceased its role as a developer, although it still operates as a licensor.
January 2014: Star Wars Comics License Returns to Marvel
In January 2014, following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, it was announced that the Star Wars comics license would return to Marvel Comics in 2015.
2014: Thrawn Designated a Legends Character
In 2014, Thrawn was designated a Legends character.
2014: Expanded Universe Rebranded as Legends
In 2014, the non-canonical Expanded Universe was rebranded as Star Wars Legends and removed from the canon.
November 2015: Star Wars: Battlefront Reboot
In November 2015, the Battlefront games received a canonical reboot with Star Wars: Battlefront.
2015: Marvel Comics Re-launches Star Wars Comic Series
In 2015, the Star Wars comics license returned to Marvel Comics, and they launched three new publications: Star Wars, Darth Vader, and the miniseries Princess Leia.
2016: Thrawn Reintroduced into Canon
In 2016, Thrawn was reintroduced into the canon for the third season of the Rebels animated series, with Zahn returning to write more novels based on the character and set in the new canon.
November 2017: Jedi Challenges Released
In November 2017, Disney partnered with Lenovo to release the augmented reality video game Jedi Challenges.
August 2018: Zynga to Publish Star Wars Mobile Games
In August 2018, it was announced that Zynga would publish free-to-play Star Wars mobile games.
April 2019: Project Luminous Announced
In April 2019, Project Luminous, which would become The High Republic publishing initiative, was first announced at Star Wars Celebration.
November 2019: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Released
In November 2019, a single-player action-adventure game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, was released.
2019: Audio-Only Novels Released
As of 2019, audio-only novels not directly based on printed media have been released.
2019: Master and Apprentice Novel Published
In 2019, a new prequel era novel, starring Qui-Gon and the young Obi-Wan, was published by Del Rey under the title Star Wars: Master and Apprentice.
2019: Galaxy's Edge Opens
In 2019, the immersive themed area Galaxy's Edge opened at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
February 2020: Star Wars: The High Republic Revealed
In February 2020, the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative was revealed in a press conference. This initiative involves multiple publishers and explores a new era set 200 years before the Skywalker Saga.
October 2020: Star Wars: Squadrons Released
In October 2020, a space combat game titled Star Wars: Squadrons was released.
2021: Return of the Jedi Selected for Preservation
In 2021, Return of the Jedi was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry.
2022: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Opens
In 2022, a themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, operated at Walt Disney World.
2023: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Closes
In 2023, a themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, closed at Walt Disney World.
September 4, 2024: Star Wars: The Acolyte One-Shot Comic Book
On September 4, 2024, Marvel Comics will publish a one-shot comic book, Star Wars: The Acolyte – Kelnacca, that bridges the gap between the High Republic publishing initiative and the events of The Acolyte.
