The novel begins with a quote from the journal of the whills. Considering how much the whills have been referenced in star wars lore in the past few years, it makes sense that theyd eventually get a larger role in the movies. The journal of whills finally entered canon with a quote from the opening on the novelization of star wars. Although it has never been confirmed, it is possible that this excerpt deals with the prophecy of the chosen one seeing as that it does seem to make what could be considered references to anakin skywalker, though it could just as easily be referring to his son.
Or in which the daughter of han solo and leia organa returns from the dead to save the galaxy alongside the resistance. Oct 24, 2017 for those who dont know, the journal of the whills was referenced in george lucas earliest drafts for the original star wars films. Rumors exist that postulate that the jedi masters yoda, yaddle, and vandar tokare may in fact be whills. Dec 21, 2019 a recent interview reveals the visionary inspiration behind star wars the story was originally an excerpt from the journal of the whills. The guardians of the whills were a religious order. Ostensibly, the journal was maintained by the ancient order of the whills. An examination of the prologue of the star wars novelization. This was one of the first if not the first piece of star wars merchandise i can remember ever owning as a kid. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading star wars. But the whills became part of this massive amount of notes, quotes, background information that i used for the scripts.
Rogue one might change the force using an old george lucas idea. The entire story of star wars is actually being recounted to the keeper of the journal of the whillsremember that. The order of the whills was an order of beings in the pocket dimension of ashlan four tasked with recording the history of the galaxy in a document called the journal of the whills. Sep 26, 2014 prologue i recently picked up at an antique store, an excellent conditioned paperback copy of the 1976 movie adaption to star wars, ghost written by alan dean foster. The journal was originally spoken of in a prophecy written by a holy man many years before the journal was first created. And just what is this fabled tome from star wars lore. A recent interview reveals the visionary inspiration behind star wars the story was originally an excerpt from the journal of the whills. The journal of the whills is the earliest known background material for star wars. Apr 20, 2017 the most mysterious element of the star wars. An exciting adventure about two of the brave heroes from the smash hit movie rogue one. Journal of the whills i this is the story of mace windy, a revered jedibendu of ophuchi, as related to us by c. Similarly to other major fiction works like the lord of the rings origins in the red book of westmarch, it was designed originally as an outline.
This was one of the first if not the first piece of star wars merchandise i can remember. Chirrut and baze journey through jedha in guardians of the whills exclusive excerpt the rogue one duo star in an essential new book. Here are a few of my thoughts and opinions of the novel star wars. Weird differences between the first star wars movie and its. This is significant because not only are these the first books ever glimpsed in a star wars movie but also, the journal of the whills is a metafictional reference to the way george lucas. Sadly, george lucas was never able to expand on this concept. The journal of the whills was once the document that held the entire star wars saga together. This entry is specifically stated to be a quote from the journal of the whills. After nearly two years, rhea included the order of the whills in a fan fiction novel in 2009, when the order was featured in the prologue of the second draft of his novel star wars.
The idea was dropped but was mentioned in the novelization of the. Star wars is an american epic spaceopera media franchise created by george lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide popculture phenomenon. A star wars story introduces us to the guardians of the whills, specifically in the form of. What star wars journal of the whills are and why theyll. On the desert world of jedha, in the holy city, friends baze and chirrut used to be guardians ofthe whills, who looked after the kyber temple and the devoted pilgrims who worshippedthere. Oct 24, 2017 the keepers of the whills are not to be confused with the guardians of the whills, who chirrut imwe donnie yen and baze malbus wen jiang were revealed to be in rogue one. The whills housed the journal in their monastery on ashlan four. Journal of the whills alternative star wars saga fandom. Their existence and mantra about being one with the force were known to the jedi order a few years before the invasion of naboo. The journal of the whills was a record of events in the galaxy. Lucas initially had an idea that the star wars saga would be told through the perspective of the journal of the whills, a race tasked with writing the history of the galaxy. The numeric reference is important as it indicates a possible chapter and verse from which the excerpt is taken. What is the journal of the whills, a mysterious book from the very beginning of star wars history, and what is its rol.
It was a two page short piece he hand wrote in 1973. In this first draft, though, mace windu er, windy is a jedibendu, taking on a padawan learner. George lucas wild theory about the narrator of star wars. Thankfully, fans dont have to wait any longer to see these nearmythical star wars monks in action george lucas may never have explained his original or current plans for the.
The guardians later acted as a resistance group of monks active in the jedha city on jedha during the imperial era. In the sixth season of the clone wars, we saw that yoda started to learn the. While this idea was ultimately dropped, the journal was mentioned in several star wars sources, such as the novelization of the original film, which, like the. Star wars speculation is a community dedicated to speculative discussion of the star wars franchise. Star wars finally reveals the guardians of the whills. A reevaluation of the journal of whills part ii fd. This historical documentation, along with the foundation of the order, was seen in the visions of a holy man, who transcribed his findings in the prophecy of the whills. The adventures of luke starkiller as taken from the journal of the whills by george lucas saga i star wars fourth draft, january 1, 1976 171 pages 252 scenes jan 1, 1976. Lukes journal of the whills revealed in star wars 8. The whills were ancient beings that helped create the force, who also kept a collection of stories that told the entire history of the galaxy, known as the journal of the whills, with keepers of. In fact, while the journal comes up quite a bit in the many ancillary novels and comics, it is never spoken of in any of the films. Back in march when the news first broke i posted a brief article detailing the discovery of a star wars story that predates the may 1973 synopsis, called the journal of the whills, finally shedding light on a piece of writing that has caused many star wars scholars endless headaches.
It is called the journal of the whills and tells the story of mace windy. Galactic atlas in november, we were given our second canon reference to the whills. Rhea posted some information about the whills on the star wars fanon wiki, including an order of the whills article. The novelization of star wars, ghostwritten by alan dean foster, also makes a reference to the whills, beginning with an excerpt taken from the first saga. Prologue i recently picked up at an antique store, an excellent conditioned paperback copy of the 1976 movie adaption to star wars, ghost written by alan dean foster. Was star wars a book series before it was a film series. Journal of the whills is the earliest written version of star wars that george lucas created or, alternatively, remembers. Jan 24, 20 published in 1976a full six months prior to the release of the film it was adaptingthe novelization of star wars. Jun 25, 2017 here are a few of my thoughts and opinions of the novel star wars.
New novels rebel rising and guardians of the whills will. Star wars 8 luke with the journal of the whills the theory adds. This is the story of mace windy, a revered jedibendu of ophuchi, as related to us by. The lore of the journal of the whills would survive, though, popping up every now and again in the expanded universe, now known as the noncanon legends. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The journal of the whills is a journal recording events across the galaxy and it references the jedi. Jan 26, 2017 as protectors of the kyber temple on jedha, baze and chirrut are windows into a new element of star wars lore, and guardians of the whills looks to tell a major part of their story. In lucass view, all living things were only vessels for the whills to travel around in, and. The whill are a race of omnipresent beings who are in fact the species that the star wars saga is being told to, by the droid r2d2 speculation edit.
The last jedi trailer may end up being integral to the future of star wars. At first there were lists of character names, then a brief story synopsis, and eventually the journal of the whills became the name for all the history and backstory materials george lucas developed to define the star wars universe. Oct 26, 2017 the journal of the whills is a journal recording events across the galaxy and it references the jedi. The tenebrous way star wars insider mentioned only star wars episode iv. They traditionally handcrafted the lightbow, a complicated form of bowcaster native to jedha, such. While theres no way to confirm the book seen in the teaser is the journal, it makes sense.
This prophecy later came to pass in 99,945 bby when individuals from the order of the. Rinzlers authoritative book on the subject is your onestop source that will forever remain as the source of information on the film, and provided invaluable supplemental information for the second edition of the secret history of star wrs. I would encourage you all to provide your thoughts on guardians of the whills in the. The gray jedi star wars fanfiction we are the spark thatll light the fire that will burn the first order down. In this sense, the story of star wars is essentially being told through these books, with r2d2 as the keeper. Apr 25, 2017 the legacy of star wars journal of the whills. At first there were lists of character names 1, then a brief story synopsis 2 1, and eventually the journal of the whills became the name for all the history and backstory materials george lucas developed to define the star wars universe 3.
Episode i the chosen one, rhea furthered developed his and lucass journal of the whills concepts, introducing elements such as whill historians and the time stream. Weird differences between the first star wars movie and. Thus the story of luke skywalkers exploits would be recorded in the book for us to find many, many years later. A star wars story, we first meet chirrut and baze in the wartorn streets of jedha. The most devoted star wars fans know of the legendary and ancient order known as the guardians of the whills, whose role in the story has yet to be fully revealed. Book 5 in this fifth exciting adventure in the rebel force series, luke must find lune divinian, the escaped prisoner from yavin 4 who is the sole link to x7, the empires assassin, to stay ahead of the empire. What star wars journal of the whills are and why theyll be.
Back when george lucas was crafting the script for the first film in his trilogy, he imagined them as stories recorded by an ancient race of immortals. Lucas initially had an idea that the star wars saga would be told through the perspective of the journal of the whills. Ironically, the first hint of the whills was given over 40 years ago. Bts journal of the whills, part i outline by george. The adventures of luke starkiller as taken from the journal of the whills by george lucas saga i star wars fourth draft, january 1, 1976 171 pages. In his research for his upcoming book, the making of star wars, j.
The annotated screenplays, lucas explains his original intent. The journal was originally spoken of in a prophecy written by a holy man many years before the journal was. Could the mysterious book in the last jedis teaser be the journal of the whills. Despite being one of the oldest bits of star wars lore, theres not much definitive information on the whills. Rogue one might change the force using an old george. The journal of the whills the death of the old republic and rise of.
Year by year, and ive noticed that it includes a reproduction of the entire first page of the 1973 journal of the whills story fragment. George lucas conceived of the journal of the whills as a plot device for connecting the star wars galaxy to the real world. Apr 14, 2017 the most significant book referenced in the star wars saga is the journal of the whills, and even that is mentioned infrequently. Star wars guardians of the whills by greg rucka, hardcover. I believe the whills exist in between the cosmic force beyond the veil and our reality in the living force. In 2005s the making of star wars revenge of the sith, lucas intimates that he. In early drafts of the very first star wars, george lucas subtitled the entire story as being from the journal of the whills.
For those who dont know, the journal of the whills was referenced in george lucas earliest drafts for the original star wars films. In the 2018 book james camerons story of science fiction, star wars creator george lucas explained that he intended the whills to be microbiotic beings who fed off the force and controlled the entire universe. As protectors of the kyber temple on jedha, baze and chirrut are windows into a new element of star wars lore, and guardians of the whills looks to tell a major part of their story. Astar wars story on the desert world of jedha, in the holy city, friends baze and chirrut used to be guardians of the hills, who looked after the kyber temple and the devoted pilgrims who worshiped there. The force awakens opens with a quotation from the book. Lucas doesnt mention the journal of the whills in the 10page synopsis for star wars that would follow in may 1973, or the may 1974 rough draft or the july 1974 first draft although the force of others, which also gets a shoutout in rogue one, first appears in these drafts. Star wars was originally named journal of the whills. It really is amazing how much there is to learn about the history of star wars writingbecause well over thirty years later we are still uncovering entire stories which we didnt know existed. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an allencompassing fictional. Luke skywalkers book is literally the story of star wars. This was the first confirmed canonical reference to the whills, and it was not the last reference we would be getting. The most significant book referenced in the star wars saga is the journal of the whills, and even that is mentioned infrequently. Del rey took over star wars book publishing in 1999, releasing what would become a 19installment novel series called the new jedi order 19992003. There is a lot of speculation as to what the journal was or what were the whills.
Now, any seasoned star wars fan may remember mace windu, samuel l. What was that mysterious book in the last jedi trailer. Dec 08, 2016 in early drafts of the very first star wars, george lucas subtitled the entire story as being from the journal of the whills. What is the journal of the whills, a mysterious book from the very beginning of star wars history, and. Rinzler uncovered a document that predates the may 1973 the star wars treatment, the one which is a remake of hidden fortress.
Its time to dig in deep to the journal of the whills, the most important. A new hope this was added for the april 10th, 1981 rerelease came out after the book b. The journal of the whills and its importance to episode 8 journal of the whills explained duration. On the desert world of jedha, in the holy city, friends baze and chirrut used to be guardians of the whills, who looked after the kyber temple and the devoted pilgrims who worshipped there. Written by multiple authors, the series was set 25 to 30 years after the original films and introduced the yuuzhan vong, a powerful alien race attempting to invade and conquer the entire galaxy. The excerpt summarizes a version of palpatines rise from senator to emperor, the fall of the jedi, and the beginnings of the rebellion. For those wishing for a journal of the making of star wars, j. The journal of the whills was an archive of galactic history maintained by the order of the whills beginning in 99,945 bby. In his early drafts, george lucas ostensibly planned to use the journal of the whills as a plot device to connect the star wars galaxy to our own. The journal of the whills was a legendary record of events in the galaxy. Tolkiens red book of westmarch was supposedly the ultimate source of the.
They were intended to be portrayed as scriptures dictated to. Long after the galactic civil war, an individual was tasked with writing about events that transpired in the galaxy. Each chapter of the novel begins with a quote from the journal of the whills, an intentional homage to the novel dune. The first reference to the whills in a star wars film came in rogue one. In a superbrief introductory section of the book which claims to be taken from something called the journal of the whills the death of the old republic and rise of the empire is. Oct 26, 2017 this is significant because not only are these the first books ever glimpsed in a star wars movie but also, the journal of the whills is a metafictional reference to the way george lucas. Thankfully, fans dont have to wait any longer to see these nearmythical star wars monks in action. In the book the making of revenge of the sith, it was finally revealed that the whills are still a part of the star wars saga canon, as mentioned above. The idea was that immortal creatures were actually narrating the. George lucas star wars sequel trilogy would have been about. No if you want to get technical, the film originally titled star wars, and later retitled star wars. George lucas star wars sequel trilogy would have been. The journal of the whills, part i 1973 was a handwritten twopage partial outline for the story that would, after many further rewrites and explorations of ideas, become star wars 1977.
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