Back in 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens successfully relaunched the chronicles of a galaxy far, far away, and it also reinvigorated the classic space opera franchise. However, the film was criticized for borrowing so heavily from the original film. One of the biggest complaints was that the first planet in the movie, Jakku, was very much like the desert planet, Tatooine. But if the early designs of Jakku had been used in the movie then it could have been very different.
The official Star Wars Instagram account has released a few of Erik Tiemens concept art pieces which depict Jakku as a junk planet complete with its very own junk castle. If you look closely at the main image, you may notice that the crashed star destroyers were there almost from the start.
The accompanying notes briefly mentioned that Jakku was almost a jungle planet as well before a return to the desert was finalized. An early version of the film’s heroine is also discussed. Her name was Kira in the first treatments (maybe someone at Lucasfilm found out about Death Note and made it change?), and she is described as “a loner, hothead, and gear-head.” While “hothead” may not apply to Rey, the other elements of Kira’s personality appear to live on within her.
What do you think about the early concept art from The Force Awakens? Book a trip to Jakku in the comment section below!
Images: Lucasfilm
