Star Wars Original Concept Art Brought To Life In New Short

These aren't the droids you're looking for... right?

Everyone who's even half a fan knows that George Lucas' Star Wars went through massive changes on its way from page to screen. While a lot of the essentials of the story were all there—the Jedi, the force, C-3PO and R2-D2—the trappings were all a lot more pulpy and fantastical. 

What we know today as a blockbuster, culture-defining franchise was originally one movie that was going to be much, much weirder—and now, thanks to a new concept trailer, you can get an idea of what that version of the movie might have looked like.

The live-action concept trailer was developed by students of the DAVE School, an Orlando-based digital animation and visual effects studio. The scenes featured are all based on the original Star Wars concept art by artist Ralph McQuarrie, which were drawn for George Lucas' original script, The Star Wars. 

Some notable differences between these concept images and the final product include stormtroopers wielding lightsabers, a green-skinned alien Han Solo, a meaner-looking and more massive Chewbacca, and a female protagonist in the place of Luke Skywalker.

As an artist, McQuarrie's career involved work on the original Battlestar Galactica series as well as Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The artist also won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects in 1985 as part of the team behind Ron Howard's Cocoon.

Amusingly, the trailer has a lot in common, stylistically, with the much-maligned Star Wars prequels, though it's hard to put your finger on exactly why. Maybe it's the relative lack of restraint in the designs?

Check out the concept trailer above. For the real future of Star Wars, plant yourself in line for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, set to strike theaters tomorrow on December 15.