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The Empire Strikes Back (now known as "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back"), the classic 1980 Irvin Kershner science fiction (sci-fi) outer space action adventure sequel ("The Star Wars Saga Continues"; "Story by George Lucas") starring Mark Hamill (as Luke Skywalker), Harrison Ford (as Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (as Princess Leia), Billy Dee Williams (as Lando Calrissian), Anthony Daniels ("as C-3PO"), David Prowse ("as Darth Vader"), Kenny Baker ("as R2-D2"), Peter Mayhew ("as Chewbacca"), Frank Oz ("as Yoda"), Alec Guinness (as Obi-Wan Kenobi), Jeremy Bulloch (as Boba Fett), and John Hollis (as Lobot)v
NOTE: Click on linked names to see a biography.

Artist: Roger Kastel

Important Added Info: Note that the poster is marked "International" on the bottom, indicating it was printed in the U.S. for use in non-U.S. countries. BUT WE HAVE OUR DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER THIS IS EVEN A U.S. POSTER! We have seen another example of this poster that came to us from a consignor in Japan, and he told us that he saw another one like this in Japan. This poster has no markings of any kind to indicate it is Japanese. It is on a paper that is similar to that used for Star Wars posters at this time, but the paper is somewhat glossy on the back. WHAT IS ESPECIALLY ODD IS THAT THIS EXACT ARTWORK DOES NOT APPEAR ON ANY U.S. POSTER, ALTHOUGH SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR DOES APPEAR ON SOME NON-U.S. POSTERS. We suspect that it could be a "bootleg" poster created in Japan or elsewhere, either in 1980, or at a later date (but we then still wonder how they acquired the artwork that was used, and why the poster was created, and if they are "bootlegs", then there would surely be lots of them, for no one creates just one or two bootlegs! It could possibly be some sort of "test" poster. We have contacted several Star Wars experts, and they seem mystified by this poster. If anyone knows more about this poster (any concrete information of any kind), please e-mail us and we will post it here. Please do not bid on this poster unless you can accept the uncertainty about its country of origin, its date of printing, and its originality!
Also note that a Star Wars poster collector told us that the Star Wars Poster book contains information about the art on this poster. The book says (slightly paraphrased by the collector for brevity):
"The artist was Roger Kastel. Kastel recalls that six freelance artists were hired to work on concepts. "The art director wanted a lot of color and the aurora borealis in it, he says, "And Lucasfilm kept adding things while I was working on it...." Added to the basic composition were the floating Cloud City, Lando, Fett, and cannon [and X-wings]. The consensus was it was a bit too busy." The decision was made to go with the three characters. Out went Cloud City, Boba Fett. Later, it was decided that eliminating Lando was a mistake. The only places in the US where Kastel's unaltered painting ended up were the book cover and the back cover of the album...." So this art does appear on the book cover and back cover of the record album, but is not on any poster, so that still leaves the mystery of who created this poster, and whether it was authorized in any way, or if it is some sort of "bootleg" (and if so, where are the other examples of it?). If anyone knows additional information, please e-mail us and we will post it here.

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