For generations of Star Wars fans, the words “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” have served as the gateway into a galaxy filled with Jedi, Sith, smugglers, rebels, and unlikely heroes.
That opening has always carried the feeling of a fairy tale. It suggests that the events being shown are not happening in the present, but belong to a distant past that has already become legend. Now, Lucasfilm is giving fans a new way to think about who might be telling that story.
As Star Wars prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027, Star Wars: A New Hope: Triple Take (2027) will revisit the original movie through the eyes of three of its most important characters: Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo.
The graphic novel, written by Chas! Pangburn and Kim Shearer, doesn't simply reproduce the events of A New Hope (1977), but instead asks readers to consider how the same adventure might look depending on who is remembering it, which completely changes the role of the famous opening.
Related: Lucasfilm Confirms Official ‘Star Wars' Remake, Coming in 2027
The publisher describes Triple Take as a “multi-perspective retelling,” with three distinct visual storytelling styles reflecting the personalities, memories, and individual versions of the truth belonging to Luke, Leia, and Han.
That makes the phrase “A long time ago…” feel different. Instead of imagining one mysterious narrator recounting an established history, readers can experience the story as a legend being remembered by the people who actually lived it.
Luke Skywalker's memories naturally turn his journey into something almost mythological. For him, the destruction of the Death Star is part of a much larger story about destiny, courage, and discovering his place in the galaxy.
Leia Organa's perspective is far less romantic. She has lived through the consequences of the Empire's actions and understands the rebellion as a dangerous fight for survival.
And then there's Han Solo. If Han gets to tell the story, it's probably no surprise that he remembers himself as one of the greatest heroes in the galaxy.
Here's the official description for the book from Simon & Schuster:
“Sibling writers and Star Wars newcomers Chas! Pangburn and Kim Shearer (Double Booking) pen a fun-filled, multi-perspective retelling that reimagines the events of Star Wars: A New Hope through the eyes of the Rebellion’s most notable heroes: Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker!
Luke remembers a larger-than-life mythic journey of destiny and courage, Leia recalls the dangerous reality of rebellion against the Empire, and Han? Han mostly remembers how incredibly heroic he was. See the iconic story as you’ve never seen it before, from Darth Vader’s terrifying first appearance to the denizens of the Mos Eisley Cantina to the destruction of the Death Star! Fans are in for a visual treat as a quartet of artists bring each character’s account to life.”
A New Hope has been watched countless times over the past five decades. Now, its most famous adventure is being presented as three different memories of the same extraordinary events.
Lucasfilm initially announced the graphic novel for February 2027; however, the current publisher listing gives it an April 27, 2027 release date.
Could this be the beginning of a new way to revisit other classic Star Wars stories? Let us know!
