• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
  • VIDEO
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
  • INTERACTIVE
  • COMMUNITY
  • DATABANK
  • DISNEY+
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

See BB-8, Shakespeare-Style, on the Cover of The Force Doth Awaken - First Look!

April 25, 2017
April 25, 2017
Dan Brooks

The astromech goes Elizabethan in a fun, beautiful illustration.

Ian Doescher's Star Wars and Shakespeare mashups have proven to be hits with classic literature and Star Wars fans alike -- telling the stories of the Star Wars films in the Bard of Avon's style, while staying true to both. As a series, it's simultaneously weird, smart, and original, all qualities that ring true to the galaxy far, far away and the work of the world's greatest playwright.

Each installment has also sported a beautifully illustrated cover, and StarWars.com has an exclusive first look at the image set to grace the next edition: William Shakespeare's The Force Doth Awaken -- Star Wars Part the Seventh, coming October 3, which features BB-8 in Elizabethan garb. (It's an image we didn't know we needed in our lives until we saw it.) In addition, StarWars.com caught up over e-mail with designer and art director Doogie Horner and illustrator Nicolas Delort to find out how the cover came to be. (Or not to be?)

A book called William Shakespeare's The Force Doth Awaken: Star Wars' Part The Seventh, written by Ian Doescher. On the cover is BB-8 dressed like William Shakespeare.

StarWars.com: BB-8 in the Shakespeare hat and cape. Brilliant. Please explain how that came to you.


Doogie Horner: Well, it was sort of a process of elimination. We considered Rey, but one distinctive thing about her is her outfit, which we'd lose when we dressed her in Elizabethan clothes. I just can't picture her character in a fancy dress. I also considered Kylo Ren, but again, I just didn't know how to make him look Shakespearean in an interesting way. BB-8 seemed like the right fit because he's such a fun character, and this book is funny, too. Also, I like giving a supporting character star-billing like this. 


StarWars.com: Does Star Wars design lend itself to this style of illustration? Or did it take some craft to make it fit?


Nicolas Delort: A lot of the designs in Star Wars already lean heavily towards fantasy, rather than science-fiction, so it's just a matter of finding a way to add some comedic or tongue-in-cheek element to them. Imagining on-stage contraptions to replace the advanced technology is another fun part of the job.


StarWars.com: Your cover is really striking in both its detail and also a kind of sense of humor about itself. How did you approach the illustration?


Nicolas Delort: Out of all the covers in the series, I'd say it's the one that leans more towards comedy. BB-8 is such an adorable character, giving him this Elizabethan attire just makes him look funny. 


Dan Brooks is Lucasfilm’s senior content writer and editor of the StarWars.com blog. He loves Star Wars, ELO, and the New York Rangers, Jets, and Yankees. Follow him on Twitter @dan_brooks where he rants about all these things.

The Force Doth Awaken

Related Stories

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Games + Apps", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/games-+-apps"}

Cal Kestis Looks to Infiltrate to an Enemy Stronghold in Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars - Exclusive Excerpt

January 31, 2023

January 31, 2023

Jan 31

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

A Scoundrel’s Origin Story Revealed in Marvel’s Star Wars: Sana Starros

January 30, 2023

January 30, 2023

Jan 30

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Characters + Histories", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/characters-+-histories"}

Boushh Blasts His Way to New Allies in Marvel’s Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #28 – Exclusive Preview

January 18, 2023

January 18, 2023

Jan 18

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

Inferno Squad Strikes Back in Marvel’s April 2023 Star Wars Comics – Exclusive Preview

January 17, 2023

January 17, 2023

Jan 17

{:title=>"The Bad Batch", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-bad-batch"} {:title=>"Interviews", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/interviews"}

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Dee Bradley Baker on the Return of Commander Cody – Exclusive

January 13, 2023

January 13, 2023

Jan 13

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"Characters + Histories", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/characters-+-histories"}

Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red Revealed

January 12, 2023

January 12, 2023

Jan 12

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"}

Marvel Comics and Mateus Manhanini Reveal Stunning Star Wars Black History Month Covers - Exclusive

January 11, 2023

January 11, 2023

Jan 11

{:title=>"Books + Comics", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/books-+-comics"} {:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"}

Yoda Returns to Turrak in Marvel’s Star Wars: Yoda #2 - Exclusive Preview

December 21, 2022

December 21, 2022

Dec 21

More From Star Wars:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • SWKids
  • Terms of Use
  • Additional Content Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Star Wars at shopDisney
  • Star Wars Helpdesk
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved