History Radio / StarWarsRadioDramas

* ContinuitySnarl:
** Lucas's decision to include a DeletedScene with a digitized Jabba the Hutt in the re-release of ''Star Wars'' created a continuity conflict with the ''Star Wars'' radio drama, in which Jabba does not appear.
** See HanShotFirst below.

* HanShotFirst, and in the radio play, he still does.

* AdaptationExpansion: The plays ar all quite a bit longer than the source movies--the ''Star Wars'' play is over five hours long. Consequently, they include several scenes that were either cut from the films or entirely new.

All three series were adapted for radio by novelist Brian Daley, a veteran sci-fi novelist. The [[DevelopmentHell thirteen-year delay]] between ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'' almost led to AuthorExistenceFailure--Daley died of cancer hours after the wrap party for ''Return of the Jedi'' in 1996.

Creator/MarkHamill reprised his role of Luke Skywalker for both ''Star Wars'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'', before being recast by Joshua Fardon for ''Return of the Jedi'' after the [[DevelopmentHell 13-year delay]]. Anthony Daniels voiced [=C3PO=] in all three dramas. Billy Dee Williams played Lando in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' but was replaced by Arye Gross in ''Return of the Jedi''. All of the other roles were recast, with Perry King playing Han Solo, Ann Sachs as Leia, and Brock Peters (Admiral Cartwright in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' films) as Darth Vader. Some of the more well-known actors in the production include Creator/EdAsner (Jabba the Hutt), JohnLithgow (Yoda), [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Yeardley Smith]] as a robot in Jabba's palace, Adam Arkin as Fixer, one of Luke's acquaintances on Tatooine (not included in the films), and David Alan Grier as a supporting player.

All three series were adapted for radio by novelist Brian Daley.

* AStormIsComing: In ''Star Wars'', Luke and Biggs note that the wind is rising, and that it soon will be everywhere.

In 1981, 1983, and [[DevelopmentHell 1996]], [[Creator/{{NPR}} National Public Radio]] station KUSC-FM performed [[AudioAdaptation radio play adaptations]] of the original ''Franchise/StarWars'' movie trilogy. Considered part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', the plays were made with the full cooperation of Creator/GeorgeLucas, who sold the rights to KUSC-FM (hosted by his alma mater, the University of Southern California) for a dollar apiece.

Creator/MarkHamill reprised his role of Luke Skywalker for both ''Star Wars'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'', before being recast by Joshua Fardon for ''Return of the Jedi'' after the 13-year delay. Anthony Daniels voiced [=C3PO=] in all three dramas. Billy Dee Williams played Lando in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' but was replaced by Arye Gross in ''Return of the Jedi''. All of the other roles were recast, with Perry King playing Han Solo, Ann Sachs as Leia, and Brock Peters (Admiral Cartwright in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' films) as Darth Vader. Some of the more well-known actors in the production include Creator/EdAsner (Jabba the Hutt), JohnLithgow (Yoda), [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons Yeardley Smith]] as a robot in Jabba's palace, Adam Arkin as Fixer, one of Luke's acquaintances on Tatooine (not included in the films), and David Alan Grier as a supporting player.

** From ''A New Hope'', we get Leia using the ''Tantive IV'' to smuggle medical supplies to Rebel forces on Ralltiir, learning about the Death Star plans and acquiring them from Rebels on Toprawa, and Luke watching the battle between ''Tantive IV'' and the ISD ''Devastator''.

Creator/MarkHamill reprised his role of Luke Skywalker for both ''Star Wars'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'', before being recast by Joshua Fardon for ''Return of the Jedi'' after the 13-year delay. Anthony Daniels voiced C3PO in all three dramas. Billy Dee Williams played Lando in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' but was replaced by Arye Gross in ''Return of the Jedi''. All of the other roles were recast, with Perry King playing Han Solo, Ann Sachs as Leia, and Brock Peters (Admiral Cartwright in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' films) as Darth Vader. Some of the more well-known actors in the production include Creator/EdAsner (Jabba the Hutt), JohnLithgow (Yoda), Creator/YeardleySmith as a robot in Jabba's palace, Adam Arkin as Fixer, one of Luke's acquaintances on Tatooine (not included in the films), and David Alan Grier as a supporting player.

In 1981, 1983, and 1996, [[Creator/{{NPR}} National Public Radio]] station KUSC-FM performed [[AudioAdaptation radio play adaptations]] of the original ''Franchise/StarWars'' movie trilogy. Considered part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', the plays were made with the full cooperation of Creator/GeorgeLucas, who sold the rights to KUSC-FM (hosted by his alma mater, the University of Southern California) for a dollar apiece.

The first series was released simply under the title ''Star Wars''. To avoid confusion between it and the franchise as a whole, below it will be referred to as ''A New Hope''.

* AdaptationExpansion: The plays included several scenes that were either cut from the films or entirely new.

* CanonImmigrant: The ''A New Hope'' play had the first in-story appearance[[note]]He was first mentioned in the {{novelization}} of Episode IV but did not appear.[[/note]] of Bail Organa, who would later appear in the prequel trilogy as the Republic senator from Alderaan. Also, ''Return of the Jedi'' features a character strongly implied to be Mara Jade, a character never seen in the films and originally introduced in ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy''.

* LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: All three radio series were available together, in a CD boxed set, with special artwork on the discs not available on other editions, as well as exclusive bonus tracks. The bonus tracks were excerpts of conversations with cast members, select scenes played without music or sound effects, and an audio get well card recoded by the cast for Brian Daley, the writer who adapted all three series for radio and who at the time ''Jedi'' was recorded, was sick with pancreatic cancer. (Unfortunately, Daley didn't last long enough to be able to hear it.)

* ShootTheDog: In ''A New Hope'' episode 2, Bail Organa is forced to shoot Lord Tion dead after the latter deduces from a slip of the tongue by Leia that the Organas know about the Death Star. It shocks the hell out of Leia.
* SpaceIsNoisy: The ''New Hope'' play {{justifie|dTrope}}s this through the use of auralization, with Han mentioning it to Luke as they warm up the ''Falcon's'' quad lasers during the escape from the Death Star.

* Main/LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition: All three radio series were available together, in a CD boxed set, with special artwork on the discs not available on other editions, as well as exclusive bonus tracks. The bonus tracks were excerpts of conversations with cast members, select scenes played without music or sound effects, and an audio get well card recoded by the cast for Brian Daley, the writer who adapted all three series for radio and who at the time ''Jedi'' was recorded, was sick with pancreatic cancer. (Unfortunately, Daley [[{{Main/TearJerker}} didn't last long enough to be able to hear it]].)

* Main/HeyItsThatVoice:
** Grand Moff Tarkin was also the owner of [[{{Series/Cheers}} Melville's Restaurant]]. Amusingly, he also played a character named [[{{Creator/PeterCushing}} Mr. Cushing]] in a short lived 1980 TV series called ''One in a Million''.
** Yoda might sound a bit like [[{{Film/TheAdventuresOfBuckarooBanzaiAcrossTheEighthDimension}} Lord John Whorfin]] or [[{{Series/ThirdRockFromTheSun}} Dick Solomon]].
** One of the droids at Jabba's palace (Ninedenine) is [[{{WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons}} Lisa Simpson]].
** Jabba himself is [[{{Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow}} Lou]] [[{{Series/LouGrant}} Grant]] or [[{{WesternAnimation/Gargoyles}} Hudson]].
** In ''Return of the Jedi'', Boba Fett is [[{{Series/StElsewhere}} Dr. Victor Ehrlich]] or the Viper pilot, [[{{Series/BattlestarGalacticaClassic}} Greenbean]].

* TheOtherDarrin:
** '''Luke Skywalker:''' ''A New Hope'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'' featured Creator/MarkHamill reprising his role as Luke. However, he declined to return for ''Return of the Jedi'', and Joshua Fardon was cast in his place.
** '''Lando Calrissian:''' ''The Empire Strikes Back'' featured Billy Dee Williams reprising his film role, but Lando was played in ''Return of the Jedi'' by Arye Gross.
** '''Boba Fett:''' In ''The Empire Strikes Back'' he was played by Alan Rosenburg, but Ed Begley, Jr. assumed the part in ''Return of the Jedi''.
** '''Wedge Antilles:''' This character was heard in all three series, and was played by three different actors.
** '''The Emperor:''' Unlike in the films, however (at least, before the [[{{Main/LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition}} Special Editions]]) the Emperor was played by the same performer (Paul Hecht) in both ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi''.

** '''Wedge Antilles:''' This character was appeared in all three series, and was played by three different actors.

* CanonImmigrant: The ''New Hope'' play had the first physical appearance[[note]]He was first mentioned in the {{novelization}} of Episode IV but did not appear.[[/note]] of Bail Organa, who would later appear in the prequel trilogy as the Republic senator from Alderaan. Also, ''Return of the Jedi'' features a character strongly implied to be Mara Jade, a character never seen in the films and originally introduced in ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy''.

** Luke Skywalker: ''A New Hope'' and ''The Empire Strikes Back'' featured Creator/MarkHamill reprising his role as Luke. However, he declined to return for ''Return of the Jedi'', and Joshua Fardon was cast in his place.
** Lando Calrissian: ''The Empire Strikes Back'' featured Billy Dee Williams reprising his film role, but Lando was played in ''Return of the Jedi'' by Arye Gross.
** Boba Fett: In ''The Empire Strikes Back'' he was played by Alan Rosenburg, but Ed Begley, Jr. assumed the part in ''Return of the Jedi''.
** Wedge Antilles was appeared in all three series, and was played by three different actors.
** Unlike in the films, however (at least, before the [[{{Main/LimitedSpecialCollectorsUltimateEdition}} Special Editions]] the Emperor was played by the same performer (Paul Hecht) in both ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi''.

* CanonImmigrant: The ''New Hope'' play had the first physical appearance[[note]]He was first mentioned in the {{novelization}} of Episode IV but did not appear.[[/note]] of Bail Organa, who would later appear in the prequel trilogy as the Republic senator from Alderaan.

** ''Return of the Jedi'' included Luke constructing his new lightsaber. Being that it was performed after the current EU got into full swing, we also got a CallForward to ''TheThrawnTrilogy'' in the form of a conversation between C-3PO and an undercover Mara Jade.

In 1981, 1983, and 1996, [[Creator/{{NPR}} National Public Radio]] station KUSC-FM performed radio play adaptations of the original ''Franchise/StarWars'' movie trilogy. Considered part of the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'', the plays were made with the full cooperation of Creator/GeorgeLucas, who sold the rights to KUSC-FM (hosted by his alma mater, the University of Southern California) for a dollar apiece.

* HarsherInHindsight: The [[MindRape mental tortures]] Vader puts Leia through in lieu of using the torture droid are much harsher in light of knowing that he is her father. For one, there's a point when he claims to be her father and needing her information, which is also the one time in her life he speaks kindly to her. For two, there's a scene where he makes her believe she's had limbs cut off and she is burning alive and dying - Mustafar much?

* CurbStompBattle: Derra IV from the ''Empire'' play was a one-sided slaughter that cost the Rebels a valuable supply convoy and most of a squadron of X-Wings. By the ''Literature/LegacyOfTheForce'' novel series it's being used as a VirtualTrainingSimulation for GFFA fighter pilots.

* CurbStompBattle: Derra IV from the ''Empire'' play was a one-sided slaughter that cost the Rebels a valuable supply convoy and most of a squadron of X-Wings. By the ''LegacyOfTheForce'' novel series it's being used as a VirtualTrainingSimulation for GFFA fighter pilots.