Greg Hildebrandt: 1939-2024
The artist and his brother created the original blue Star Wars artwork in just 36 hours.
Lucasfilm was saddened to learn of the passing of artist Greg Hildebrandt, who, with his brother Tim, painted the iconic brilliant blue Star Wars artwork that was used prolifically throughout the original Star Wars: A New Hope marketing and merchandising campaigns of the late 1970s. He was 85.
In just 36 hours, Greg Hildebrandt and his brother Tim, who passed away in 2006, famously painted the now ubiquitous poster artwork that has become inseparable with the early Star Wars phenomenon itself. The Brothers Hildebrandt, as they were known, had become wildly popular in the ‘70s for their lush and epic illustrations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga, which appeared in calendars, art books, posters, and other merchandise. Their fanciful style caught the attention of George Lucas, who was looking to capture that same magical spirit to sell his new space epic. While artist Tom Jung designed the familiar Luke and Leia poised before a looming Darth Vader (which would ultimately be used for the film’s release poster), the Hildebrandt’s version was the one widely circulated among fans and the media, appearing on T-shirts, buttons, pin-up posters, and newspaper ads during the initial months of the campaign.
Based on the success and resonance of that artwork, Lucasfilm reached out to the brothers once again in 1996 for the Shadows of the Empire campaign, a multi-media event taking place in the years between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The brothers turned in 100 pieces of new artwork based on the storyline, which were published as a card series and in an art book.
The brothers again returned to the Star Wars galaxy for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, this time filling the Star Wars Great Big Flap Book with scores of new illustrations based on the film, becoming rare artistic contributors to both trilogies.
Most recently, Greg Hildebrandt created the stunning artwork that adorned the Star Wars x Oreo packaging, which featured many of the heroes and villains from the Star Wars saga.
While Greg and Tim’s vast portfolio of artwork will likely be celebrated for generations to come, it’s the original luminous 1977 poster graphic that will live long in the hearts of Star Wars fans, created by two brothers whose talents and aesthetic sense produced a perfect balance of heroism, darkness, adventure, and possibility.
Greg Hildebrandt, the second half of that inspired and timeless masterpiece, will be missed.