Star Wars ( radio ) Star Wars was a thirteen - part ( 6½ hour ) expanded radio adaptation of , produced in 1981 and broadcast by National Public Radio as part of NPR Playhouse . It was adapted by Brian Daley and directed by John Madden and published by HighBridge Audio . It is the first in a series of radio dramatizations of the original " Star Wars " trilogy ; Following its success , two more radio dramatizations were produced , of " The Empire Strikes Back " ( 1983 ) and " Return of the Jedi " ( 1996 ) . The series was made with the full cooperation of George Lucas , who donated the rights and allowed the use of sound effects and music from the films . As with other Legends material , only material matching what was featured in the original film is considered canon , but many elements of the story first featured in the radio broadcasts were later referenced in other " Legends " stories . Many of the actors involved in the movie were unavailable to reprise their roles ( Harrison Ford , for instance , was committed to " " ) , but Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels returned to reprise Luke Skywalker and C - 3PO , respectively . In October 2013 , HighBridge Audio released two limited - edition , Collector ' s Volumes : " Star Wars : A New Hope " - The Original Radio Drama , " Light Side " and " Dark Side . " Each volume includes the original " Star Wars : A New Hope " radio drama , an exclusive trading card from Topps , and rare audio content and interviews from the making of the radio drama . < ref name = " http : / / starwarsradiodrama . com / " > " starwarsradiodrama . com " < / ref > Narrative content . The medium of radio has a less demanding narrative pace than cinema , allowing script writer Brian Daley more freedom to expand the characters and explore the situations leading up to the first film . The first thirteen - episode drama thus includes lengthy scenes set in Anchorhead , on Alderaan , on Ralltiir , and on board the " Tantive IV " . The series fleshes out the storyline by adding a great deal of backstory that had probably been created but not used by Lucas . For instance , there is a Skyhopper race between Luke Skywalker and his friends that takes place days or weeks before the events of the movie . Sound design . The advertising slogan of the radio series was , " You may think you ' ve seen the movie ; wait ' til you hear it ! " One of the strengths of radio is that listeners are called upon to use their imaginations and create their own visuals mentally . The drama succeeds by the auditory associations with the movies , drawing on the subliminal power of John Williams ' s incidental music , Ben Burtt ' s sound design , and of course the voices of the leading actors from the cinema screen , Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels . Director John Madden said , " Anyone who ' s ever listened to radio drama will testify to the fact that a play you hear will ( remain ) in your mind - twelve years later you ' ll remember it vividly . And the reason you ' ll remember it vividly is because you ' ve done the work . . . it lives in your imagination . " Synopsis of Expanded Universe scenes . Episode 1 . The whole of episode 1 is set on Tatooine , and fills in much of the backstory of Luke ' s difficult relationships with his Anchorhead friends . Rising to the challenge of a Skyhopper race against the cocky Fixer , Luke wins the race and the respect of his peers . When Luke spots the capture of the " Tantive IV " by the " Devastator " in the Tatooine sky , his friends ridicule him . These scenes tie in closely with the cut Anchorhead scenes from the first Star Wars film , portraying a convincing picture of teenage life on a desert planet . Luke ' s relationship with Biggs is explored with emotion as they face the pain of parting . Episode 2 . In episode 2 Princess Leia Organa and Captain Antilles are detained by the scheming Lord Tion on Ralltiir . While on the planet , evidence of Imperial atrocities influences Leia to take a stand against the Empire . She also makes contact with a Rebel spy who reveals intelligence about a secret Imperial project , codenamed " Death Star " . Tion visits Leia and her father , Bail Organa , on the pacifist world of Alderaan , but tensions rise between Leia and Tion , and in her anger , Leia lets slip the codename , thus revealing her Rebel associations . Tion attempts to arrest Leia , but during a struggle he is accidentally shot . Realizing the seriousness of the situation Bail Organa resolves to help the Rebellion , and plans to take the " Tantive IV " on an undercover mission to Toprawa to intercept the Death Star plans from the Rebels ( see Havet Storm ) . Leia persuades her father to allow her to run this mission with Captain Antilles . Realizing that the Galaxy is facing a terrible threat , he commissions her also to locate the exiled Jedi Knight , General Obi - Wan Kenobi , and ask him to resume the fight against the Empire . Episode 3 . Episode 3 begins on board the " Tantive IV " . Droids C - 3PO and R2 - D2 meet in the droid pool . The " Tantive IV " emerges from hyperspace over the planet Toprawa and receives the transmission of the secret Death Star plans . The ship is pursued by the Imperial Cruiser " Devastator " through hyperspace to Tatooine . Before Leia can locate General Kenobi , the " Tantive IV " is attacked and boarded . Desperate to get the data tapes ( sic ) off the ship , Leia resorts to loading the data into a droid - Artoo Detoo - instructing him to take an escape pod down to Tatooine and bring the Death Star plans to General Kenobi . The continuing story . At this point , the drama reaches the point where the , begins . While the dialogue is more verbally detailed for the radio medium , the story now more or less adheres to the original film narrative . Some notable additional scenes or interpretations that expand the story are : After being picked up by Jawas , C - 3PO tells them where to find R2 - D2 . Once captured , Artoo then sabotages another astro - droid , so that it malfunctions , which prompts Uncle Owen to buy Artoo , instead . In episode 6 , C - 3PO and R2 - D2 hide in a Mos Eisley used droid lot to avoid Imperial stormtroopers . They evade capture , but the owner kicks them off his property shortly after . In episode 7 , again trying to evade stormtroopers , Artoo knocks on a Mos Eisley resident ' s door . Threepio tells the owner that he and Artoo are members of the Skywalker Technical Maintenance Service , and that the droids are canvassing the area as a part of a publicity campaign . When the owner steps out , Threepio and Artoo hide inside the shop and lock the door ( the portion of this scene depicted in the film ) . In episode 8 Princess Leia is held aboard the Star Destroyer " Devastator " on approach to the Death Star . In a chilling exchange , Darth Vader invites Leia to gaze on the Death Star through the viewing portal of the ship , offering her one last chance to reveal her Rebel connections before she is tortured by several different devices , including the Injection arm , aboard the Death Star . Nevertheless , Vader displays a certain respect for his royal prisoner , ordering his captain to treat her courteously . Later , aboard the Death Star , Vader is heard torturing the Princess , using hypnotic drugs to make her talk ( this is , essentially , an extension of the " torture droid " scene from the movie , detailing what happens after the door closes ) . His interrogation fails and he summons a medic to tend to Leia prior to further questioning . In a private conversation , Admiral Motti suggests to Grand Moff Tarkin that he should consider using his command of the ultimate weapon to overthrow the Emperor . Outwardly , Tarkin rebuffs Motti , but it is also clear that the idea had previously crossed his mind as well . In episode 11 , while separated from Han Solo and Chewbacca on the Death Star , Luke and Leia hide from stormtroopers in a utility compartment . Leia asks Luke about how he got involved in the story , and Luke expresses his condolences to Leia for the destruction of Alderaan . They are soon discovered and the action leads to the chasm " swing across " scene from the film . Episode 12 contains extended exchanges between the principal characters concerning Han Solo ' s decision to depart immediately . Solo threatens and harries Commander Willard for his promised payment , demanding the precious metals that he knows would be needed for the Rebel combat operation . Luke later visits Solo and attempts at length to change his mind , confiding in Solo his decision to volunteer as a pilot for the Rebel assault on the Death Star . Leaving Leia to pacify an enraged Han , Luke joins Biggs Darklighter , who tests his flying abilities using a flight simulator . It is revealed by Commander Willard that Luke was only " killed " twice , despite Biggs pitting him against the virtual equivalent of the entire Imperial Starfleet . ( Whether Willard was actually " exaggerating " or not is left for the listener to determine , though regardless Luke does well enough that the Rebels are willing to put him into a starfighter for the assault . )