ILM CLASSIC IMAGE: THE FIRST FALCON!

Here's a great shot you don't see often - the ILM constructed model of the Millennium Falcon as it originally looked, conceived by Colin Cantwell and refined by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. This version of Han Solo's lovable and eccentric smuggling vessel - "the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!" -would be scrapped by Lucas due to its familiarities with the Eagle craft then being shown on 1975 TV screens worldwide in the hit Gerry Anderson sci-fi show SPACE: 1999, and its design would be replaced and re-thought very quickly - though it would keep the already planned for UK set construction cockpit and the idea of the top and bottom gun placements - for what would be the vessel's ultimate, and best, visual appearance- the one that we know and admire today- by the end of the year and into 1976. Meanwhile, the old Falcon would transform into the Rebel Blockade Runner seen at the spectacular beginning of STAR WARS in 1977. 

The big question I have about the original version of the Falcon model is, was any test footage of it filmed by ILM prior to its shelving? And, if so, might we see it on the Blu-ray?

With thanks to Chris Baker for the above image.