An obscure piece of Star Wars history has returned to the spotlight.
Short film Black Angel was commissioned by George Lucas to play in front of The Empire Strikes Back in the UK and Australia. Coming from an original script by Star Wars set decorator Roger Christian, who also directed the short film, it follows a knight who attempts to free a mysterious maiden from the clutches of a villain called the Black Angel.
The original negative of the short was thought lost after the collapse of Rank Laboratories in 1995, but was redisovered at Universal Studios in 2011. The film was screened in 2013 at both the Mill Valley Film Festival in 2013 and the Glasgow Film Festival the next year.
Christian has now begun an Indiegogo campaign to raise $100,000 for a feature length version of the short. Actors John Rhys-Davies and Rutger Hauer are already signed up and perks for contributions include producer credits, props, premiere tickets and an opportunity to be an extra. Most intriguing of all, a $20,000 donation will gain you a piece from the original negative of Star Wars – A New Hope.
Black Angel is currently partly funded – you can donate to the campaign here – and awaits a release date.
Sources: Variety and Black Angel campaign