As a lifelong fan of the fantastical realms that Greg Hildebrandt breathed life into, it is with a heavy heart and tear-filled eyes that I bid farewell to this titan of illustration who left us at the ripe age of 85. His art was the gateway through which countless dreams were born and adventures embarked upon. From the towering spires of Middle Earth to the far reaches of the galaxy in Star Wars, his work has been an ever-present companion in my own journey through the realms of imagination.
As a devoted admirer, I’m deeply saddened to share that the legendary fantasy and sci-fi artist, Greg Hildebrandt, has left us at the age of 85. The news reached me from the reliable sources at Gizmodo. Alongside his twin brother Tim, this prolific artist graced the worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien, Marvel and DC Comics, and numerous iconic movie posters with his illustrations. However, it’s for the artwork he created in 1977, specifically the Star Wars poster for A New Hope, that he will be most fondly remembered. Even though A New Hope had multiple posters, Fox licensed this one for merchandise globally, and over time, it became synonymous with the film itself.
1977 saw Michigan natives Greg and Tim Hildebrandt receiving an unexpected request from 20th Century Fox for creating poster art for the UK debut of Star Wars. Although Tom Jung had already designed a poster for the US release, the studio executives deemed it too gloomy. Under a tight 36-hour deadline, the brothers were tasked with producing an alternative image to publicize the film. The final artwork, surprisingly, took creative liberties with the characters’ appearances. Luke Skywalker was depicted with an unbuttoned shirt showcasing his muscular physique, while Princess Leia adopted a suggestive pose. Remarkably, these portrayals bore little resemblance to the actors themselves, yet this image became ubiquitous on items ranging from bedsheets to t-shirts.
It’s with a heavy heart I share the news of the passing of Greg Hildebrandt at the age of 85. Together with his brother Tim (who passed away in 2006), they created some of the most magnificent fantasy and sci-fi illustrations the world has ever seen!
— Blast Action 💥 📽📼📀💥 (@Blast_Action) November 1, 2024
For several decades, the siblings Hildebrandt collaborated on numerous illustrations. In the realm of fantasy during the ’70s, they created a series of Lord of the Rings calendars and posters. This was followed by their artwork for Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Harry Potter, and in the ’90s, a popular series of Marvel Masterworks trading cards. After his brother’s demise in 2006, Greg continued with a series of Star Trek covers for IDW. Throughout their careers, they left an impressive artistic imprint on many major sci-fi and fantasy properties, making them iconic figures in the world of heroic fantasy characters.
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2024-11-02 03:02