The work surveys Vader across media—comics, video games, novels, and merchandise—covering about half a century and promising exclusive interviews and a thorough history from Lucas’s early drafts onward.

Star Wars Icons: Vader is a nearly 500-page nonfiction work exploring Darth Vader’s creation and depiction, with Hayden Christensen contributing a foreword and an emphasis on interviews and behind-the-scenes insights.

Author Breznican emphasizes the project’s scale and ambition, acknowledging its size and price while arguing the edition’s value for devoted Vader fans.

The release date is set for October 20, 2026, with San Diego Comic-Con attendees invited to preview the book at the Star Wars publishing booth.

Lucasfilm Publishing has not indicated whether this will become part of a broader Star Wars Icons series focused on other characters.

The book, authored by Anthony Breznican with a foreword by Hayden Christensen, presents a comprehensive look at Vader’s creation and media presence.

Breznican notes that Vader’s story often mirrors fatherhood, with multiple creators’ personal links to the character shaping his arc.

The release is supported by multiple image previews and links to related Star Wars coverage and previews.

A Gizmodo preview and other early pages showcase behind-the-scenes photos, concept art, memorabilia, and interviews with Steven Spielberg, Lawrence Kasdan, Hayden Christensen, and Paul Hirsch that trace Vader’s evolution from drafts to present interpretations.

The book will be released in two editions: a standard edition and a higher-priced limited Bas Relief edition featuring a special cover, bas-relief slipcase, and additional memorabilia such as a die-cast coin and an 11x15 framed bas-relief.

Exclusive interviews feature Spielberg, Kasdan, Christensen, and Hirsch, including anecdotes about The Empire Strikes Back and the personal resonance of fatherhood with the character.