Publisher DK fired a long time co-author on the Star Wars Encyclopedia (then called Ultimate Star Wars) due to a mandate by Lucasfilm that they hire more diverse writers.
Adam Bray has worked extensively on Star Wars and Marvel projects, including the Star Wars Encyclopedia and the Marvel Studios Visual Guide. After working on three editions of what was then known as Ultimate Star Wars, Bray was surprised to find out that DK was moving forward with a fourth edition without him. This was particularly jarring for the writer as he’d always received such high praise from Lucasfilm for his work.
A photo of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park via Disney Parks blog
READ: James Gunn Claims ‘Peacemaker’ is Once Again Canon to New DC Cinematic Universe, With One Exception
Bray sat down with That Park Place to discuss this turn of events and reflect on his history writing for A Galaxy Far, Far Away.
“As for my non-involvement, this was the first edition they didn’t ask me to work on,” Bray said. “They didn’t even tell me about it, which was highly unusual. A few years back, the executive editor told me I was DK licensing’s best writer. She told me Pablo Hidalgo told them I was also their best writer. Second-hand quote, but I believed it.”
So, why then, with such a stellar record and the reported approval of a Lucasfilm creative executive, was Bray not asked back for another foray into the Star Wars universe?
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977), Lucasfilm
READ: She-Hulk Replaced by Deadpool on Official Disney+ Marvel Hub
According to those he spoke with, Bray’s talent had nothing to do with this omission. Rather, DK dropped him from Star Wars projects because of his race and gender. This mandate reportedly came from Lucasfilm itself.
“When I asked about the book, I was told Disney/Lucasfilm told them to use more ‘diverse’ writers,” Bray said. “Apparently I’m not on the diversity list of authors because I went from doing several books a year for Star Wars to suddenly none. No explanation, and I always had a stellar relationship with Lucasfilm and DK. But suddenly nobody answered my emails… Though they still use my work and name to create new books.”
Bray is co-author on the latest edition of the Star Wars Encyclopedia, however he didn’t work on it nor was he paid for it. This is far from the first time such an injustice has occurred.
Even this year there are four new books from Marvel and Star Wars that list me as a ‘co-author,'” Bray said. “But I’m neither informed nor compensated.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
Bray made waves on X this week when he noted the inclusion of fired Star Wars actress Gina Carano in the encyclopedia, while all characters related to The Acolyte were left out.
In case you were wondering, Cara Dune @ginacarano is featured in the new DK Star Wars Encyclopedia.
…and you can order signed (by me) copies directly from me. pic.twitter.com/09Loj4akjH
— Author Adam Bray #StarWars (@authoradambray) November 19, 2024
READ: Parts of Upcoming Snow White Trailer Allegedly Leak Online, Show Drastic Change in Narrative
He also told That Park Place that a Mandalorian Visual Guide was canceled by Lucasfilm pretty far along in development right around the time Carano was let go from the popular show for sharing a meme on social media.
“I was not involved in that but it sure smelled fishy that any book that would have included Gina was canceled right after she was fired,” he said. “My guess is that had EVERYTHING to do with Gina. That had to have HUGE consequences for the publishers to do that last minute.”
Gina Carano is Cara Dune in THE MANDALORIAN, season two, exclusively on Disney+.
If Lucasfilm is actually policing DK’s writers based on race and gender, that could be a violation of US federal law.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states:
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer –
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Simply put, it’s illegal in the United States to deny someone an employment opportunity based solely on their race, gender, or age. If, as Bray’s source within DK states, the publisher didn’t bring him back due to a diversity mandate set down by Lucasfilm, then both DK and Lucasfilm could find themselves in hot water as the US political climate changes.
Is it fair that the Star Wars Encyclopedia author was fired by DK and Lucasfilm? Do you believe DK and Lucasfilm violated US federal law? Is it right for a publisher to continue listing authors on new projects without compensating them? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!
UP NEXT: Gina Carano Returns to Star Wars Lore: New Lucasfilm Publication Includes Cara Dune
[…] Fonte: thatparkplace […]