William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace: Star Wars Part the First is a non-canon book by Ian Doescher. The book was released on April 7, 2015. It is a retelling of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace as if written by William Shakespeare.
The popular, NYT best-selling Elizabethan/sci-fi mashup series continues, with a Shakespearean take on the first Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace.
When the best-selling William Shakespeare's Star Wars presented the classic George Lucas film in the form of an Elizabethan drama, the results blew the minds of Star Wars fans and Shakespeare buffs alike. Now the curtain rises once again on that star-crossed galaxy far away, this time revealing the tragedy, hubris, and doomed romance that will lead to the fall of the Republic and the rise of an Empire. The saga starts here with this reimagining of Episode I, a prequel tale in which a disguised queen, a young hero, and two fearless knights clash with a hidden, vengeful enemy. Masterful meter, Shakespearean soliloquies and intricate Elizabethan illustrations will leave more than a few readers convinced that the Star Wars saga sprang straight from the Bard's quill.
(From BNC Catalist)
Join us, good gentles, for a merry reimagining of Star Wars: Episode 1 as only Shakespeare could have written it. The entire saga starts here, with a thrilling tale featuring a disguised queen, a young hero, and two fearless knights facing a hidden, vengeful enemy.
'Tis a true Shakespearean drama, filled with sword fights, soliloquies, and doomed romance . . . all in glorious iambic pentameter and coupled with twenty gorgeous Elizabethan illustrations. Hold on to your midi-chlorians: The play's the thing, wherein you'll catch the rise of Anakin!
(From Amazon.com)
Doescher particularly enjoyed writing the character of Jar Jar Binks for the title. In William Shakespeare's The Phantom of Menace, Binks is portrayed as a Shakespearean fool who must act the idiot in order to advance a hidden agenda. His true intentions are revealed in asides to the audience. Doescher stated he was surprised that Lucasfilm Ltd. allowed this portrayal of the character, but found it a lot of fun.