Cavan Scott

April 18, 1973 marks the birth date of Cavan Scott.

The Star Wars franchise first engaged Scott when Egmont UK Ltd and Lucasfilm Ltd. contacted him and Tom Huddleston to create Star Wars: Adventures in Wild Space. This seven-part junior novel series was published by Egmont in the United Kingdom and by Disney–Lucasfilm Press in the United States of America. Given only a basic premise, Scott developed the characters for Adventures in Wild Space: The Escape, the series' initial book. Scott recognized distinctions in content for younger readers, but he embraced the challenge, believing in treating children like adults by presenting them with compelling narratives. Moreover, Scott found crafting original characters less challenging than writing for established ones.

Among Scott's creations for the series were the protagonists, Milo and Lina Graf, and the antagonist, Captain Visler Korda. Scott's audition piece differed from the final product, including changing Lina Graf from a Twi'lek to a human. During writing, Lucasfilm requested Scott incorporate elements from Star Wars Rebels, which was then airing on Disney XD. While working on The Escape, the Lucasfilm Story Group asked Scott to revise the beginning without explanation. This was because Scott's novel's opening mirrored the then-upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the first Star Wars Anthology Series film, specifically the capture of Galen Erso. Scott realized this upon the film's release in December 2016.

The success of Adventures in Wild Space: The Escape led to Scott writing three more sequels, while Huddleston wrote the other three. Scott and Huddleston met in person only after the first book's release. Scott anticipated the Graf children's popularity and suggested revisiting them as adults later. This prediction proved accurate when Scott found a mention of the Graf siblings in Emil Fortune's Star Wars: Galactic Atlas during Celebration Europe, indicating their survival into the era of the current films. Scott admired the possibility of readers growing up with the characters, similar to Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker with the sequel trilogy's release.

However, Cavan's Star Wars journey didn't begin with Adventures in Wild Space. After writing the Star Trek comic anthology series Star Trek: Waypoint, Sarah Gaydos, the Star Trek editor at IDW Publishing, suggested he submit storylines for Star Wars Adventures. This anthology comic series was in development at IDW for a late 2017 release. Scott saw this as a wonderful but daunting opportunity, accepting it despite uncertainty. He collaborated with Derek Charm, with whom he developed a strong working relationship. Scott attended a meeting with other creative teams and presented several storylines, including the one that became "Better the Devil You Know, Part I," featuring Rey.

The series was announced at Celebration Orlando for a September 2017 release, with Scott writing the first issue after a preview issue by Landry Q. Walker. For the first issue, Scott introduced Emil Graf, Milo Graf's grandson, as the narrator, replacing C-3PO and [Magreda](/article/magreda]. Lucasfilm suggested naming the character after Emil Fortune as a tribute, which Scott agreed to, also creating new characters like CR-8R, BB-00, and Noni. CR-8R became Scott's favorite due to his sarcasm, while BB-00 was named after his youngest daughter's nickname. Scott noted the series' phenomenal reception, helping introduce Star Wars and comic books to a new generation, similar to how the original Marvel Comics' Star Wars line introduced him to the franchise. Since the series' start, Scott advocated for the return of Jaxxon from the Star Wars Legends continuity into the new canon established by Lucasfilm since 2014. Initially skeptical, Scott was surprised when the Adventures team asked him to write a Jaxxon story. He eagerly accepted, and Jaxxon returned to canon in Scott's "The Lost Eggs of Livorno," a story in Star Wars Adventures Annual 2018.

Near 2017's end, Scott joined From a Certain Point of View, an anthology celebrating the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope with forty-three stories centered on characters from the 1977 film. Scott chose to focus on Obi-Wan Kenobi's death. The Jedi Master, originally played by Alec Guinness, was significant to Scott, as Kenobi was his first Star Wars action figure. Despite assuming another author had chosen that moment, editor Elizabeth Schaefer confirmed it was available. Scott rewatched the prequel trilogy and considered flashbacks of Luke Skywalker's childhood. The idea of Obi-Wan leaving toys for Luke, based on Scott's Star Wars Kenner toys, was his own. Scott felt Obi-Wan's reflection on past, present, and future created a sense of entering a larger world. Overall, Scott enjoyed writing a Star Wars tale for adults.

In 2018, anticipating Solo: A Star Wars Story, Lucasfilm asked Scott to lead a Choose Your Own Adventure-style book series about Han Solo and Chewbacca. The project evolved from a standard book series to gamebooks late in planning. Scott welcomed the change, having enjoyed Fighting Fantasy gamebooks by Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson. Previously, Scott's attempt to create a Pirates of the Caribbean gamebook in the mid-2000s failed. Similar to Adventures in Wild Space, Scott's initial outline resembled the upcoming Anthology film, requiring adjustments. Scott provided concise illustration briefs for Elsa Charretier, the gamebooks' illustrator. Lucasfilm directed the focus on all four Star Wars eras.

During Star Wars Adventures' launch at San Diego Comic-Con 2017, Michael Siglain approached Cavan with the idea for an all-ages, horror-inspired Star Wars anthology. Scott and Siglain shared a fondness for classic horror films, from Universal Monsters to Hammer Films. Scott envisioned a feel similar to Amicus Productions' 1965 film Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, who played Wilhuff Tarkin and Count Dooku in the original and prequel trilogies, respectively. This led to Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle. Derek Charm rejoined Scott for illustration, while Matt Martin of the Story Group ensured age-appropriateness.

Initially, Tales from Vader's Castle was set around the time of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, but it was moved to the time of Rogue One. Consequently, characters changed, and Scott's Poe Dameron story was replaced with one starring Han Solo. Similarly, Scott couldn't include the Nightsisters in the third issue due to the timeline. The fourth issue featuring the Ewoks originally starred Wicket W. Warrick and Teebo, but they were replaced with Chirpa and Logray, a change Scott appreciated. For the second issue, Scott parodied Bram Stoker's Dracula instead of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein due to Christopher Lee's portrayal of Dracula, even naming the planet Bray after Hammer's Bray Studios. The fifth issue's story came late in development.

Scott's original plan involved different titles for each issue referencing horror movies. The first issue was initially "The Haunting of Hera Syndulla," but Scott changed it to "The Haunting of the Ghost" referencing Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. Other influences included Disney's Frozen, inspiring the setting and story of the third issue. Thom Hudd was named and modeled after Tom Huddleston. Easter eggs to Legends, like Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, were included. Besides Charm, Chris Fenoglio, Kelley Jones, Corin Howell, Charlie Kirchoff, and Charles Paul Wilson III were guest artists. Before the series' October 2018 release, Scott hoped Tales from Vader's Castle would become a Star Wars Halloween tradition.

Prior to _Tales from Vader's Castle'_s release, Scott hoped for a sequel series, and its success led to Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader's Castle. Scott again partnered with Francesco Francavilla for the series' framing, focusing on stories starring Darth Maul, Asajj Ventress, Jabba the Hutt, Darth Vader, and Grand Moff Tarkin. Following Vaneé's positive reception in Tales from Vader's Castle, Cavan made him the narrator, with Francesco suggesting Vaneé hold a flaming staff. Inspired by the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "Brothers," the first issue was set on Lotho Minor, featuring Darth Maul with spider-like robotic legs.

Before returning to Vader's castle, Cavan was tasked with writing a prequel audiobook to Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, focusing on Count Dooku's early years. Scott felt prepared, having done audiobooks for franchises like Doctor Who and listened to soap operas and audio dramas like BBC Radio 4's The Archers, The Avengers, and The Shadow. Writing Dooku: Jedi Lost made Scott a bigger Dooku fan.

Dooku: Jedi Lost was challenging, as Scott and Lucasfilm discussed the ending extensively before writing the beginning. Scott planned to connect Dooku's childhood to his departure from the Jedi Order. Depicting Dooku's past and emotions aimed to make the audience question whether Dooku or Darth Sidious was the architect, showing Dooku as a slave believing himself to be the Chosen One, making his story tragic. In developing Dooku's origins, Scott rewatched the prequels and The Clone Wars, receiving a list of potential elements and notes from the Story Group regarding canon exploration and content suitability. This included Dooku's relationship with Sifo-Dyas, mentioned in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. Scott also examined the Legends version of Dooku's origins.

Yoda also had a significant role, established as Dooku's Jedi Master. Scott initially hesitated to spend much time with Yoda, but opted to depict a friendship between master and apprentice. Writing Dooku and Yoda's final scene was emotional, requiring multiple revisions. Scott initially planned to tell the story from Asajj Ventress' perspective, but realized Dooku wouldn't recount his stories. Using Ventress allowed her to offer views on her Sith Master, making the audiobook's title refer to both Dooku and Ventress. Moreover, Scott portrayed Dooku and Sifo-Dyas' relationship to downplay Dooku's arrogance.

Scott introduced Dooku's family—Gora, Ramil, and Jenza—to expand on his backstory. Jenza served as Dooku's catalyst for embracing the dark side of the Force. For Rael Averross, Dooku's apprentice, Scott collaborated with Claudia Gray, whose Master & Apprentice featured Averross. Scott found this collaboration beneficial. Lene Kostana was inspired by Thame Cerulian from Legends. George Mann requested a reference to Darth Caldoth, a Sith Lord from his Myths & Fables novel, which Scott included.

Scott is a key author in Star Wars: The High Republic. He learned of the project over breakfast with Michael Siglain during San Diego Comic-Con 2018. Scott also enjoyed working on the Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures episode "Charhound Chase."

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