For decades, fans have imagined what might happen if the worlds of Star Wars and Marvel ever collided. Now, it’s finally happening. Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm Publishing have announced their first-ever official Star Wars/Marvel crossover, and Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles is shaping up to be exactly the kind of massive pop culture collision fans have been dreaming about.
Entertainment Weekly exclusively revealed the news and the first look at the comic’s cover. The five-part limited series will be written by filmmaker and longtime comic book writer Kevin Smith, with art by David Marquez, and will launch in January 2027. The crossover is also arriving at the perfect time: 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of Star Wars and the original 1977 movie, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
And yes, the heroes and villains of both universes are actually going to meet.
Who Is in Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles?
The crossover will bring the Star Wars universe into Earth-616, Marvel’s primary comic-book continuity. That means characters including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca will cross paths with Marvel heroes such as Captain America, Spider-Man, Black Widow, Hulk, Wolverine, and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
And the villains aren’t being left out. Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire will collide with Marvel’s rogues, including Doctor Doom, Thanos, and Ultron.
The artwork gives fans an idea of just how wild this could get, with Star Wars and Marvel characters sharing the page in combinations that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. Obi-Wan Kenobi can be seen alongside Deadpool, Daredevil, Hawkeye, and the Human Torch, while another image brings together Han Solo, Chewbacca, Wolverine, Professor X, and the Guardians of the Galaxy.
What Is Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles About?
According to the comic’s logline, Hope Assembles will bring the events of A New Hope into Marvel’s Earth-616 reality. A reality-shattering spell causes Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to witness the events of A New Hope unfolding on Earth, bringing the two universes together and throwing their heroes and villains into the same conflict.
The result is essentially a Marvelized version of the original Star Wars story, with some very unexpected reinforcements.
The first issue will arrive in January 2027, followed by a new installment every month. The fifth and final issue is scheduled for May 2027.
Kevin Smith Is Writing Hope Assembles
The idea of a Star Wars/Marvel crossover is particularly fitting for Kevin Smith, who has spent decades being a fan of both comics and Star Wars. Smith has also written major comic-book runs including Daredevil, Batman, and Green Arrow, making him a natural choice for a project that requires someone comfortable with both massive pop-culture mythology and superhero comics.
Smith says his interest in a crossover actually goes back to the early days of the Marvel Star Wars comics. “Back in the early ‘80s, I had a subscription to Marvel’s Star Wars comics. And as fun as it was to follow the continuing adventures of Luke, Leia, and Han, I always wished that Spider-Man or Doctor Doom could cross over into their cinematic saga. So when the opportunity arose to actually tell that story, nobody had to Force my hand! I’m ecstatic to be writing Hope Assembles for the 50th anniversary of Star Wars! Many thanks to Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm for trusting me to fly the Falcon and the Quinjet!”
David Marquez is providing the artwork for Hope Assembles. Marquez is known for his work on titles including Uncanny X-Men and Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man.
Lucasfilm and Marvel Have Wanted This for Years
The crossover isn’t simply a random anniversary stunt. According to C.B. Cebulski, Marvel’s outgoing editor-in-chief, the idea has been discussed for more than a decade. “It’s an idea we’ve wanted to explore since getting the Star Wars license back over a decade ago, but we knew we’d have to wait with the patience of a Jedi to make it happen. The 50th anniversary of A New Hope has finally given us the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring these two universes together, in this incredible story being told by Kevin Smith and David Marquez.“
He describes getting the approval from Lucasfilm as a “magical moment,” joking that it was as if Han Solo himself had delivered the famous Star Wars line: “You’re all clear, kid!”
Michael Siglain, creative director at Lucasfilm Publishing, describes Hope Assembles as “a true love letter to Star Wars, to Marvel, and to comics in general. Combined with David Marquez’s incredible art, we’ll see the heroes and villains of Star Wars team up and battle with the heroes and villains of Earth-616. Hope Assembles is exciting, unpredictable, and heartfelt.“
Stephen Wacker, Marvel’s newly appointed editor-in-chief, adds that the histories of Marvel and Star Wars have been intertwined for 50 years and says lifelong fans of both franchises have “a lot to look forward to” as the characters finally meet.
So get ready for Chewbacca and Wolverine, Luke Skywalker and Spider-Man, Captain America and Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Deadpool, and Darth Vader facing off against some of Marvel’s most dangerous villains. After 50 years of Star Wars, the Force is finally coming to the Marvel Universe.
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