Marvel and Star Wars Are Finally Crossing Over in ‘Hope Assembles,' Here’s What We Know

‘Star Wars’ and Marvel Comics share a history dating back further than most fans realize, with Marvel publishing the very first ‘Star Wars’ comic adaptation six weeks before George Lucas’s original film even hit theaters in 1977. That early partnership famously helped save Marvel from bankruptcy at the time, cementing a bond between the two properties that’s continued through decades of licensing shifts and separate publishing eras.

Despite that long connection, the two universes have never officially crossed paths within a single unified story, at least not until now. Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm Publishing have officially announced ‘Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles,’ the first true crossover event between the franchises, timed to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ in 2027.

The five-issue limited series will be written by filmmaker Kevin Smith, with art from David Marquez, known for his work on ‘Uncanny X-Men’ and ‘Civil War II.’ According to the official premise, a reality-shattering spell causes the Rebels and Imperials from the original film trilogy to appear directly within Marvel’s main Earth-616 continuity, forcing Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Chewbacca to team up with Marvel heroes like Captain America, Spider-Man, and the Hulk against a combined threat that includes Darth Vader, Doctor Doom, and Thanos.

Issue one is set to launch in January 2027, with the series concluding in May 2027, timed to land just before ‘A New Hope’s’ actual fiftieth anniversary on May 25. Smith, who’s previously written comic runs including ‘Guardian Devil’ on ‘Daredevil’ alongside stories for Green Arrow and Batman, described the project as a lifelong dream coming true, having grown up with a subscription to Marvel’s original ‘Star Wars’ comics in the early 1980s.

Reflecting on what drew him to the project, Smith explained that while he loved following Luke, Leia, and Han’s adventures as a kid, he always wished characters like Spider-Man or Doctor Doom could cross over directly into their cinematic saga. He said that when the opportunity finally arose to tell exactly that story, nobody had to force his hand, adding that he’s ecstatic to write ‘Hope Assembles’ for the franchise’s fiftieth anniversary.

That excitement was echoed by outgoing Marvel Comics editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski, who called the crossover one of Marvel’s proudest achievements and revealed the concept has been in development since the company reacquired the ‘Star Wars’ license from Dark Horse Comics more than a decade ago. He described getting Lucasfilm’s green light for the project as feeling like receiving a call from Han Solo himself.

Marquez’s connecting covers for the series hint at just how expansive the crossover’s cast will be, featuring characters ranging from the Guardians of the Galaxy, Wolverine, and Professor X to Deadpool, Daredevil, Ultron, and even Grand Moff Tarkin and Greedo from the ‘Star Wars’ side. Lucasfilm Publishing creative director Michael Siglain described Smith’s story as a genuine love letter to both ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel, emphasizing how Marquez’s artwork helps bring the massive meeting of franchises to life.

With the crossover now confirmed and anchoring ‘Star Wars’ entire fiftieth anniversary publishing slate, fans of both franchises have a genuinely unprecedented team-up to look forward to when ‘Hope Assembles’ hits shelves early next year.