On this episode of Our American Stories, in the early 1970s, science fiction films were a tough sell in Hollywood. George Lucas set out to make Star Wars anyway, drawing on old adventure serials to shape a story many studios struggled to imagine on screen.

After its release in 1977, the film found its audience through word of mouth and steady growth at the box office. Before long, theater lines were filled with new viewers wanting a taste of the experience and fans returning to see it again.

Chris Taylor, author of How Star Wars Conquered the Universe, tells the dramatic story of how Star Wars became the iconic franchise it is today, and why it so easily could have failed.

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