Director George Lucas surprised cinemagoers with his uniquely charming space-opera film Star Wars, released in 1977. The film became a cultural phenomenon and spawned a franchise with several sequels, prequels, and spin-off media that have continued to expand upon Lucas’ original idea for a galaxy far, far away.
Andor proved to be one of the best Star Wars projects of recent times (Credit: Lucasfilm).
Amidst the franchise’s recent struggles, Andor established itself as one of the most unique and fresh entries in the Star Wars universe, arguably since the original trilogy. However, the series emerging as one of the best entries wouldn’t surprise creator Lucas as it is something the acclaimed filmmaker himself foretold decades ago. Here is how Andor fulfills a prophecy by George Lucas.
George Lucas Prophesized More Original Voices Coming to His Star Wars Franchise
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise back in 1977 with the...
Andor proved to be one of the best Star Wars projects of recent times (Credit: Lucasfilm).
Amidst the franchise’s recent struggles, Andor established itself as one of the most unique and fresh entries in the Star Wars universe, arguably since the original trilogy. However, the series emerging as one of the best entries wouldn’t surprise creator Lucas as it is something the acclaimed filmmaker himself foretold decades ago. Here is how Andor fulfills a prophecy by George Lucas.
George Lucas Prophesized More Original Voices Coming to His Star Wars Franchise
George Lucas launched the Star Wars franchise back in 1977 with the...
- 6/11/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
George Lucas’ Star Wars saga is a trilogy of trilogies; The Return of The Jedi is the perfect film that honors the ending of the classic trilogy, and some even argue that the ending could not be any more perfect. Episode VI ended on a high note that honored the film’s epic story, ending Emperor Palpatine’s reign of terror and Darth Vader’s redemption with some old Force ghosts present at the celebration scene.
Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Episode VI. Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
However, the film’s epic conclusion was nailed down by a plethora of drafts because Lucas could not decide on a script that ended the story on a high note. Moreover, in several drafts, the ending varied from the one we have seen in the final version of the film because it did not have enough dramatic effect.
George Lucas Could Not Decide...
Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Episode VI. Credits: Lucasfilm Ltd.
However, the film’s epic conclusion was nailed down by a plethora of drafts because Lucas could not decide on a script that ended the story on a high note. Moreover, in several drafts, the ending varied from the one we have seen in the final version of the film because it did not have enough dramatic effect.
George Lucas Could Not Decide...
- 6/3/2024
- by Tushar Auddy
- FandomWire
Actor John Boyega starred in three of the extant 16 "Star Wars" movies*, playing the rogue-Stormtrooper-turned-good guy Finn in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015), "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017), and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" (2019). Boyega liked playing Finn, but has gone on record (notably in a 2020 GQ interview) about his disappointment with how the series treated his character; Finn was set up to be a leading man, and was sidelined for what appeared to be racism-based reasons. Boyega was also off-put by Disney's habit of micromanaging "Star Wars," feeling that every one of the franchise's actors ran the risk of being roped into "Star Wars" projects exclusively. "You ain't going to Disney+ me," he once laughingly said to Variety.
There hasn't been a "Star Wars" movie since 2019, as Disney+ kind of killed their Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs. The theatrical market was oversaturated, audiences didn't respond terribly well...
There hasn't been a "Star Wars" movie since 2019, as Disney+ kind of killed their Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs. The theatrical market was oversaturated, audiences didn't respond terribly well...
- 6/2/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Star Wars franchise has come a long way from just being another fantasy world filled with fictional characters set in fictional lands. It is a world of fiction yet one that has deep emotional themes of friendship, love, hope, courage, and more. A fictional world yet deeply rooted in reality, there are several memorable events that fans have come to deeply resonate with.
The Star Wars franchise. | PC: StarWars.com.
While most such scenes can be attributed to the writers or directors, some scenes came to life thanks to the artistic creativity and emotional understanding of the actors. One scene, in particular, involving Tom Rose’s Admiral Ackbar in The Return of the Jedi happened because the actor refused to have the director have his way, which led to Richard Marquand losing his cool.
When Tim Rose Refused to Film One Star Wars Scene
Actor Tim Rose [PC: nm5640306 autoGage Skidmore...
The Star Wars franchise. | PC: StarWars.com.
While most such scenes can be attributed to the writers or directors, some scenes came to life thanks to the artistic creativity and emotional understanding of the actors. One scene, in particular, involving Tom Rose’s Admiral Ackbar in The Return of the Jedi happened because the actor refused to have the director have his way, which led to Richard Marquand losing his cool.
When Tim Rose Refused to Film One Star Wars Scene
Actor Tim Rose [PC: nm5640306 autoGage Skidmore...
- 6/2/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
Return of the Jedi marked the conclusion of the original trilogy of Star Wars films. Richard Marquand was in the director’s chair as the third installment in the franchise brought Luke Skywalker’s fight against the Empire to a conclusion, ending the trilogy on a happy note. However, years later franchise spearhead George Lucas revived the saga for the prequel trilogy.
Return of the Jedi directed by Marquand concluded the original Star Wars trilogy (Credit: Lucasfilm).
During an interview conducted years before the prequel trilogy premiered and polarized fans across the globe, Marquand put his hat in the ring to helm the preludes. Marquand expressed an interest in helming the prequels alongside Lucas’ close friend Steven Spielberg. Here is what Marquand had to say about his desire to direct the infamous Star Wars prequels.
Return of the Jedi Director Richard Marquand Wanted to Direct the Star Wars Prequels Alongside...
Return of the Jedi directed by Marquand concluded the original Star Wars trilogy (Credit: Lucasfilm).
During an interview conducted years before the prequel trilogy premiered and polarized fans across the globe, Marquand put his hat in the ring to helm the preludes. Marquand expressed an interest in helming the prequels alongside Lucas’ close friend Steven Spielberg. Here is what Marquand had to say about his desire to direct the infamous Star Wars prequels.
Return of the Jedi Director Richard Marquand Wanted to Direct the Star Wars Prequels Alongside...
- 6/1/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Richard Marquand directed Return of the Jedi, the final installment in George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy. However, he sadly passed away less than four years after the film’s release. A new unpublished interview conducted with Marquand before his passing was later released on the eve of the film’s 30th anniversary.
Richard Marquand directed 1984’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Credit: Lucasfilm).
During the interview, Marquand spoke about the experience of directing a Star Wars movie. At the same time, the director also revealed the character he had the hardest time working with, and it was none other than the fan-favorite droid R2-D2. Here is what Marquand had to say about directing the droid in Return of the Jedi and why it was challenging.
Return of the Jedi Director Richard Marquand Talks Working With R2-D2
Return of the Jedi marks the final entry in the...
Richard Marquand directed 1984’s Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Credit: Lucasfilm).
During the interview, Marquand spoke about the experience of directing a Star Wars movie. At the same time, the director also revealed the character he had the hardest time working with, and it was none other than the fan-favorite droid R2-D2. Here is what Marquand had to say about directing the droid in Return of the Jedi and why it was challenging.
Return of the Jedi Director Richard Marquand Talks Working With R2-D2
Return of the Jedi marks the final entry in the...
- 6/1/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
R2-D2 is a curious character in "Star Wars" lore. It's a three-foot-tall trashcan-shaped high-tech utility knife on wheels, most often used as a navigational computer (it can be plugged into the navigational systems of small spacecraft), and only communicating using a series of beeps and computerized chirping noises. Other characters talk to R2-D2 as if it's a human being, and indeed, some of its computer language sounds a little bit like a human voice, but one might be able to question if R2-D2 possesses consciousness.
R2's sounds were provided by long-term "Star Wars" sound designer and editor Ben Burtt, and in multiple "Star Wars" films, actor Kenny Baker operated R2's moving parts from within. The human touch leads many to rest assured that R2 is indeed a conscious being with feelings and memories beyond mere computational storage. R2's consciousness was reinforced in the 1985 animated TV series "Droids,...
R2's sounds were provided by long-term "Star Wars" sound designer and editor Ben Burtt, and in multiple "Star Wars" films, actor Kenny Baker operated R2's moving parts from within. The human touch leads many to rest assured that R2 is indeed a conscious being with feelings and memories beyond mere computational storage. R2's consciousness was reinforced in the 1985 animated TV series "Droids,...
- 5/28/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are the Hollywood duo who have had a significant cultural impact with their creative partnership on franchises like Indiana Jones. After the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucas reportedly wanted to continue their collaborative journey with the third installment in the epic space opera, Return of the Jedi.
Return of the Jedi (image credit: LucasFilm)
Lucas had stepped away from the director’s chair after Episode I – A New Hope. After Irvin Kershner helmed the sequel, he sought Spielberg with the offer to direct the third installment of his epic space opera. However, his plans did not come to fruition due to Lucas’ feud and Spielberg’s association with the Directors Guild of America.
Steven Spielberg Could Not Direct Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Following their successful collaboration on Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode VI seemed like an...
Return of the Jedi (image credit: LucasFilm)
Lucas had stepped away from the director’s chair after Episode I – A New Hope. After Irvin Kershner helmed the sequel, he sought Spielberg with the offer to direct the third installment of his epic space opera. However, his plans did not come to fruition due to Lucas’ feud and Spielberg’s association with the Directors Guild of America.
Steven Spielberg Could Not Direct Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
Following their successful collaboration on Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars: Episode VI seemed like an...
- 5/27/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
George Lucas vetted several options before roping in Richard Marquand to helm Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Some directors were not interested in directing Lucas’s epic space film, while the creator rejected a few others. One of the directors whom Lucas didn’t want for the film was the Basic Instinct director Paul Verhoeven.
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in a still from George Lucas’s Return of the Jedi | Lucasfilm Ltd.
While he was a director with a vision, Verhoeven was known for including graphic scenes depicting violence and s*xual content in his films. Lucas wasn’t impressed by these scenes in one of the director’s films and decided to look for another director.
George Lucas Didn’t Want Paul Verhoeven To Direct Return Of The Jedi
Paul Verhoeven on the sets of Elle | Sbs Productions
Paul Verhoeven worked in the Dutch...
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher in a still from George Lucas’s Return of the Jedi | Lucasfilm Ltd.
While he was a director with a vision, Verhoeven was known for including graphic scenes depicting violence and s*xual content in his films. Lucas wasn’t impressed by these scenes in one of the director’s films and decided to look for another director.
George Lucas Didn’t Want Paul Verhoeven To Direct Return Of The Jedi
Paul Verhoeven on the sets of Elle | Sbs Productions
Paul Verhoeven worked in the Dutch...
- 5/22/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
The Star Wars franchise is one of the highest-grossing franchises of all time and has spawned multiple films, shows, animated series, and comic books. The Galaxies created by George Lucas changed pop culture as well as blockbuster filmmaking since the first film was released in 1977. The film earned $775 million against a budget of $11 million.
While Lucas directed the first film in the original trilogy, he wanted to take more of a creative producer role in subsequent films of the original trilogy. The Empire Strikes Back was helmed by Irvin Kershner while Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand. However, Lucas reportedly first had David Lynch in mind for the latter.
David Lynch Rejected The Opportunity To Direct A Star Wars Movie George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Full Bodied Productions
George Lucas’ Star Wars was and still is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and many filmmakers would give...
While Lucas directed the first film in the original trilogy, he wanted to take more of a creative producer role in subsequent films of the original trilogy. The Empire Strikes Back was helmed by Irvin Kershner while Return of the Jedi was directed by Richard Marquand. However, Lucas reportedly first had David Lynch in mind for the latter.
David Lynch Rejected The Opportunity To Direct A Star Wars Movie George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Full Bodied Productions
George Lucas’ Star Wars was and still is one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and many filmmakers would give...
- 5/20/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
George Lucas directed 1977’s Star Wars, which set up the popular space-opera franchise that is going strong even today. Lucas followed up the original with two sequels, which improved on the formula of the first film while delivering an epic sci-fi fantasy and emotional drama. However, Lucas stepped back from the director’s chair for the latter two installments.
George Lucas did not return to direct The Empire Strike Back and its sequel.
In an interview, Lucas was asked about whether stepping away from directing the movies impacted the final product. In response, Lucas had a surprising answer, explaining how the movies would have differed if he had taken on the directorial responsibility. Here is everything you need to know about how Lucas feels about not directing the sequels to his original 1977 film.
George Lucas Answers Whether the Star Wars Movies Would’ve Been Different If He Directed
George Lucas...
George Lucas did not return to direct The Empire Strike Back and its sequel.
In an interview, Lucas was asked about whether stepping away from directing the movies impacted the final product. In response, Lucas had a surprising answer, explaining how the movies would have differed if he had taken on the directorial responsibility. Here is everything you need to know about how Lucas feels about not directing the sequels to his original 1977 film.
George Lucas Answers Whether the Star Wars Movies Would’ve Been Different If He Directed
George Lucas...
- 5/8/2024
- by Pratik Handore
- FandomWire
Being as humongous and intricate as it is, the Star Wars franchise has had several plotholes that continue to confuse fans. From the Galaxy forgetting the Jedi to Palpatine’s secret horde of superweapons, there are several instances and events that remain unsolved. And one of the biggest plotholes is the relationship between Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker in the first film.
Leia and Luke in the original Star Wars trilogy
From their incestuous kiss to their alleged romantic trope, the misunderstanding of the two being romantically involved was also aided by John Williams’ romantic musical score. And the legendary composer solely blames George Lucas for his mistake.
John Williams’ Star Wars Mistake Was All Because of George Lucas
Star Wars’ composer, John Williams (Image: YouTube | Stephan Aubé)
George Lucas‘ first Star Wars movie was more of a gamble, with no expectations that it would even be a hit let...
Leia and Luke in the original Star Wars trilogy
From their incestuous kiss to their alleged romantic trope, the misunderstanding of the two being romantically involved was also aided by John Williams’ romantic musical score. And the legendary composer solely blames George Lucas for his mistake.
John Williams’ Star Wars Mistake Was All Because of George Lucas
Star Wars’ composer, John Williams (Image: YouTube | Stephan Aubé)
George Lucas‘ first Star Wars movie was more of a gamble, with no expectations that it would even be a hit let...
- 5/2/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
It's fun going back to watch Irvin Kershner's 1980 sci-fi epic "The Empire Strikes Back," knowing what twists would come in subsequent sequels. In "Empire," Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) became angry at Han Solo (Harrison Ford), a man Leia knew was attracted to her. To make Han jealous, Leia brazenly grabs a nearby Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and kisses him full on the mouth. Luke knows that Leia was only playing a game, but was happy to be kissed. Han stormed out of the room, outraged. Luke smiled in smug satisfaction.
In Richard Marquand's 1983 follow-up film "Return of the Jedi," it would be revealed that Luke and Leia were siblings. This was clearly a last-minute plot twist, meant to parallel the "surprise" from "Empire" that the villainous Darth Vader was actually Luke Skywalker's father. The "Jedi" twist wasn't thought out, however, as it retroactively incorporated into "Star Wars" an...
In Richard Marquand's 1983 follow-up film "Return of the Jedi," it would be revealed that Luke and Leia were siblings. This was clearly a last-minute plot twist, meant to parallel the "surprise" from "Empire" that the villainous Darth Vader was actually Luke Skywalker's father. The "Jedi" twist wasn't thought out, however, as it retroactively incorporated into "Star Wars" an...
- 3/19/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In George Lucas' 1977 sci-fi flick "Star Wars," there is a scene wherein a cadre of Nazi-like bad guys, in the employ of the evil Empire, gather around a boardroom table and mention that the mysterious off-screen Emperor has dissolved the senate and taken absolute control. The military generals are outraged, wondering how the Empire might survive without a bureaucracy in place. In Irvin Kirshner's 1980 sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," it's established that Darth Vader (David Prowse), a mysterious masked warlock, was actually the Emperor's right-hand man, indicating that the Emperor retains control of the Empire through the sheer force of his villainy.
In "The Empire Strikes Back," the Emperor appeared in holographic form to have a powwow with Darth Vader and plan his next move. In the original cut of the movie, the Emperor was played on screen by actress Marjorie Eaton, outfitted with eerie, alien eyeballs. Eaton was a long-working character performer in Hollywood,...
In "The Empire Strikes Back," the Emperor appeared in holographic form to have a powwow with Darth Vader and plan his next move. In the original cut of the movie, the Emperor was played on screen by actress Marjorie Eaton, outfitted with eerie, alien eyeballs. Eaton was a long-working character performer in Hollywood,...
- 3/2/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
During the climax of Richard Marquand's 1983 film "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," the evil Empire's second Death Star was destroyed by the Rebel Army, the ghoulish Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) was killed, and his right-hand warlock Darth Vader (David Prowse) died in the conflagration. It seemed that evil had been vanquished and that everything was well in the galaxy. For many, many years, fans didn't see what happened after that film, presumably because a new era of peace had begun and the Star Wars were over.
It wasn't until the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015 that we learned the dark truth. It seems the universe of "Star Wars" can't help but creep back slowly toward fascism with every generation. Decades after the fall of the Empire, the New Order rose in its place, now even more Nazi-like than ever. Stormtroopers were back,...
It wasn't until the release of J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015 that we learned the dark truth. It seems the universe of "Star Wars" can't help but creep back slowly toward fascism with every generation. Decades after the fall of the Empire, the New Order rose in its place, now even more Nazi-like than ever. Stormtroopers were back,...
- 2/11/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
While the 2020s have been a verifiable graveyard for potential Star Wars films that never made it beyond the development stage, directors passing through without seeing their ideas come to fruition isn’t exactly a new phenomenon over at Lucasfilm.
Even before Disney took the reins of the studio, the galaxy far, far away saw a wide variety of potential directors enter its orbit over the years. From Return of the Jedi to the present day, there are quite a few well-known directors who came close to making their mark on this universe but for one reason or other never actually hit lightspeed.
Here are the many directors who almost made Star Wars movies…
David Lynch – Return of the Jedi
George Lucas offered several directors the opportunity to helm the final film of the Original Trilogy before settling on Richard Marquand. One of Lucas’ top choices at the time was David Lynch,...
Even before Disney took the reins of the studio, the galaxy far, far away saw a wide variety of potential directors enter its orbit over the years. From Return of the Jedi to the present day, there are quite a few well-known directors who came close to making their mark on this universe but for one reason or other never actually hit lightspeed.
Here are the many directors who almost made Star Wars movies…
David Lynch – Return of the Jedi
George Lucas offered several directors the opportunity to helm the final film of the Original Trilogy before settling on Richard Marquand. One of Lucas’ top choices at the time was David Lynch,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Brynnaarens
- Den of Geek
Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is a two-time Oscar winner and the first female director of a Star Wars film.
Having an iconic franchise in her hands thrills the filmmaker as she says it was “about time” a woman took the reigns of a project in the Star Wars universe.
“I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special,” Obaid-Chinoy told CNN. “We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.”
George Lucas created Star Wars, with the first film released in 1977. Following Lucas, only male directors have helmed the franchise, like Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand and J.J. Abrams. Standalone movies in the same universe have also been directed by men like Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Having an iconic franchise in her hands thrills the filmmaker as she says it was “about time” a woman took the reigns of a project in the Star Wars universe.
“I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special,” Obaid-Chinoy told CNN. “We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.”
George Lucas created Star Wars, with the first film released in 1977. Following Lucas, only male directors have helmed the franchise, like Irvin Kershner, Richard Marquand and J.J. Abrams. Standalone movies in the same universe have also been directed by men like Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story.
- 1/3/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Daisy Ridley’s Rey is coming back to the big screen in a new “Star Wars” movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (“Ms. Marvel”) and written by Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”). The film makes Obaid-Chinoy the first woman and first person of color to direct a “Star Wars” feature film. Previous film directors in the franchise include original creator George Lucas, Irvin Kershner (“Empire Strikes Back”), Richard Marquand (“Return of the Jedi”), J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson (“The Last Jedi”). While “Star Wars” television projects have featured female directors, most notably Deborah Chow, the movies have shut them out until now.
“I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special,” Obaid-Chinoy recently told CNN. “We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.
“I’m very thrilled about the project because I feel what we’re about to create is something very special,” Obaid-Chinoy recently told CNN. “We’re in 2024 now, and it’s about time that we had a woman come forward to shape a story in a galaxy far, far away.
- 1/2/2024
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
BFI IMAX has announced an incredibly rare chance to experience ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – New Hope, ‘Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Star Wars Episode Vi: Return Of The Jedi’ on the UK’s largest screen this December.
The special editions of these beloved films will play for an extremely limited time, with all three shown back-to-back on both Friday 29 and Saturday 30 December before they return to the vault indefinitely. Rarely shown in cinemas, this is an unmissable chance to see the sci-fi trilogy that changed the face of Hollywood on BFI IMAX’s 65-foot screen with 12-channel immersive sound. These must-see screenings of the original Star Wars trilogy mark the culmination of the four-month-long BFI IMAX sci-fi celebration, Sci-fIMAX: Into the Future, Now!
Tickets will be on sale here Now.
Also in news – George Clooney & Adam Sandler team for Noah Baumbach movie
The trilogy begins with...
The special editions of these beloved films will play for an extremely limited time, with all three shown back-to-back on both Friday 29 and Saturday 30 December before they return to the vault indefinitely. Rarely shown in cinemas, this is an unmissable chance to see the sci-fi trilogy that changed the face of Hollywood on BFI IMAX’s 65-foot screen with 12-channel immersive sound. These must-see screenings of the original Star Wars trilogy mark the culmination of the four-month-long BFI IMAX sci-fi celebration, Sci-fIMAX: Into the Future, Now!
Tickets will be on sale here Now.
Also in news – George Clooney & Adam Sandler team for Noah Baumbach movie
The trilogy begins with...
- 12/19/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
When the "Star Wars" special editions were released in theaters beginning in 1997, there were a lot of upset fans. While George Lucas was able to realize more of his vision for the original trilogy with new technology in the special effects realm, many people wished he'd left them the way they were. I mean, there was a reason they became so popular without the new additions. Things seemed shoved in there and overdone. Sure, there were great moments, like watching all the planets celebrate the fall of the Empire, but a lot of it was bantha poodoo.
One thing that was actually cool — and I remember thinking this the day I saw the "Return of the Jedi" special edition — was the fact that Jabba the Hutt's enslaved Twi'lek dancer Oola (Femi Taylor) got more to do. I do not like that stupid song in the scene where she dances,...
One thing that was actually cool — and I remember thinking this the day I saw the "Return of the Jedi" special edition — was the fact that Jabba the Hutt's enslaved Twi'lek dancer Oola (Femi Taylor) got more to do. I do not like that stupid song in the scene where she dances,...
- 12/8/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
While picking up his “pen” for a first-person essay in Esquire magazine, Deadpool 3 director Shawn Levy revealed he’d constructed an elaborate tribute to Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi for the upcoming superhero threequel. According to Levy, he’s recreated pivotal scenes from the Richard Marquand-directed classic in Deadpool 3, with an intense attention to detail.
“I vividly remember the scene in which Luke is hiding from Vader in the Emperor’s room and Vader gives the speech that ends with ‘If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps your sister will,'” Levy wrote in his guest feature for Esquire. “It was dead quiet [in the theater]. Pin-drop silence. Suddenly Vader has pushed the wrong button. Luke comes screaming out of the shadows and just goes to town in a light saber battle against Vader. The way that felt: The forty seconds of stillness from the audience,...
“I vividly remember the scene in which Luke is hiding from Vader in the Emperor’s room and Vader gives the speech that ends with ‘If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps your sister will,'” Levy wrote in his guest feature for Esquire. “It was dead quiet [in the theater]. Pin-drop silence. Suddenly Vader has pushed the wrong button. Luke comes screaming out of the shadows and just goes to town in a light saber battle against Vader. The way that felt: The forty seconds of stillness from the audience,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Although it's now seen as "Episode VI" in an ever-expanding multimedia saga, 1983's "Return of the Jedi," when it was made and first released, was considered to be the grand conclusion to the "Star Wars" Original Trilogy.
As such, there is a wealth of material there to mull over within the film, material that's only become more interesting since the movie was released. Take the opening act, for instance, set in and around the Hutt gangster Jabba's sail barge and the rescue of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from it via an intricate, multi-step plan seemingly known only to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Jabba's penchant for capturing an attractive female of any species, chaining her to himself and using her for his amusement is appropriate for such a (literally) slimy character, yet becomes problematic when he does it to Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).
Like most subtextual issues in media,...
As such, there is a wealth of material there to mull over within the film, material that's only become more interesting since the movie was released. Take the opening act, for instance, set in and around the Hutt gangster Jabba's sail barge and the rescue of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from it via an intricate, multi-step plan seemingly known only to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Jabba's penchant for capturing an attractive female of any species, chaining her to himself and using her for his amusement is appropriate for such a (literally) slimy character, yet becomes problematic when he does it to Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher).
Like most subtextual issues in media,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Most actors want to do their own stunts. Sometimes it's an ego thing, sometimes it's because they want moviegoers to see their face during a wild stunt to help with audience emersion, and sometimes it's a combination of the two. The younger the actor is, the more they're likely to push to do as much on camera as possible, and that was certainly the case for Mark Hamill when he was making what, at the time, was thought to be the final "Star Wars" movie to feature Luke Skywalker, "Return of the Jedi."
During an interview for John Phillip Peecher's "Star Wars -- The Making Of Return Of The Jedi" in 1983, director Richard Marquand revealed there were two notable moments during production when he forced a stunt double to take Hamill's place. One of them was during the shoot in the desert near Yuma, Arizona, for the scene where Luke...
During an interview for John Phillip Peecher's "Star Wars -- The Making Of Return Of The Jedi" in 1983, director Richard Marquand revealed there were two notable moments during production when he forced a stunt double to take Hamill's place. One of them was during the shoot in the desert near Yuma, Arizona, for the scene where Luke...
- 10/9/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for "Star Wars: Ahsoka" episode 6 — "Far, Far Away"
In this episode of "Ahsoka," the Eye of Scion makes its way to Peridea, the fabled homeland of Witches of Dathomir and the graveyard of the purrgil an entire galaxy away. The Great Mother, a witch of Dathomir, greets Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto), Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). They were sending dreams and messages to Morgan Elsbeth to help her find her way to this planet and rescue Thrawn from his exile. Grand Admiral Thrawn arrives with great pomp aboard his Star Destroyer, the Chimera. As per his deal with the witches, he is transferring cargo for them and this will take three days. In the meantime, Thrawn is willing to honor Baylan Skoll's agreement with Sabine Wren and gives her what she needs to search for Ezra in the wasteland of Peridea.
In this episode of "Ahsoka," the Eye of Scion makes its way to Peridea, the fabled homeland of Witches of Dathomir and the graveyard of the purrgil an entire galaxy away. The Great Mother, a witch of Dathomir, greets Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto), Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson), Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), and Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo). They were sending dreams and messages to Morgan Elsbeth to help her find her way to this planet and rescue Thrawn from his exile. Grand Admiral Thrawn arrives with great pomp aboard his Star Destroyer, the Chimera. As per his deal with the witches, he is transferring cargo for them and this will take three days. In the meantime, Thrawn is willing to honor Baylan Skoll's agreement with Sabine Wren and gives her what she needs to search for Ezra in the wasteland of Peridea.
- 9/20/2023
- by Bryan Young
- Slash Film
Most film franchises seem to insist on the escalation of stakes. The first Avengers film centered around saving New York from a horde of aliens; "Infinity War" focused on protecting the entire known universe. This desire to raise the stakes with each new entry often backfires, like when the "X-Men" prequel movies centered their third film on another sprawling end-of-the-world storyline, after two movies in a row where the entire world was at stake. "X-Men: Apocalypse" was the perfect opportunity for a breezier, more slice-of-life storyline, but it's not what fans got.
In the original draft of "The Empire Strikes Back," Luke's final confrontation with Darth Vader and The Emperor was originally supposed to abide by this same rule. For their rematch in the climax of the next film, Director Richard Marquand's first plan was to make the scene "bigger than the fight in 'Empire,'" as he explained...
In the original draft of "The Empire Strikes Back," Luke's final confrontation with Darth Vader and The Emperor was originally supposed to abide by this same rule. For their rematch in the climax of the next film, Director Richard Marquand's first plan was to make the scene "bigger than the fight in 'Empire,'" as he explained...
- 9/10/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Actor Warwick Davis, wearing a mask and a full-body teddy bear costume, appeared as Wicket the Ewok in Richard Marquand's 1983 sci-fi flick "Return of the Jedi." Davis was only 12 years old at the time, but it began a long and lucrative association with "Star Wars" for the actor, leading Davis to appear in multiple installations of the franchise since.
In addition to playing Wicket in "Jedi" and the follow-up TV movies "Caravan of Courage" and "The Battle for Endor," Davis played three roles in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," including Weazal, Wald, and Yoda (as a stand-in). He also played Wollivan in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Weeteef Cyu-Bee in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," Wodibin in "The Last Jedi," Weazel again in "Solo" (as well as several droids), and Wizzich Mozzer in "The Rise of Skywalker." There seems to be a joke that Davis...
In addition to playing Wicket in "Jedi" and the follow-up TV movies "Caravan of Courage" and "The Battle for Endor," Davis played three roles in "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," including Weazal, Wald, and Yoda (as a stand-in). He also played Wollivan in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," Weeteef Cyu-Bee in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," Wodibin in "The Last Jedi," Weazel again in "Solo" (as well as several droids), and Wizzich Mozzer in "The Rise of Skywalker." There seems to be a joke that Davis...
- 7/29/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
“Star Wars” is one of the biggest franchises of all time and has welcomed multiple generations to a galaxy far, far away for 45 years. George Lucas’ groundbreaking vision, which began all the way back in 1977 with “A New Hope,” changed the movie industry forever and, with that, made a mark on the Academy Awards that year with a Best Picture nomination. However, the relationship between “Star Wars” and the Oscars hasn’t always been as lovable as Han Solo and Chewie. In fact, there’s often been a touch of Vader-Luke in the conflicted dynamic between the two institutions. Here’s a breakdown of the history of every “Star Wars” movie at the Academy Awards, ranked in terms of Oscars success.
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
“A New Hope” (1977)
Dir: George Lucas
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
“Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jacob Sarkisian
- Gold Derby
One of the great things about the movies we love is that they continue to evolve the more we watch them. You may notice details you hadn’t before; perhaps certain elements that flew under the radar in previous viewings now stand out more. The more you know the sights and sounds of the picture, the more you can quote the dialogue as the characters say it, the closer your relationship with it becomes.
That relationship can change over time too. Movies that you still hold affection for might seem a little off, a little dated, not quite as remarkable as they once were. The rose-covered glasses might slide down, if just a little. You still love the movie, but not in the same way you once did. Of course, all this preamble is my way of revisiting Return of the Jedi, the final film in George Lucas’ ambitious “Star Wars” trilogy.
That relationship can change over time too. Movies that you still hold affection for might seem a little off, a little dated, not quite as remarkable as they once were. The rose-covered glasses might slide down, if just a little. You still love the movie, but not in the same way you once did. Of course, all this preamble is my way of revisiting Return of the Jedi, the final film in George Lucas’ ambitious “Star Wars” trilogy.
- 7/11/2023
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
It is, by almost any measure, impossible to quantify just how much of an impact "Star Wars" had on popular culture when George Lucas introduced his galaxy to the masses in 1977. I myself have a mother who saw the original 17 times in a theater that summer. It was the biggest movie of all time and took people by absolute surprise. Sequels were no guarantee back then but, in this case, Lucas had the chance to finish what he started, releasing "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980, which left audiences with a pretty massive cliffhanger. All would be resolved in the summer of '83 when "Return of the Jedi" brought the original trilogy to a close.
"Episode VI" had a lot to accomplish, resolving...
It is, by almost any measure, impossible to quantify just how much of an impact "Star Wars" had on popular culture when George Lucas introduced his galaxy to the masses in 1977. I myself have a mother who saw the original 17 times in a theater that summer. It was the biggest movie of all time and took people by absolute surprise. Sequels were no guarantee back then but, in this case, Lucas had the chance to finish what he started, releasing "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980, which left audiences with a pretty massive cliffhanger. All would be resolved in the summer of '83 when "Return of the Jedi" brought the original trilogy to a close.
"Episode VI" had a lot to accomplish, resolving...
- 5/27/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
In George Lucas' 1977 film "Star Wars," a military-run, fascist Empire rules the galaxy and it's up to a scrappy group of Rebels to attack them and destroy their ultimate weapon: a moon-sized space station capable of exploding entire planets with a single shot (known as the Death Star). In "Star Wars," the highest-ranking Empire official audiences see is Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing), a stern commanding officer who orders many to their deaths and who commands an eerie masked space wizard named Darth Vader. At one point, Tarkin mentions that the Empire has an Emperor, although we never actually see him in the flesh.
In the 1980 sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," it is revealed that Darth Vader was always a high-ranking individual in the Empire, as we now see him commanding entire Star Destroyers. It is also revealed that Vader answers directly to the mysterious Emperor, who only appears in the form of a hologram.
In the 1980 sequel "The Empire Strikes Back," it is revealed that Darth Vader was always a high-ranking individual in the Empire, as we now see him commanding entire Star Destroyers. It is also revealed that Vader answers directly to the mysterious Emperor, who only appears in the form of a hologram.
- 5/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
A phenomenon familiar to those in England, but perhaps obscure to those elsewhere, is the notion of the Page Three Girl. In 1970, the lascivious supermarket tabloid The Sun, a paper run by Rupert Murdoch, began running photographs of up-and-coming models, usually topless, on page three. The photos became so popular that other tabloids like the Daily Mirror and the Daily Star followed suit. The models featured became known as Page Three Girls, and some of them became minor celebrities for their spreads. Page Three Girls, of course, sparked an enormous amount of controversy. From this author's own childhood recollections, some tried to pass off the topless pictures phenomenon as a bit of harmless, sexy fun folded into a newspaper that was already completely lacking in credibility anyway. Others objected to the outwardly prurient nature of the nudie pictures, pointing to them as a prime example of widespread sexism and the commodification of women's bodies.
- 5/25/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Tentpole filmmaking is a feat that requires the clicking together of many moving pieces. All of the departments — set design, costumes, locations, etc. — must blend together in pre-production to ensure the rest of the production runs as smoothly as possible. This becomes quite a challenge when there isn't a finished screenplay.
Contrary to the current posturing of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, screenwriters are the most essential element of every movie. Without them, there is no dialogue and no story. This is a stupefyingly obvious fact, but every time studios, networks and, now, streamers have to reckon with fairly compensating the people who generate their precious "content," they plead poverty and downplay the contributions of their most essential workers.
You shouldn't need an example to drive this home, but film history is riddled with them. Take, for instance, "Star Wars: Episode VI — The Return of the Jedi,...
Contrary to the current posturing of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, screenwriters are the most essential element of every movie. Without them, there is no dialogue and no story. This is a stupefyingly obvious fact, but every time studios, networks and, now, streamers have to reckon with fairly compensating the people who generate their precious "content," they plead poverty and downplay the contributions of their most essential workers.
You shouldn't need an example to drive this home, but film history is riddled with them. Take, for instance, "Star Wars: Episode VI — The Return of the Jedi,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The opening act of Richard Marquand's 1983 sci-fantasy epic "Return of the Jedi," a film set in the universe of the animated series "Droids," takes place on the desert planet of Tatooine. While there, the stalwart heroes Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), sneak into the criminal palace of the evil crime lord Jabba the Hutt to rescue their imprisoned friend, Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Their plan isn't entirely clear, sadly, and they are all eventually caught. This leads to a scene out in the desert where Jabba forces them to walk the plank into the waiting open mouth of an enormous desert creature called a Sarlacc. Thanks to their fighting acumen, our heroes kill off the bad guys, escape in a jet, and blow up Jabba's desert barge for good measure.
According to Marcus Hearn's 2005 book "The Cinema of George Lucas,...
According to Marcus Hearn's 2005 book "The Cinema of George Lucas,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Though "The Empire Strikes Back" is often regarded now as the best "Star Wars" film, the surprising runner-up in our poll two years ago was "Return of the Jedi," which is celebrating its 40th anniversary today. That "Jedi" should make such a strong showing was surprising if only because the film tends to take a slight critical drubbing in comparison to "Empire" and the first "Star Wars" movie, now known as "A New Hope."
With "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back," directors George Lucas and Irvin Kershner each carved out a distinct tone and vision for what the original "Star Wars" trilogy could be. Still, the contemporary love for "Empire" doesn't necessarily align with the immediate reaction audiences had to it back in the day. Last year, the Vice TV docuseries "Icons Unearthed: Star Wars" spliced in footage of one '80s fan exiting the theater, saying, "It could've been a better ending,...
With "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back," directors George Lucas and Irvin Kershner each carved out a distinct tone and vision for what the original "Star Wars" trilogy could be. Still, the contemporary love for "Empire" doesn't necessarily align with the immediate reaction audiences had to it back in the day. Last year, the Vice TV docuseries "Icons Unearthed: Star Wars" spliced in footage of one '80s fan exiting the theater, saying, "It could've been a better ending,...
- 5/25/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
With the release of "Star Wars" in 1977, it quickly became clear that filmmaker George Lucas was changing the way Hollywood worked on numerous levels, from the types of films being developed to the proliferation of new special effects techniques to the way movies were marketed and merchandised to what series meant for kids could do.
Yet Lucas' influence didn't stop with merely one film — he continued to innovate and push the envelope throughout his career, from shepherding the creation of the Thx sound system to helping develop what would become Pixar to pioneering the usage of non-linear editing, all of which are staples of the film industry in 2023.
The changes to filmmaking that Lucas helped usher in aren't all as seismic as those examples, however. Around the release of "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980, Lucas publicly left the Director's Guild of America over a dispute regarding the film's on-screen credit structure and usage.
Yet Lucas' influence didn't stop with merely one film — he continued to innovate and push the envelope throughout his career, from shepherding the creation of the Thx sound system to helping develop what would become Pixar to pioneering the usage of non-linear editing, all of which are staples of the film industry in 2023.
The changes to filmmaking that Lucas helped usher in aren't all as seismic as those examples, however. Around the release of "The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980, Lucas publicly left the Director's Guild of America over a dispute regarding the film's on-screen credit structure and usage.
- 5/7/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
/Film has written about conlangs -- or constructed languages -- several times in the past. Hardcore "Avatar" fans may recall that language Professor Paul Frommer helped construct the Na'vi language for James Cameron's franchise. (Frommer was also behind the Barsoomian language heard in "John Carter.") Additionally, any good Trekkie will definitely be able to name Marc Okrand, the author of the extensive Klingon language, perhaps the most widely spoken of all conlangs. And, of course, readers of "Lord of the Rings" likely know that J.R.R. Tolkien based Quenya, his fictional Elf language, on the structure and syntax of Finnish. Space aliens and fantasy cultures have long allowed linguists to play around.
Although it may not be as celebrated or slavishly structured as Klingon or Dothraki (authored by David J. Peterson), Star Wars has its own conlang: Ewok. In 1982, during the production of the soon-to-be-hit film "Return of the Jedi,...
Although it may not be as celebrated or slavishly structured as Klingon or Dothraki (authored by David J. Peterson), Star Wars has its own conlang: Ewok. In 1982, during the production of the soon-to-be-hit film "Return of the Jedi,...
- 5/2/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Jabba the Hutt defines "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." A massive alien creature puppet made by staff who cut their teeth on "The Dark Crystal," he took "four tons of clay" to produce (per J.W. Rinzler's "The Making of Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi") and was barely finished in time for the film. Puppeteer Toby Philpott called him "probably the most expensive puppet that's ever been made" in the Jabba-centric documentary "Slimy Piece of Worm-Ridden Filth." His Tatooine palace set saw the "Star Wars" production staff aiming to outdo the famous Cantina scene in "A New Hope." So garish was his environs that the production staff paid to obtain rare frogs for the set, so that Jabba could pretend to eat plastic versions of them.
To some, Jabba was an inconvenience. To others, he was an inspiration. But perhaps nobody else on set had a relationship...
To some, Jabba was an inconvenience. To others, he was an inspiration. But perhaps nobody else on set had a relationship...
- 4/22/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
During a retrospective panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, Disney confirmed that "Return of the Jedi," the finale to the original "Star Wars" trilogy, will be returning to theaters for a limited run.
In the U.S., "Return of the Jedi" will play in theaters from April 28 to May 4 (aka Star Wars Day). The U.K. will enjoy a slightly shorter run from April 28 to May 1. This theatrical rerelease, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the film's original debut, was rumored earlier this year after the Dolby website listed the film as being available in theaters in late April.
It's likely that the 1997 Special Edition of "Return of the Jedi" will be the one screened; at 2017's Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy indicated there was no intention of restoring the original theatrical cuts. Out of respect for director George Lucas, who was responsible for the tinkering in the Special Editions,...
In the U.S., "Return of the Jedi" will play in theaters from April 28 to May 4 (aka Star Wars Day). The U.K. will enjoy a slightly shorter run from April 28 to May 1. This theatrical rerelease, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the film's original debut, was rumored earlier this year after the Dolby website listed the film as being available in theaters in late April.
It's likely that the 1997 Special Edition of "Return of the Jedi" will be the one screened; at 2017's Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy indicated there was no intention of restoring the original theatrical cuts. Out of respect for director George Lucas, who was responsible for the tinkering in the Special Editions,...
- 4/8/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Richard Marquand's sci-fi blockbuster "Return of the Jedi" was released in theaters on May 25, 1983. It was the third or fourth film in its series, and was a clear sign that Hollywood had officially evolved away from the intense, heady, adult dramas that were in vogue throughout the 1970s. After "Return of the Jedi," high-concept, big-budget, mainstream sci-fi movies became a dominant trend, and kids of the 1980s were so deeply marked by the decade's genre entertainment that it's all still being remade and re-marketed to this day. This was the world "Return of the Jedi" wrought.
There were a few animated shows and two TV movies in 1984 and 1985, but there wouldn't be another "Star Wars" feature film until the release of "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" in May of 1999. Readers in their 40s will likely recall the period clearly. It was a time when the VHS market boomed,...
There were a few animated shows and two TV movies in 1984 and 1985, but there wouldn't be another "Star Wars" feature film until the release of "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace" in May of 1999. Readers in their 40s will likely recall the period clearly. It was a time when the VHS market boomed,...
- 3/19/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
There are two major, notable exterior locations in Richard Marquand's 1983 sci-fi romp "Return of the Jedi." In the early scenes of the film, the dashing pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford) must be rescued from a crime lord's desert palace where he has been frozen in stasis and hung on the wall as a trophy. The scene's desert exteriors were shot in Arizona, in a part of the desert called Buttercup Valley. In the climax of the desert scenes, a full-size floating skiff -- the pleasure barge of the evil Jabba the Hutt -- was blown up. To this day, one can visit the filming site and potentially find pieces of the barge, or of the Sarlacc, the film's pit-like desert monster.
The other notable location was the massive redwood forests located in Northern California. The "Jedi" locations were notable, as it was the first time a "Star Wars" movie...
The other notable location was the massive redwood forests located in Northern California. The "Jedi" locations were notable, as it was the first time a "Star Wars" movie...
- 2/15/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
As the middle chapter of George Lucas' original "Star Wars" trilogy (the "Ot"), "The Empire Strikes Back" was designed to leave moviegoers wanting more. Unlike the first movie, the sequel paid homage to the serialized cliffhanger style of storytelling that inspired the saga -- but quite unlike those Saturday matinee serials, the next installment wasn't a week away. When viewers walked out of "Episode V," they were facing a three-year wait for the trilogy's resolution.
And many of them were steamed.
Lucas played particularly rough with his newfound fanbase in "Empire." Darth Vader dished out a lightsaber whuppin' to the saga's Jedi-in-training protagonist, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), slashing off the youngster's hand and informing him that he is, in fact, his father. But Luke got off relatively easy compared to Harrison Ford's Han Solo. The interstellar rogue got placed in suspended animation via carbonite, and was ferried back to...
And many of them were steamed.
Lucas played particularly rough with his newfound fanbase in "Empire." Darth Vader dished out a lightsaber whuppin' to the saga's Jedi-in-training protagonist, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), slashing off the youngster's hand and informing him that he is, in fact, his father. But Luke got off relatively easy compared to Harrison Ford's Han Solo. The interstellar rogue got placed in suspended animation via carbonite, and was ferried back to...
- 2/13/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
One of the more common misconceptions about "Star Wars" is the idea that creator George Lucas directed and wrote the entire original trilogy. That idea leads people to wonder how the guy who created something as good as "The Empire Strikes Back" could later go on to make something so terrible with the prequels. How could Lucas' films have fallen so far in quality so quickly?
The answer, of course, is that it was Irvin Kershner who directed "Empire," and the screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. ("Return of the Jedi," meanwhile, was directed by Richard Marquand.) Lucas oversaw the production and provided the stories for 5 and 6, but as a whole, the "Star Wars" original trilogy seemed to work as well as it did because of Lucas' limited involvement. Even with the first film, which Lucas did write and direct, he was dealing with a lot of...
The answer, of course, is that it was Irvin Kershner who directed "Empire," and the screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. ("Return of the Jedi," meanwhile, was directed by Richard Marquand.) Lucas oversaw the production and provided the stories for 5 and 6, but as a whole, the "Star Wars" original trilogy seemed to work as well as it did because of Lucas' limited involvement. Even with the first film, which Lucas did write and direct, he was dealing with a lot of...
- 2/9/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
In the 1920s, Russian animator Władysław Starewicz, a.k.a. Lasislas Starevich, began experimenting with stop-motion animation techniques that would make the process look a little bit more natural. Traditionally for stop-motion, a doll, clay, or other plastic substance would be moved slightly, photographed, moved slightly again, and so on for 24 frames per second, creating the illusion of movement. The resulting animation takes a lot of painstaking work and a great deal of time, but it makes for an appealing style than allowed dolls and models to come to life. The issue Starevich had with stop-motion was that is possessed a "jerky," unnatural quality of movement. He combated this by moving his camera during the photography process to add a blur to the image. If an animated figure had the same photographic blur as a quick-moving human, Starevich figured, then the animated object would appear more real.
Thus, go-motion animation was born.
Thus, go-motion animation was born.
- 12/14/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
With the proliferation of Star Wars movies, video games, novels, and television shows, fans have seen all kinds of Force powers deployed by both Sith and Jedi. Did you know Force users could whip up storms? "Rebels" viewers do! How about using the Force as a passive physical shield? Baby Yoda can do it all day long.
The original trilogy left the impression that the Force operated by a certain set of unspoken rules, forging a connection with the universe that anyone could tap into and wield. That changed when the prequel movies introduced the midi-chlorians, making the Force something that's only available through genetic transmission. However, what matters is not who holds these powers, but how they're used. Making an enemy become so dizzy that they vomit might impress your date, but it's not necessarily an effective technique when you're battling a Sith lord, no matter how much Force lightning your lightsaber can absorb.
The original trilogy left the impression that the Force operated by a certain set of unspoken rules, forging a connection with the universe that anyone could tap into and wield. That changed when the prequel movies introduced the midi-chlorians, making the Force something that's only available through genetic transmission. However, what matters is not who holds these powers, but how they're used. Making an enemy become so dizzy that they vomit might impress your date, but it's not necessarily an effective technique when you're battling a Sith lord, no matter how much Force lightning your lightsaber can absorb.
- 12/9/2022
- by Mary Beth Ellis
- Slash Film
The character of Emperor Palpatine first appeared in Irvin Kershner's 1980 sci-fi film "The Empire Strikes Back." In that film, it was revealed that Darth Vader was no mere officer of the Empire, but right hand to its ruler. In a memorable scene, Darth Vader kneeled to an outsize hologram of the Emperor, who informed him that there was a great disturbance in the Force. The Emperor was played physically by actress Marjorie Eaton, who appeared in "Mary Poppins" as Miss Persimmon, and was voiced by British acting veteran Clive Revill.
In 1983, with the release of Richard Marquand's...
The post The Secrets Behind Ian McDiarmid's Transformation into Emperor Palpatine appeared first on /Film.
In 1983, with the release of Richard Marquand's...
The post The Secrets Behind Ian McDiarmid's Transformation into Emperor Palpatine appeared first on /Film.
- 8/3/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the early 1980s, around the time George Lucas and Richard Marquand were wrapping up “Return of the Jedi” at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, the British film industry entered a precipitous decline. As U.S. funding dried up following new tax rules and a pivot to television, fewer films were made in the U.K. than at any time since the beginning of World War I.
The golden era of 1960s and ’70s production — when Stanley Kubrick shot “2001: A Space Odyssey” at Shepperton Studios, Richard Donner took over Pinewood Studios for “Superman” and Lucas handpicked Elstree for “Star Wars” — was over.
“The British film industry hit rock bottom,” recalls Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission. “Most of our filmmakers had left to go to America. There was tumbleweed blowing through our studios.”
Four decades on, the landscape is unrecognizable. “[The U.K. is] the movie capital of the world right now,...
The golden era of 1960s and ’70s production — when Stanley Kubrick shot “2001: A Space Odyssey” at Shepperton Studios, Richard Donner took over Pinewood Studios for “Superman” and Lucas handpicked Elstree for “Star Wars” — was over.
“The British film industry hit rock bottom,” recalls Adrian Wootton, chief executive of Film London and the British Film Commission. “Most of our filmmakers had left to go to America. There was tumbleweed blowing through our studios.”
Four decades on, the landscape is unrecognizable. “[The U.K. is] the movie capital of the world right now,...
- 11/24/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Star Wars toys remain one of the venerable franchise’s most reliable metrics when it comes to assessing the enduring sustainability of its films and television shows, and also accurately identifies which characters continue to capture the imaginations of fans young and old alike. However, the miniaturized medium is occasionally used as a tribute to some of the franchise’s esteemed behind-the-scenes personnel. Indeed, Hasbro has just revealed that the latest recipient of this honor is none other than The Mandalorian’s Dave Filoni.
Amongst Hasbro’s reveals for its heralded PulseCon 2021 toy event was a Star Wars The Black Series 6” scale action figure for The Mandalorian‘s New Republic pilot, Trapper Wolf. To the layperson, the figure would appear to be just a generic representation of a body-mold-recycled Rebel pilot, which begs the question as to why it’s getting the deluxe treatment, sold for $29.99, which is well above...
Amongst Hasbro’s reveals for its heralded PulseCon 2021 toy event was a Star Wars The Black Series 6” scale action figure for The Mandalorian‘s New Republic pilot, Trapper Wolf. To the layperson, the figure would appear to be just a generic representation of a body-mold-recycled Rebel pilot, which begs the question as to why it’s getting the deluxe treatment, sold for $29.99, which is well above...
- 7/9/2021
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
The festival will also world premiere Tippett’s long-awaited personal project Mad God.
US special effects producer Phil Tippett will receive the Locarno Film Festival’s Vision Award Ticinomoda at its upcoming 74th edition, which is due to run from August 4-14 this year.
Tippett is due to attend the Swiss festival in person and will receive his award in a ceremony on the Piazza Grande on August 5.
This will be followed on August 6 by an in-conversation event and screenings of Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop and Starship Troopers, for which he created key effects.
The festival will also world premiere...
US special effects producer Phil Tippett will receive the Locarno Film Festival’s Vision Award Ticinomoda at its upcoming 74th edition, which is due to run from August 4-14 this year.
Tippett is due to attend the Swiss festival in person and will receive his award in a ceremony on the Piazza Grande on August 5.
This will be followed on August 6 by an in-conversation event and screenings of Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop and Starship Troopers, for which he created key effects.
The festival will also world premiere...
- 5/17/2021
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
An unearthed early pitch for the Star Wars prequels reveals George Lucas’ original plans for Anakin Skywalker.
Much is often said about how the filmmaker had a long-term vision in place for the sci-fi saga. Some key things were devised on the fly, like Darth Vader being Luke’s father, but in other ways, it’s absolutely true. And this fascinating breakdown of Anakin’s origins makes clear that Lucas mapped out the Prequel Trilogy long before he made it.
The Star Wars Archives: 1995-2005 features a transcription of information that the creator shared about Anakin’s backstory during a conference meeting for Return of the Jedi in 1981, at which director Richard Marquand, producer Howard Kazanjian and writer Lawrence Kasdan were present. And while there, Lucas explained to his colleagues how he planned to eventually bring the origins of Vader to life, as you can see below.
“Anakin Skywalker began hanging out with the Emperor,...
Much is often said about how the filmmaker had a long-term vision in place for the sci-fi saga. Some key things were devised on the fly, like Darth Vader being Luke’s father, but in other ways, it’s absolutely true. And this fascinating breakdown of Anakin’s origins makes clear that Lucas mapped out the Prequel Trilogy long before he made it.
The Star Wars Archives: 1995-2005 features a transcription of information that the creator shared about Anakin’s backstory during a conference meeting for Return of the Jedi in 1981, at which director Richard Marquand, producer Howard Kazanjian and writer Lawrence Kasdan were present. And while there, Lucas explained to his colleagues how he planned to eventually bring the origins of Vader to life, as you can see below.
“Anakin Skywalker began hanging out with the Emperor,...
- 12/3/2020
- by Christian Bone
- We Got This Covered
Back in July 1981, few people were privy to the idea that was starting to form in George Lucas‘ mind: an origin story for the iconic Star Wars villain Darth Vader. But at least three people learned the details at a story conference for Return of the Jedi, in which the Star Wars maestro revealed to Richard Marquand, Howard Kazanjian, […]
The post Here’s What George Lucas Originally Pitched for the Backstory of Anakin Skywalker appeared first on /Film.
The post Here’s What George Lucas Originally Pitched for the Backstory of Anakin Skywalker appeared first on /Film.
- 12/3/2020
- by Hoai-Tran Bui
- Slash Film
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