Dive into the lesser-known depths of the Star Wars universe, where secrets and untold stories await beyond the epic saga. While Star Wars has captured hearts with its compelling characters and dramatic conflicts, a wealth of fascinating facts is hidden behind its iconic scenes. Join us as we uncover the mysteries that have shaped this galactic phenomenon into a cultural titan.
#1 Star Wars Episode IV’s original title was 18 words long
The original title for “Star Wars Episode IV” was “The Adventures of Luke Starkiller, as taken from the Journal of the Whills, Saga I: The Star Wars.” George Lucas simplified it before release.
#2 George Lucas’s dog inspired the creation of Chewbacca
George Lucas’s dog, an Alaskan Malamute named Indiana, inspired the character of Chewbacca. Lucas’s dog would sit in the passenger seat of his car, resembling a co-pilot.
#3 The lightsaber sound was made from a film projector’s motor
Sound designer Ben Burtt created the iconic lightsaber sound effect, blending the noise of a film projector’s motor hum with the interference caused by a television tube.
#4 Yoda’s name is derived from the Sanskrit word “Yoddha,”
Yoda’s name was possibly derived from the Sanskrit word “Yoddha,” meaning warrior, or the Hebrew word “Yodea,” meaning “one who knows.”
#5 A hamburger inspired The Millennium Falcon’s design
The initial design of the Millennium Falcon was scrapped because it resembled a certain ship from “Space: 1999.” A hamburger inspired the final design with an olive on the side.
#6 C-3PO and R2-D2’s friendship was inspired by “The Hidden Fortress”
The dynamic between C-3PO and R2-D2, marked by their constant bickering yet deep bond, was inspired by the two peasant characters, Tahei and Matashichi, from Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 film “The Hidden Fortress.“
#7 Darth Vader’s revelation was initially misdirected
To keep the reveal that Darth Vader was Luke’s father a secret, the script said, “Obi-Wan killed your father.” The real line was dubbed later.
#8 E.T.’s species makes a cameo in “The Phantom Menace”
In “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” members of E.T.’s species can be seen in the Galactic Senate, suggesting E.T.’s world is part of the Star Wars universe.
#9 Harrison Ford’s carpentry led to his casting
Harrison Ford was a carpenter working on a door at American Zoetrope when he was asked to read lines for auditions, leading to his casting as Han Solo.
#10 Princess Leia’s hairstyle inspired by “soldaderas”
Princess Leia’s iconic hairstyle was inspired by the “soldaderas,” women fighters in the Mexican Revolution.
#11 Jar Jar Binks was the first fully computer-generated character
“Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” featured Jar Jar Binks, the first fully computer-generated supporting character in a live-action film.
#12 George Lucas founded Industrial Light & Magic
Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), founded by George Lucas, revolutionized special effects with techniques developed for Star Wars, influencing the future of film visual effects.
#13 Star Wars was inducted into the National Film Registry
“Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” was among the first 25 films inducted into the National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
#14 Jabba the Hutt cost $500k to make
Jabba the Hutt was a puppet that cost $500,000 and required three puppeteers to operate.
#15 James Earl Jones didn’t want credit for Vader’s voice
James Earl Jones, who provided the voice for Darth Vader, initially didn’t want to be credited because he considered his contribution small compared to David Prowse’s physical portrayal.
#16 Darth Vader could’ve had a West Country English accent
David Prowse played Darth Vader on set, but I thought his voice would be used, too. His West Country English accent made Lucas choose James Earl Jones for the iconic voice.
#17 R2-D2 and C-3PO appear in all nine Skywalker saga films
These iconic droids have appeared in all nine Skywalker saga films, tying the entire series together.
#18 George lost a $40m bet to Spielberg
George Lucas traded 2.5% of “Star Wars” profits for 2.5% of Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” believing the Spielberg film would be more successful. This turned out to be estimated to be $40 million.
#19 Boba Fett’s debut was made in “Star Wars Holiday Special”
Before “The Empire Strikes Back,” Boba Fett was introduced in the infamous “Star Wars Holiday Special” in an animated segment.
#20 The Emperor originally was a woman with chimpanzee eyes
In “The Empire Strikes Back,” the Emperor’s initial appearance was a woman with chimpanzee eyes superimposed and voiced by Clive Revill.
#21 Lando was scripted initially as a clone
Lando Calrissian was initially scripted as a clone who survived the Clone Wars from a planet of clones that caused a previous civil war.
#22 The Wilhelm Scream is used in every prequel and original movie
This stock sound effect was used in all Star Wars movies until “The Last Jedi”, serving as an auditory Easter egg for fans.
#23 Blue milk is on the menu at Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge
The iconic blue milk first seen in “A New Hope” is dyed regular milk, and it’s been made into a real beverage available at Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
#24 Miniature models were used for space battles
“Star Wars” extensively used miniatures for space battles and landscapes. The detailed models helped ILM create more realistic and dynamic scenes.
#25 Anthony Daniels wasn’t supposed to voice C-3PO
Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, was originally going to voice the character’s lines as placeholders, but his portrayal was so fitting that it was kept.
#26 Anakin’s shadow forms a silhouette of Darth Vader
In “Attack Of The Clones,” when Anakin is standing on Tatooine, his shadow forms the silhouette of Darth Vader, foreshadowing his future. There was also a poster from “The Phantom Menace” that made this a lot clearer for artist effect.
#27 George Lucas cameos in “Revenge of the Sith”
George Lucas made a cameo in “Revenge of the Sith” as a blue-skinned alien named Baron Papanoida outside the opera house.
#28 Lightsaber colors were initially meant to be white
Initially, lightsabers were meant to be white, symbolizing purity. The colors were later changed to blue and red to represent the good and the dark side, with green introduced in “Return of the Jedi” for visual clarity against the sky in outdoor scenes.
#29 Jake Lloyd’s voice was altered for Anakin Skywalker
In “The Phantom Menace,” Jake Lloyd voiced Anakin Skywalker, but his voice was digitally altered in post-production to match the appropriate pitch and tone for the character.
#30 The Force concept draws from Eastern philosophies
The concept of the Force was influenced by a mix of Eastern philosophies, Western mysticism, and the notion of a universal energy connecting all living things, drawing parallels with concepts found in Taoism and Buddhism.
#31 Alec Guinness initially called the dialogue “rubbish”
Sir Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi, was initially dubious about “Star Wars,” considering much of the dialogue “rubbish.” However, he was persuaded to join the cast by the promise of 2% of the film’s box office, which was a lucrative decision.
#32 Sith Lords are inspired by historical and mythological villains
The Sith Lords draw inspiration from a mix of historical, mythological, and cinematic villains, embodying the archetypal fears and shadows that lurk in human consciousness.
#33 Kylo Ren’s name is made up of the names Skywalker and Solo
“Kylo Ren” combines syllables from sKYwalker and soLO, hinting at his lineage and internal conflict between the dark and light sides of the Force.
#34 Chewbacca’s voice is made up of a bear, lion and walrus
The language spoken by Chewbacca, known as Shyriiwook, is composed of recordings of bear, lion, walrus, and other animal sounds mixed together to create a unique and expressive language.
#35 Rey’s instant bread was a practical effect
In “The Force Awakens,” Rey prepares a portion of instant bread. This effect was practical, not CGI, created specifically for the film to immerse viewers in the daily life of a scavenger.
#36 Blaster bolts travel up to 135mph
Blaster bolts in Star Wars movies move at 130-135 miles per hour, which fans calculate through frame-by-frame analysis of various scenes.
#37 All Stormtroopers are exactly 5’11”
Actors portraying stormtroopers in the original Star Wars trilogy had to be exactly 5’11” to ensure uniformity in the ranks.
#38 TIE fighter sounds were made from an elephant’s bellow
The screech of the TIE fighter was created by combining an elephant’s bellow with a car driving on wet pavement.
#39 IG-88’s head was made from a drink dispenser
The head of the bounty hunter droid IG-88 was made from a recycled prop, originally a drink dispenser from the Mos Eisley Cantina scene.
#40 Twi’leks’ lekku are part of their brain
The Twi’lek’s head-tails, or lekku, serve not just for aesthetics but also are part of their brain, allowing them to communicate through subtle movements.
#41 The Death Star was based on World War II sea mines
The Death Star’s design, with its spherical shape and super laser focus, was inspired by the look of World War II sea mines.
#42 Time is measured using years around the Battle of Yavin
Time in the Star Wars universe is measured in Galactic Standard Calendar, which centers around the Battle of Yavin as a zero point. The years before and after are represented by BBY and ABY. Find out more about how Star Wars timeline years work here.
#43 Laser and blaster color signifies function and power level
The color of a blaster or ship’s lasers in Star Wars often denotes their intended function or power level, with red typically used by the Empire and green or blue by the Rebel Alliance.
#44 Porg sounds are a blend of turkey calls and bird sounds
The adorable sounds made by the Porgs in “The Last Jedi” were created by blending turkey calls with those of other birds, then digitally altering them to craft the unique Porg language.
#45 Darth Vader’s Rogue One scene was a late addition
The memorable scene in “Rogue One” where Darth Vader boards the Rebel ship and fights was a late addition, suggested during reshoots to heighten the film’s climax.
#46 Anakin’s Force Ghost age was adjusted in the DVD release
In the original “Return of the Jedi,” Sebastian Shaw appears as Anakin’s Force ghost. Hayden Christensen replaced him for the 2004 DVD release to reflect Anakin’s appearance before turning to the dark side.
#47 Hoth was filmed during an actual snowstorm
The icy planet Hoth in “The Empire Strikes Back” was filmed in Finse, Norway. A fierce snowstorm hit during filming, allowing for authentic blizzard conditions on camera.
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#48 Fans didn’t know Boba Fett’s fate for 37 years
While “Return of the Jedi” left Boba Fett’s fate ambiguous, various non-canon stories explored his escape from the Sarlacc pit. This tale was finally canonized in “The Mandalorian”, a mere 37 years later!
#49 The Death Star would cost $852 quadrillion
An economist calculated that the first Death Star would cost about $852 quadrillion to build, considering the cost of steel production on such a massive scale.
#50 “Attack of the Clones” is the first film shot entirely on digital cameras
“Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” was the first major film to be shot entirely on digital cameras, marking a significant shift in filmmaking technology.
#51 Every Star Wars saga film starts with “A” or “The”
Every Star Wars saga film begins with the word “A” or “The,” setting a consistent tone for the iconic opening crawl.
#52 Harrison Ford’s iconic “I know” line was improvised
One of the most iconic lines in “The Empire Strikes Back” was improvised. When Leia says, “I love you,” Han Solo is supposed to say, “I love you, too.” Instead, Harrison Ford said, “I know,” creating one of the saga’s most memorable moments.
#53 Ewoks originally didn’t blink
In the original version of “Return of the Jedi,” Ewoks never blinked. It wasn’t until the Blu-ray release that CGI was used to make their eyes blink.
#54 Yoda’s first name is “Minch”
Yoda actually had a first name – it was “Minch Yoda,” but George Lucas decided to drop it, keeping the character’s mystique intact.
#55 Star Wars theme became a hit in the 70s
Meco’s disco version of the Star Wars theme became a hit in the late ’70s, proving that Star Wars could groove too.
#56 George Lucas hates the Holiday Special
George Lucas famously wished he could smash every copy of ‘The Star Wars Holiday Special’ with a sledgehammer.
#57 Yoda was almost named “Buffy”
Yoda was almost named “Buffy,” which would have given the Jedi Master a different vibe.
#58 Mark Hamill was promised a Corvette for not flinching
Mark Hamill was promised a Corvette if he didn’t flinch during the firing squad scene in “A New Hope.” He flinched.
#59 Darth Vader’s suit squeaked during filming
During filming, the suit for Darth Vader would often make unexpected squeaking noises, requiring numerous audio post-productions to remove the unintended sound effects.
#60 R2-D2 cameo in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
As a nod to his friend George Lucas, Steven Spielberg included a small model of R2-D2 attached to the underside of the alien mothership in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
#61 The word “Ewok” is never spoken in the film
“Ewok” is never actually spoken in “Return of the Jedi.” Their identification came from merchandising and the script. The name derives from the Native American tribe Miwok, indigenous to the Redwood Forest where the movie was filmed.
#62 Grogu’s name was kept secret from all the cast
The character name “Grogu” was kept so secret that not even the cast knew it until the episode’s script was revealed. To avoid leaks, most referred to him simply as “Baby Yoda” or “The Child” on set.
#63 Fans saved “The Clone Wars” from cancellation
After its initial cancellation in 2013, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” was revived for a final season in 2020 thanks to a fan-driven campaign highlighting its unresolved storylines and beloved characters.
#64 “The Clone Wars” was inspired by Marionette
The unique art style of “The Clone Wars” was inspired by the marionette paintings of World War II aircraft nose art, giving it a distinct look that sets it apart from movies and other animated series.
#65 “May the Force be with you” wasn’t first said by a Jedi
The iconic phrase “May the Force be with you” wasn’t first spoken by a Jedi or a hero, but by General Dodonna before the Rebel assault on the Death Star in “A New Hope.” This line has since become one of the most recognizable in the Star Wars saga.
#66 Order 66 was based on actual historical events
The historical parallel to Star Wars’ Order 66 can be found in Ancient Rome, during the reign of Constantius II. Like Emperor Palpatine, Constantius II executed a purge within the Roman imperial family to consolidate his power and secure his position as emperor.
And there we have it, 66 facts about “Star Wars!” As fans, whether we walk the path of the Jedi, sympathize with the Rebellion, or find ourselves intrigued by the dark side, there’s always more to discover, more to explore. So, until the next time we embark on a starlit voyage of discovery, remember: the Force will be with you, always.
