Star Destroyers are capital ships in the fictional Star Wars universe. Star Destroyers were produced by Kuat Drive Yards, later Kuat-Entralla Engineering, and serve as "the signature vessel of the fleet" for the Galactic Empire , the First Order , and the Sith Eternal in numerous published works including film, television, novels, comics, and video games.
172-496: A single Star Destroyer could project considerable influence over a star system in the name of the Empire : each can be deployed individually as both a forward operating base and as mobile weapon systems platform responsible for safeguarding multiple planets, trade routes, and systems, and carried enough firepower to subdue an entire planetary system or annihilate a small rebel fleet . Notable examples of Star Destroyers include
344-497: A Star Wars Day -themed article for Wired . According to him, the Executor impacted the second Death Star traveling at 3.5 km/s (7,800 mph), which - assuming the collision was strictly a result of gravitational interaction between the two objects - would require a super-dense Death Star to achieve such an impact velocity. Additionally, the Executor had a near constant angular velocity of 0.159 radians/second during
516-425: A Miss Piggy routine. Hamill recalled Ford giving him a kiss instead of reading his lines, which entertained the crew. Mayhew fell ill while filming Han's torture scene because the set used bursts of steam, which raised the ambient temperature to 90 °F (32 °C) while he was wearing a wool suit. Bank of America representatives visited the set in late March, concerned about rising costs. Lucas rarely visited
688-481: A "Star Dreadnought" (sometimes spelled "Star Dreadnaught") to emphasize their massive size relative to Star Destroyers. Author Jason Fry introduced the "Anaxes War College System" which specifically divide warships into different types depending on their size and power, which explain all the differently sized "Super Star Destroyers" appearing in the Expanded Universe (now Star Wars Legends), supplementing
860-612: A 125-centimetre (49 in) 3,152-piece model of the Executor . Kenner wanted to use a less ominous name than Executor for the toy playset of Darth Vader's meditation chamber. An advertisement agency's list of 153 alternatives included Starbase Malevolent, Black Coven, Haphaestus VII, and Cosmocurse; ultimately, the toy was labeled "Darth Vader's Star Destroyer". In 2006, Wizards of the Coast created an Executor miniature as part of its Star Wars Miniatures Starship Battles game. An electronic Super Star Destroyer toy released by Hasbro "is
1032-529: A BAFTA , among others. Subsequent releases have raised the film's worldwide gross to $ 538–549 million and, adjusted for inflation, it is the 13th-highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada . Since its release, The Empire Strikes Back has been critically reassessed and is now often regarded as the best film in the Star Wars series and among the greatest films ever made . It has had
1204-508: A Class 1 hyperdrive . Its armament includes over 5,000 turbolasers , ion cannons and tractor beam projectors and it can carry more than 1,000 vessels. The crew of the Executor numbers in the hundreds of thousands. Its command tower, rising above the ship's technoscape on a thick stalk, is a standard model found on other Star Destroyers – including a pair of geodesic domes containing communication transceivers, sensors and deflector shield projectors – and allows for an unobstructed view of
1376-530: A Fox distribution employee with recommending Finse , Norway; Kurtz said it was Reynolds who had done so. For the bog planet Dagobah, scouts looked at Central Africa, Kenya, and Scandinavia, but Lucas wanted to avoid shooting on location. He funded the construction of a " Star Wars stage" at Elstree Studios , London, for the Dagobah and rebel base sets. Construction for the stage—which measured 1,250,000 cubic feet (35,000 m ) and cost $ 2 million—began at
1548-774: A connecting theme. Additionally, the changing coloration of the Star Destroyers is meant to represent the downfall of the Republic and rise of the Empire. At the start of the film they are given a red paint scheme first established in The Phantom Menace (1999) as representing the Republic, but by the end they are colorless. The Venator -class Star Destroyer makes its first theatrical appearance in Revenge of
1720-555: A controlled drop at a rate of 30 miles per hour (48 km/h) or 2,500 feet (760 m) a minute. A heated shelter for the helicopter had to be constructed, which delayed filming of the shot by four weeks. The second unit, scheduled to be in Finse for three weeks, was there for eight. When the crew returned to London, they had only half the planned footage, and background images for special effects shots were uneven. Empire ' s budget increased to around $ 22 million because of
1892-724: A crew of 19,000 officers and 55,000 enlisted personnel. While evoking the traditional Imperial -class Star Destroyer, the Resurgent -class incorporates a number of fixes to the former's design flaws, including a less exposed command bridge and larger fighter complement. The ship is armed with thousands of turbolasers and ion cannons, sufficient firepower to slug it out with capital ships or reduce planetary surfaces to molten slag. Additional point-defense laser turrets and missile launchers are used to attack more nimble opponents. Two wings of TIE fighters can be quickly launched from dorsal flight decks and side hangars, and for planetary assaults,
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#17327794664872064-702: A crew of 2,225,000 personnel, a majority of whom are adolescents training to become officers and stormtroopers. The Supremacy serves as the capital from which Supreme Leader Snoke commands the First Order. Thousands of heavy turbolasers, antiship missile batteries, heavy ion cannons and tractor beam projectors give the ship firepower equivalent to an entire fleet. The vessel also possesses an industrial capacity that would rival most planets, with asteroid mining complexes, foundries, production lines, research labs and training centers. Six external and two internal stations allow Resurgent -class Star Destroyers to dock with
2236-494: A cut of the film until March. That month, Lucas decided he wanted an additional Hoth scene and auditioned 50 ILM crew to appear as Rebels. The final 124-minute cut was completed on April 16, which triggered a $ 10 million payment from Fox to Bank of Boston. Lucasfilm also launched an employee bonus scheme to share Empire ' s profits with its staff. Test screenings were held in San Francisco on April 19. While
2408-586: A different actor to provide Yoda's voice, but decided it would be too difficult to cast someone who could match their voice to Oz's puppetry. Jeremy Bulloch did not audition for Boba Fett; he was hired because the costume fit him. It was uncomfortable and top-heavy, making it difficult to maintain his balance, and the mask often steamed up. Bulloch assumed his lines would be dubbed over, as he had little dialogue (Fett's voice actor, Jason Wingreen, remained uncredited until 2000). Bulloch also appears as an Imperial officer who restrains Leia on Bespin. No other cast member
2580-532: A diminutive, froglike creature, Minch Yoda. Lucas drew on influences including The Thing from Another World (1951), the novel Dune (1965), and the television series Flash Gordon (1954). Around this time, Kurtz conceived the title The Empire Strikes Back . He said they avoided calling it Star Wars II because films with "II" in their titles were seen as inferior. Brackett completed her first draft in February 1978, titled Star Wars sequel, from
2752-583: A distinguished place in the Imperial Navy , symbolizing the Empire's military might with a peak number of more than 25,000 vessels. Like the Venator and Victory -class ships that precede it, the Imperial -class is a multi-role capital ship combining the roles of a battleship , starfighter carrier , and troopship . Notable for its massive size and overwhelming firepower compared to its fore-bearers;
2924-582: A fighting force and its headquarters increases, command and control inevitably becomes more difficult. Modern-day power projection often employs high-tech communications and information technology to overcome these difficulties, a process sometimes described as the " Revolution in Military Affairs ". While a few long-range weapons such as the intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and some unmanned combat aerial vehicles ( drones ) are capable of projecting deadly force in their own right, it
3096-553: A full mask that his wife Elaine wore. Chimpanzee eyes were superimposed over her face; cat eyes and assistant accountant Laura Crockett's eyes were also considered. Pre-production began in early 1978. Although Kershner wanted two years, this phase only lasted a year. Seeking an area to represent the ice planet Hoth, location scouts considered Finland, Sweden, and the Arctic Circle. The location needed to be free of trees and near populated areas for amenities. Kershner credited
3268-515: A greater role in the film. According to chief model maker Lorne Peterson, the Executor' s model was 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and constructed with over 150,000 individual lights. The resulting model was so heavy it required additional support to keep from overwhelming the Dykstraflex 's mechanical structure. The ship was originally scaled to appear 16 miles (26 km) long according to Lorne, though later sources would amend this figure. Within
3440-578: A large logistical bureaucracy to oversee shipbuilding, the supply of coal, food, water, and sailors, and an industrial base for the manufacture and technological enhancement of the fleet were among the essential ingredients for this capability. During the First Opium War (1839–1842), it was this capacity that enabled a British expeditionary force of 15 barracks ships , 4 steam-powered gunboats and 25 smaller boats with 4,000 marines to successfully defend its interests 6,000 miles (9,700 km) from
3612-467: A line mentioning Lando deliberately abandoning his people, and had Luke contact Leia through the Force instead of Obi-Wan's ghost. The fourth draft—mostly the same but with more detailed action—was submitted on October 24. Although some of Brackett's ideas remained, such as Luke's Dagobah training, her dialogue and characterization were removed. Kasdan described her take as from "a different era", lacking
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#17327794664873784-695: A prefabricated base if a permanent planetary garrison is required. Though the Imperial Navy also has smaller capital ships like Nebulon-B Escort Frigates and CR90 Corvettes (the films show these vessels being used exclusively by the Rebel Alliance), Imperial -class Star Destroyers are usually the default choice for frontline deployments. At the Battle of Endor the Rebel Alliance captured two Imperial -class Star Destroyers and added them to
3956-695: A profit percentage. He had profited substantially from Star Wars and did not need to work, but was too invested in his creation to entrust it to others. Lucas had concepts for the sequel but no solid structure. He knew the story would be darker, would explore more mature themes and relationships, and would continue to explore the nature of the Force. Lucas intended to fund the production independently, using his $ 12 million profit from Star Wars to relocate and expand his special effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and establish his Skywalker movie ranch in Marin County, California , with
4128-399: A second, third, and fourth film, but Ford had declined similar terms because of earlier bad experiences; he agreed to return because he wanted to improve on his Star Wars performance. Hamill spent four months bodybuilding and learning karate, fencing, and kendo to prepare for his stunts. David Prowse hesitated to return as Darth Vader because, as he was hidden behind a costume, he believed
4300-524: A sequel was swiftly put into production. In case Star Wars had failed, creator George Lucas had contracted Alan Dean Foster to write a low-budget sequel (later released as the novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye ). Once the success of Star Wars was evident, Lucas was reluctant to direct the sequel because of the stress of making the first film and its impact on his health. The popularity of Star Wars brought Lucas wealth, fame and positive attention from
4472-595: A shot of the Star Destroyer launching probes. He continued tweaking elements to improve the special effects, but even with ILM staff working up to 24 hours a day, six days a week, there was not enough time to do everything they wanted. A Dagobah pick-up scene, in which R2-D2 is spat out by a monster, was filmed in Lucas's swimming pool; the Emperor's scenes were filmed in February 1980. Fox executives did not see
4644-421: A significant impact on filmmaking and popular culture and is often considered an example of a sequel superior to its predecessor. The climax, in which Vader reveals he is Luke's father, is often ranked as one of the greatest plot twists in cinema. The film spawned a variety of merchandise and adaptations, including video games and a radio play. The United States Library of Congress selected it for preservation in
4816-511: A single Imperial -class ship is capable of singlehandedly taking on a fleet of enemy vessels or "reducing the surface of a planet to a slag" (known as "Base Delta Zero"), and its mere presence is often enough to deter rebellion. At 1,600 meters (5,200 ft) long, Imperial -class Star Destroyers are crewed by 9,235 Officers, 27,850 enlisted personnel, and 275 Gunners. The Imperial I is armed with 60 turbolasers, 60 ion cannons, and 10 tractor beam projectors for space combat. The standard complement
4988-489: A sister (not Leia), Han goes on a mission to recruit his powerful stepfather, and Lando is a clone from the Clone Wars . Lucas made detailed notes and attempted to contact Brackett, but she had been hospitalized, and died of cancer a few weeks later, on March 18. The strict schedule left Lucas no choice but to write the second draft himself. Though Brackett's draft followed Lucas's outline, he found she had portrayed
5160-427: A slimy creature to a small blue one; each version retained the character's long life and wisdom. Yoda was intended to teach Luke to respect everyone and not judge by appearances, and defy audience expectations. The draft tightened or expanded dialogue to better pace action scenes, added more romance, and added or changed locations, such as moving a Vader scene from a spaceship deck to his private cubicle. Lucas removed
5332-785: A small flotilla of attack cruisers can easily blast through the deflector shields of a Trade Federation Battleship . At the Battle of Coruscant, over a thousand attack cruisers are deployed to defend the planet, one of which (the Star Destroyer Guarlara ) delivers a devastating barrage to the Invisible Hand at point-blank range . After the end of the Clone Wars and creation of the Galactic Empire , these Star Destroyers will continue to serve for decades in
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5504-483: A story conference to discuss Lucas's draft. The group collaborated on ideas, with Lucas embracing their challenges and input. Mandated to deliver a fifth of the script every other week, Kasdan began his rewrite, focusing on developing character relationships and psychologies; he completed the third draft by early August. This version refined Minch Yoda—alternately named "the Critter", Minch, Buffy, and simply Yoda—from
5676-549: A story conference. Lucas had core ideas in mind but wanted Brackett to piece them together. He envisioned one central plot complemented by three main subplots, set across 60 scenes, 100 script pages, and a two-hour runtime. They formed a general outline and ideas that included the Wookiee homeworld, new alien species, the Galactic Emperor, a gambler from Han's past, water and city planets, Luke's lost twin sister, and
5848-425: A total crew of 29,585 personnel, the distinguishing feature of these Sith Star Destroyers is an axial superlaser powerful enough to shatter a planet, made possible by a powerful reactor channeling the energy of a miniature sun through kyber crystals . Other weaponry includes 40 heavy turbolaser batteries, 40 ion cannons, 40 point-defense laser cannons, 35 warhead launchers, and 10 heavy tractor beam projectors, though
6020-593: A unique attribute not found in the Victory II and Imperial -class Star Destroyers), and a shorter conning tower with different elements on the command bridge. The Victory -class was developed from a prototype Star Destroyer model created by Colin Cantwell for A New Hope , with the final design being used for the basis of the Imperial -class. Power projection Power projection (or force projection or strength projection ) in international relations
6192-409: A week later. The typical purpose of the second unit was to do time-consuming filming for special effects shots, but they were now filming main scenes—including Luke's ice cave imprisonment—because the schedule had overrun by around 26 days. Hamill was unavailable for several days after injuring his hand during a stunt jump from a speeder bike . Having been called in for the stunt the same day his son
6364-558: A wide variety of applications. Numerous Star Destroyer models and toys have been released. The iconic scene in Star Wars (1977) featuring the Imperial Star Destroyer's first appearance where it pursues a Corellian corvette has been called a milestone in special effects history. In draft scripts for the film that would become Star Wars , the term "Stardestroyer" refers to two-man fighters flown by what would become
6536-695: Is military logistics that is at the heart of power projection. The ability to integrate naval and air forces with land armies as part of joint warfare is a key aspect of effective power projection; airlift and sealift capabilities facilitate the deployment of soldiers and weapons to a distant theater of war . The aircraft carrier strike group , strategic bomber , ballistic missile submarine , and strategic airlifter are all examples of power projection platforms. Military units designed to be light and mobile, such as airborne forces ( paratroopers and air assault forces) and amphibious assault forces, are utilized in power projection. Forward basing
6708-611: Is 72 TIE fighters (including 12 TIE Bombers and 12-24 TIE Interceptors), and a variety of support craft including shuttles and transports. Unlike other comparable capital ships like the Mon Calamari MC80 Star Cruiser of the Rebel Alliance (later New Republic), an Imperial -class Star Destroyer carries a full array of ground forces (including 9700 stormtroopers , 20 AT-ATs and 30 AT-STs ) with dropships for rapid deployment to planetary surfaces, plus
6880-523: Is another method of power projection, which, by pre-positioning military units or stockpiles of arms at strategically located military bases outside a country's territory, reduces the time and distance needed to mobilize them. Scholars have disaggregated military power projection into nine different categories based on political goals and level of force. Four of these employ "soft" military power (securing sea lanes of communication, non-combatant evacuation, humanitarian response, and peacekeeping ) and
7052-451: Is considered sufficient to overwhelm a rebellious planet, though major industrialized worlds may be assaulted by a fleet of six Star Destroyers with support cruisers and supply craft. Deep-crust survival bunkers are regarded as a last refuge in the event of planetary bombardment by Imperial Star Destroyers. At the Empire's height there were over 25,000 Star Destroyers in existence, requiring roughly 925 million crew. Darth Vader's Devastator
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7224-444: Is employed around the armored bow doors, they are slow to open or close, presenting a weakness in the vessel's design. During the Clone Wars these Star Destroyers, referred to also as Republic attack cruisers or Jedi cruisers, play an important role combating Separatist fleets and providing supporting fire for ground forces. Thanks to their superior firepower, the Venator -class has a strong advantage against Separatist warships, and
7396-963: Is full of incidents such as the 1864 Shimonoseki campaign and the Boxer Rebellion . More recently, the Falklands War provided an example of the United Kingdom 's ability to project force far from home. Other recent examples of power projection include the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia . The ability of the U.S. Navy , the British Royal Navy , and the French Navy to deploy large numbers of ships for long periods of time away from home are notable projection abilities. See § Power projection capabilities . The globalization of power projection
7568-484: Is reducing size by about 10,000 troops as well, by 2025. The British Army will have Integrated Operating Concept (MDI—like MDO) for "gray zone" operations across domains, using a synthetic operating environment, with repeatable hard and soft strike capability. The UK, Germany, and France respectively have established a joint command for space United Kingdom Space Command , a Space Situational Awareness Centre (Germany), and Commandement de l’espace (France). In light of
7740-516: Is the capacity of a state to deploy and sustain forces outside its territory . The ability of a state to project its power into an area may serve as an effective diplomatic lever, influencing the decision-making processes and acting as a potential deterrent on other states' behavior. This ability is a crucial element of a state's power in international relations . Any state able to direct its military forces outside its territory might be said to have some level of power projection capability, but
7912-607: Is the last of the Imperial I -class ships to be built by Kuat Drive Yards before switching to the Imperial II -class, a fleet of which take part in the Battle of Hoth as depicted in The Empire Strikes Back (1980). Designated Death Squadron, this fleet of Star Destroyers is led by Darth Vader aboard the Executor , first in a new class of Super Star Destroyer . Although the battle is won by Imperial forces, Vader orders his Star Destroyers to focus on capturing
8084-471: Is the second film in the Star Wars film series and the fifth chronological chapter of the " Skywalker Saga ". Set three years after the events of Star Wars , the film recounts the battle between the malevolent Galactic Empire , led by the Emperor , and the Rebel Alliance , led by Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia . As the Empire goes on the offensive, Luke trains to master the Force so he can confront
8256-415: Is voiced by Clive Revill and portrayed physically by Elaine Baker. The bounty hunter Boba Fett is portrayed physically by Jeremy Bulloch and voiced by Jason Wingreen (who remained uncredited until 2000). Other bounty hunters include Dengar (portrayed by Morris Bush) and the humanoid lizard Bossk (Alan Harris). Following the unexpected financial success and cultural impact of Star Wars (1977),
8428-691: The Millennium Falcon rather than hunt down the escaping Rebel transports, allowing many to escape. The Falcon manages to evade this pursuit by hiding in the sensor blind spot of the Star Destroyer Avenger . These ships play a major role in the Battle of Endor as depicted in Return of the Jedi (1983). During the battle, Imperial Star Destroyers prove vulnerable to fleets of starfighters flown by skilled Rebel pilots, who exploit
8600-654: The 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine NATO members are implementing new stockpile guidelines for their arsenals. "By 2020 the Army's programs for modernization were now framed as a decades-long process of cooperation with allies and partners, for competition with potential adversaries who historically have blurred the distinction between peace and war" —from: § Reorganization plan of the United States Army The Texas National Security Review projects five scenarios for
8772-484: The B61 nuclear bomb on 12 October 2023. The British Army is investigating innovations, such as robots and drones, including 70 technologies funded by the £800 million (US$ 1 billion) Defence Innovation Fund launched in 2016. Two hundred troops will engage in "surveillance, long-range, and precision targeting, enhanced mobility and the re-supply of forces, urban warfare and enhanced situational awareness". The British Army
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#17327794664878944-691: The East . This immediately diminished Russia's diplomatic sway in that region. At the same time, Russia's western armies became less credible, as mobilization exposed organizational flaws and threw the western armies into chaos. This led analysts in Europe, such as German chief of staff Count Alfred von Schlieffen , to conclude that Russia would prove inept at projecting force in Europe, thus demoting Russia in European diplomatic relations. Many other actions can be considered projections of force. The 19th century
9116-940: The Falcon ' s hyperdrive and the vessel escapes. After the group joins the rebel fleet, Luke's missing hand is replaced by a robotic prosthesis . He, Leia, C-3PO , and R2-D2 observe as Lando and Chewbacca depart on the Falcon to find Han. The film also features Alec Guinness as Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, and John Hollis as Lobot, Lando's aide. The Rebel force includes General Rieekan (portrayed by Bruce Boa ), Major Derlin ( John Ratzenberger ), Cal Alder ( Jack McKenzie ), Dak Ralter ( John Morton ), Wedge Antilles ( Denis Lawson ), Zev Senesca ( Christopher Malcolm ), and Hobbie Klivian ( Richard Oldfield ). The Empire's forces include Admiral Piett ( Kenneth Colley ), Admiral Ozzel ( Michael Sheard ), General Veers ( Julian Glover ), and Captain Needa ( Michael Culver ). The Emperor
9288-462: The Galactic Empire . The film's second draft features four Star Destroyers chasing a single Rebel ship, but the tremendous costs incurred by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) when production began helped lead Lucas to use a single "terrifyingly large" Star Destroyer instead of four. ILM built a 91-centimeter (36 in) shooting model that was about half the size of the model for the Tantive IV
9460-519: The Jedi Master Yoda . Han Solo discovers Luke and insulates him against the weather inside his deceased tauntaun mount until they are rescued the next morning. Alerted to the Rebels' location, the Empire launches a large-scale attack using AT-AT walkers , forcing the Rebels to evacuate the base. Han, Princess Leia , C-3PO and Chewbacca escape aboard the Millennium Falcon , but
9632-542: The National Film Registry in 2010. Return of the Jedi (1983) followed Empire , concluding the original Star Wars trilogy . Prequel and sequel trilogies have since been released. Three years after the destruction of the Death Star , the Imperial fleet, led by Darth Vader , dispatches probe droids across the galaxy in search for the Rebel Alliance . One probe locates the rebel base on
9804-735: The Pellaeon -class Star Destroyer in the Legacy comic series (2006–2010), and the reborn Emperor Palpatine's flagships Eclipse and Eclipse II Super Star Destroyers in the Dark Empire series (1991–1995). The Eclipse -class was perhaps the ultimate Super Star Destroyer or Star Dreadnought in the Expanded Universe, incorporating a Death Star-type superlaser but miniaturized and more advanced, and gravity well projectors to prevent enemies from jumping to hyperspace, and having strong enough shields/armor to be able to ram enemy vessels. Curtis Saxton, in
9976-541: The Star Wars property. Lucas took an executive producer role, enabling him to focus on his businesses and the development of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). By late 1977, Kurtz began hiring key crew members, including production designer Norman Reynolds , consultant John Barry , makeup artist Stuart Freeborn , and first assistant director David Tomblin . Lucas rehired artists Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston to maintain visual consistency with Star Wars , and
10148-599: The Star Wars stage. By February 25, the Finse location crew had arrived in Norway to receive flown-in equipment containers and begin digging trenches for battle scenes. The musical score for The Empire Strikes Back was composed and conducted by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra , at a cost of about $ 250,000. Williams began planning the score in November 1979, estimating
10320-467: The Star Wars universe, the term "Super Star Destroyer" is a colloquialism used to refer to any ship larger than an Imperial Star Destroyer. The largest and most powerful of these is the Executor , which first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as the personal flagship of Darth Vader. The first in a line of Executor -class Star Dreadnoughts, the ship is over 19,000 m (62,000 ft) in length, propelled by thirteen colossal engines and
10492-560: The acetate film brittle, camera lenses iced over, snow seeped into equipment, and effects paint froze inside the tin. To counter these effects, lenses were kept cool but the camera body was warmed to protect the film, battery, and camera operators' hands. The crew was outside for up to 11 hours at a time, being subjected to thin air, limited visibility, and mild frostbite ; one crewman slipped and broke two ribs. The difficult conditions led to strong camaraderie among crewmembers. Avalanches blocked direct transport links, and trenches dug by
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#173277946648710664-450: The crew credits at the end of the film to avoid interfering with the opening. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Directors Guild of America (DGA) had allowed this for the first film because Lucas directed and it opened with the logo for his namesake Lucasfilm, but for Empire they refused to allow Kershner or the first and second unit directors to be credited only at the end, fined Lucas $ 250,000 when he ignored them and tried to have
10836-404: The logistical difficulties inherent in the deployment and direction of a modern, mechanized military force. Allies and partners can take up or share some of the burden of power projection. One measure of the capability of a state to project power is the loss-of-strength gradient , until a culminating point is apparent to others, once an operation is underway. A state might § compete in
11008-606: The second Death Star 's gravity well pulls the ship into its surface, destroying the vessel and damaging the Death Star itself. At Jakku where the Empire made its last stand , the Super Star Destroyer Ravager is one of the wrecks which make up the Graveyard of Ships. Rhett Allain , an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University , examined the death of the Executor in
11180-691: The Dykstraflex. ILM built a 259-centimeter (102 in) Star Destroyer, equipped with internal lighting to provide a better sense of scale, for The Empire Strikes Back (1980). According to chief model maker Lorne Peterson, the new Star Destroyer model was scaled to appear two and a half miles long, though their official length was revised in later sources. The Imperial I -class Star Destroyers are white, as shown in A New Hope , Rogue One , and Solo . The Imperial II -class Star Destroyers in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of
11352-435: The Emperor's powerful disciple, Darth Vader . The ensemble cast includes Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , David Prowse , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , and Frank Oz . Following the success of Star Wars , Lucas hired Brackett to write the sequel. After she died in 1978, he outlined the whole Star Wars saga and wrote the next draft himself, before hiring Raiders of
11524-588: The Galactic Empire's Imperial Navy which technically means they are all "Imperial Star Destroyers", although the Imperator / Imperial -class Star Destroyers are by far the most common type. Similarly, the "Super Star Destroyer" moniker has been used for numerous unrelated vessels of varying sizes and classes, so fans have suggested labeling the class instead of by the lead ship such as Executor -class and Eclipse -class, with some referring to them instead as
11696-447: The Imperial Navy and symbol of Imperial might. These enormous capital ships are used to enforce the Emperor's will, bolster Imperial-backed governments, and act as mobile headquarters for senior Imperial commanders. In addition to their powerful armament, a Star Destroyer carries troops and vehicles for ground operations and a full wing of TIE fighters (typically 48 fighters, 12 bombers and 12 boarding craft). A single Star Destroyer
11868-742: The Imperial Navy until eventually replaced with the Imperial -class Star Destroyer. There have been five different Lego sets of the Ventor released since 2009, with the most recent one revealed in 2023. This version of the Venator, part of the Ultimate Collector Series, was released in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV show. Measuring 43-inch (1,100 mm) long, 21-inch (530 mm) wide and 12.5-inch (320 mm) tall,
12040-410: The Imperial Star Destroyer is a poorly-designed spaceship, being asymmetrical with its superstructure jutting out in one direction. Additionally, while its wedge shape would make sense for atmospheric travel, it serves no purpose in space. He argues a more realistic and effective design would be symmetrical and bowl-shaped like a saucer . Lego has released multiple different Star Destroyer kits over
12212-458: The Imperial command ship during the Battle of Endor . At Endor, intense bombardment by the Rebel Alliance fleet cause the ship's shields to fail, allowing Rebel starfighters to strafe the command tower. During this attack an A-wing piloted by Arvel Crynyd crashes into the command bridge, destroying the main navigation complex and causing the vessel to lose control. The Executor is lost when
12384-582: The Indian Ocean and thereby promote its interests. The modern ability to project power and exert influence on a global scale can be tied to innovations stemming from the Industrial Revolution and the associated modernizations in technology, communications, finance and bureaucracy ; this finally allowed the state to create unprecedented amounts of wealth and to effectively marshal these resources to exert power over long distances. As
12556-579: The Jedi are grey. The iconic Imperial -class Star Destroyer first appears in the opening scene of Star Wars (1977), where the Imperial Star Destroyer Devastator (carrying Darth Vader ) chases the CR90 Corvette Tantive IV (carrying Princess Leia ) above Tatooine after the latter had fled from Scarif . Background literature describes Imperial -class Star Destroyers as the chief warship of
12728-687: The Lost Ark (1981) writer Kasdan to enhance his work. To avoid the stress he faced directing Star Wars , Lucas handed the responsibility to Kershner and focused on expanding his special effects company Industrial Light & Magic instead. Filmed from March to September 1979 in Finse , Norway, and at Elstree Studios in England, The Empire Strikes Back faced production difficulties, including actor injuries, illnesses, fires, and problems securing additional financing as costs rose. Initially budgeted at $ 8 million, costs had risen to $ 30.5 million by
12900-700: The Mega-Destroyer. In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), a resurrected Darth Sidious unveils a new class of Star Destroyer as part of the Sith Eternal 's fleet, the Final Order. Identified by in-universe sources as Xyston -class but referred to informally as Sith Star Destroyers, these ships resemble the older Imperial I -class Star Destroyers but are larger with a length of 2,406 m (7,894 ft) and height of 682 m (2,238 ft). Built on Exegol by automated factories and with
13072-720: The New Republic fleet; they serve alongside Mon Calamari Cruisers in General Han Solo 's task force as told in the X-wing series of novels and Dark Empire comics. Although the New Republic eventually upgrades its starfleet with newer ship types, the Imperial -class Star Destroyer remains in service well into the New Jedi Order era and fights during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Described in A Guide to
13244-485: The Republic can grow clone troopers . As a true warship, the Venator -class can feed nearly its entire reactor output (which at maximum power consumes 40,000 tons of fuel per second) into its heavy turbolasers to devastating effect. As a carrier, the Star Destroyer can rapidly deploy hundreds of starfighters, including ARC-170s , V-wings , Z-95 Headhunters and Jedi interceptors , from a .5 km (0.31 mi)-long dorsal flight deck. While strong deflector shielding
13416-602: The Sith during the opening Battle of Coruscant . Within the Star Wars setting, these ships are regarded as the most powerful capital ships of the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars , serving double duty as battleships and starfighter carriers. These massive ship require a relatively small crew to operate as a deliberate feature compensating for the fact that the Separatists can produce battle droids faster than
13588-453: The Sith . The Victory appears very similar in appearance to the Imperial -class which succeeded it; albeit the Victory being considerably smaller in scale (900 meters in length versus 1600 meters), adds atmospheric maneuvering "wings" on the port and starboard sides (according to Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game sourcebooks, the Victory I -class can enter a planetary atmosphere which is
13760-416: The Star Destroyer was chasing. Lucas asked ILM to build a larger Star Destroyer model to match the Tantive IV 's scale, but ILM convinced him that the Dykstraflex camera invented for the film made this unnecessary. Nevertheless, they added additional hull details to the Star Destroyer model. The 13-second opening shot was the first special effects piece ILM completed, and its success was an essential test for
13932-689: The Star Wars Universe (1984) as being 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) long, Executor -class Super Star Destroyers were later described as being 19 kilometers (12 mi) long. In addition to Vader's command ship Executor , Star Wars novels introduce the prison ship Lusankya and stealth-armored Knight Hammer as other in the class. Kevin J. Anderson 's novel Darksaber describes a Super Star Destroyer as being "worth twenty Imperial Star Destroyers". The description "Star Destroyer" and "Super Star Destroyer" are applied to several another massive dagger/triangle-shaped warships in Star Wars , such as
14104-406: The adventures of Luke Skywalker . The draft contained a city in the clouds, a chase through an asteroid belt, a greater focus on the love triangle between Luke, Han, and Leia (who is portrayed as a damsel in distress ), the battle of Hoth and a climactic duel between Luke and Darth Vader. The ghosts of his father and Obi-Wan visit Luke, leaving Vader a separate character. The draft reveals Luke has
14276-402: The battlefield. At least twelve of these vessels were built by the Empire, including the Executor , Annihilator , Ravager and Arbitrator , but the exact number is unknown thanks to Imperial propaganda and black budgets . From the bridge of the Executor , Darth Vader leads Death Squadron during the Battle of Hoth and afterwards in pursuit of the Millennium Falcon . It later serves as
14448-512: The birthplace of the Industrial Revolution , Britain was the first to utilize its industrial-technological power advantage to dominate rivals and greatly expand its global Empire throughout the 19th century. As a maritime power, the Royal Navy played a central role in providing Britain the strength and ability to dominate world trade and project power globally to further its interests. A worldwide system of naval bases and coaling stations ,
14620-532: The center of modern power, its influence can be seen in the architecture of modern capitols around the world (domes, arches, columns). The demonstration of an extraordinary innovative military capability will signal power and, when properly applied, terminate conflicts summarily. During the Ming treasure voyages in the 15th century, the Chinese treasure fleet was heavily militarized to exercise power projection around
14792-406: The characters differently than he intended. Lucas completed his handwritten, 121-page draft on April 1. He found the process more enjoyable than on Star Wars because he was familiar with the universe, but struggled to write a satisfying conclusion, leaving it open for a third film. This draft established Luke's sister as a new character undertaking a similar journey, Vader's castle and his fear of
14964-615: The company and Lucasfilm, granting himself 5% of the box office gross profits . He also founded Black Falcon to license Star Wars merchandising rights, using the income to subsidize his ongoing projects. Development for the sequel began in August 1977, under the title Star Wars Chapter II . Lucas considered replacing producer Gary Kurtz with Howard Kazanjian because Kurtz had not fulfilled his role and left problems unresolved while filming Star Wars . Kurtz convinced him otherwise by trading on his longtime loyalty to Lucas and knowledge of
15136-458: The competition for economic power among the world's nations. The US, Russia, China, Britain, and France have renounced the use of nuclear weapons in 2022. However, in the face of threats of nuclear war (say from Russia, as threatened during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine ), NATO keeps about 100 B61 nuclear bombs in storage in Europe. Certain F-35As were certified to carry
15308-612: The contradictory classification systems used in Star Wars lore previously, becoming reference material in the Star Wars Sourcebooks by West End Games . The Victory -class Star Destroyer first described in the early Star Wars novella, was initially designed as a direct predecessor to the Imperial -class during the development of A New Hope , which would make it a follow-up to the Venator -class seen in Revenge of
15480-402: The crew quickly filled with snow. Scenes could be prepared only a few hours in advance and many scenes were filmed just outside the crew's hotel as the shifting weather regularly altered the scenery. Although Fisher was not scheduled to film scenes in Norway, she joined Hamill on location because she wanted to observe the process. Ford was not scheduled for the Finse phase, but to compensate for
15652-515: The crew, including Kershner, and tactics were used to delay its impact, including paying staff biweekly instead of weekly and Lucas borrowing money from his merchandising company Black Falcon. Lucas worried he would have to sell Empire and its associated rights to Fox to sustain the project, losing his creative freedom. Fox was also threatening to buy out the bond and take over filming. With about 20% of Empire left to film, Lucasfilm president Charles Weber arranged for Bank of Boston to refinance
15824-524: The dark side and help him destroy his master, the Emperor , so they may rule the galaxy together. Luke refuses, citing Obi-Wan's claim that Vader killed his father, prompting Vader to reveal that he is Luke's father. Distraught, Luke plunges down the air shaft and is ejected beneath the floating city, latching onto an antenna. He reaches out through the Force to Leia, and the Falcon returns to rescue him. They are attacked by TIE fighters but narrowly evade capture by Vader's Star Destroyer when R2-D2 repairs
15996-510: The dark side tree on Dagobah. A wrap party was held on the set to mark the official conclusion of filming on September 5, 1979, after 133 days. Guinness filmed his scenes against a bluescreen the same day. Kershner and the second unit continued filming additional footage, including Luke's X-Wing being raised from the swamp. Kershner left the set on September 9, and Hamill finished 103 days of filming two days later. The second unit finished filming on September 24 with Hamill's stunt double. There
16168-431: The dark side, wanting to instead explore this in the next film. Lucas believed it was important the characters be inspirational and appropriate for children. His typed draft is titled Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back . In June 1978, impressed with his work on Raiders of the Lost Ark , Lucas hired Lawrence Kasdan to refine the draft; Kasdan was paid $ 60,000. In early July, Kasdan, Kershner and Lucas held
16340-434: The delays and having to rework scenes to compensate for the missing footage. Filming at Elstree began on March 13, 1979. Production remained behind schedule without Stage 3 (which had been destroyed by fire), and the incomplete Star Wars stage lacked protection from the cold weather. The result was that the crew had to work out of any available space. To save time, some scenes were shot simultaneously, such as those set in
16512-484: The delays, he was brought there instead of creating a separate set in a Leeds studio. On a few hours' notice, he arrived in Finse, having traveled the last 23 miles (37 km) of the snow-laden journey by snowplow. Production returned to England after a week, though Hamill had an additional day of filming. The second unit remained in Norway through March to film explosions, incidental footage, and battle scenes featuring 35 mountain rescue skiers as extras. The skiers' work
16684-441: The deployment of various countries' militaries during the humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake illustrates. Early examples of power projection include Roman dominance of Europe and the wider Mediterranean basin: the ability to project power is tied to the ability to innovate and field such innovations. Roman engineering innovations such as machines ( pile driver ), concrete, aqueducts and modern roads provided
16856-535: The director's indulgences. Kurtz had also given Kershner more leeway because of the delays caused by the Stage 3 fire. Kershner's slower work pace had frustrated Lucas. He described his filming style as frugal, performing two or three takes with little coverage film that could later compensate for mistakes. Watts and Reynolds said Kershner often looked at new ways of doing things, but this required planning that only delayed things further. Kershner had tried replicating
17028-479: The emperor, distinct power levels in controlling the Force, Yoda's unconventional speech pattern, and bounty hunters, including Boba Fett. Lucas wrote Fett like the Man with No Name , combining him with an abandoned idea for a Super Stormtrooper . Lucas's handwritten draft included mention of Vader being Luke's father, but the typed script omitted this revelation. Despite contradictory information in drafts that included
17200-439: The end of August. Sets were the single biggest expense of the production, costing a total of $ 3.5 million. By December, the budget had increased to $ 21.5 million, more than double the original estimate. Financial projections for The Chapter II Company suggested it would run a monthly deficit of $ 5–25 million by the end of 1979, including over $ 2 million in production costs and $ 400,000 to fund ILM. As
17372-453: The ending was unclear about where Luke and Leia were in relation to Lando and Chewbacca. In the three-week window between its limited and wider release, Lucas, Johnston, and visual effects artist Ken Ralston filmed enhancement scenes at ILM, using existing footage, a new score, modified dialogue, and new miniatures to create establishing shots of the Rebel fleet and their relative positions. By
17544-432: The equipment that would be necessary to complete their work. Compared to the 360 special effects shots for Star Wars , Empire required around 600. The crew, supervised by Richard Edlund and Brian Johnson , included Dennis Muren , Bruce Nicholson , Lorne Peterson , Steve Gawley , Phil Tippett , Tom St. Amand, and Nilo Rodis-Jamero . Up to 100 people worked on the project daily, including Stuart Freeborn, who
17716-399: The experience was like fighting blindfolded because of the costume. Hamill spent weeks practicing his fencing routine, eventually growing frustrated and refusing to continue. The next scene, where Vader confesses he is Luke's father, was shrouded in secrecy. Prowse was given the line "Obi-Wan Kenobi is your father" to read because he was known for repeatedly leaking information. Only Kershner,
17888-599: The fall of the Empire, a new class of Star Destroyer is introduced in service to the First Order . The Finalizer , the first of the Resurgent -class Star Destroyers built in secret by Kuat-Entralla Engineering, serves as the flagship for both Kylo Ren and General Hux . Described in background literature as a clear violation of the treaties between the New Republic and the First Order, Resurgent -class Star Destroyers are 2,916 m (9,567 ft) in length with
18060-489: The film would require 107 minutes of music. For two weeks across 18 three-hour sessions just after Christmas, Williams recorded the score at Anvil Studios and Abbey Road Studios , London. Up to 104 musicians were involved at a time, playing such instruments as oboes, piccolos, pianos, and harps. Principal photography began on March 5, 1979, on the Hardangerjøkulen glacier near Finse, Norway, representing
18232-402: The filmmakers played down his involvement to portray the droid as a real being. He ultimately agreed, however, for an improved salary. Alec Guinness said he could not return as Obi-Wan because his failing eyesight required him to avoid bright lights. Recasting him was considered but, determined to recruit him, Lucas agreed to a deal in late August 1979 which gave him a more limited role. Guinness
18404-567: The fleet's home port. The Anglo - French expeditionary force sent to shore up the Ottoman Empire against Russian aggression during the Crimean War (1853–1856) was one of the earliest modern examples of a planned expeditionary power-projection campaign. It was the first campaign to use modern technology, including steam-powered warships and telegraph communications. Another illustrative example of industrial power projection,
18576-455: The footing for an economic engine that powered a military that was unmatched in its day. Examples of Roman power projection include Julius Caesar constructing the Rhine bridge in 10 days to demonstrate the ability to march his 40,000 troops as he saw fit: the local inhabitants enjoyed the natural protection of the river and fled when this natural protection was overcome. Although Rome is far from
18748-526: The full-scale Millenium Falcon . These scenes had to be filmed efficiently, so the Falcon could be dismantled to make way for the Dagobah set. Filming began on the carbon chamber scene in late June while the second unit filmed anything they could. The raised set was largely incomplete, and low lighting and steam were used to conceal any obvious flaws. The fog machines and heat from the steam made many cast and crew members sick; it took approximately three weeks to film. The confession of love between Leia and Han
18920-426: The genre attempting to profit by association and big-budget entries such as Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Black Hole , both released just months before The Empire Strikes Back . Sequels were not expected to perform as well as their originals, and there were low expectations for merchandising. Even so, tie-in deals were arranged with Coca-Cola , Nestlé , General Mills , and Topps collectibles. Fox
19092-479: The ghost of Luke's father, Lucas said he had always intended for Vader to be Luke's father and omitted it from scripts to avoid leaks. Lucas included elements such as Han's debt to Jabba, and recontextualized Luke leaving Dagobah to rescue his friends: in Brackett's draft, Obi-Wan instructs Luke to leave; Lucas had Luke choose to do so. He also removed a scene of Luke massacring stormtroopers to convey him falling to
19264-465: The global economy: Examples of hard power projection include: The Empire Strikes Back The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back ) is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan , based on a story by George Lucas . The sequel to Star Wars (1977), it
19436-463: The gray zone just short of conflict, exercising its soft power, or hard power, in a bid for potential superpower . While traditional measures of power projection typically focus on hard power assets (tanks, soldiers, aircraft , naval vessels, etc.), the use of soft power shows that power projection does not necessarily have to actively put military forces in combat , but only potentially. Assets for power projection can often serve dual uses, as
19608-510: The group to the Empire, knowing Luke will come to their aid. Meanwhile, Luke travels with R2-D2 in his X-wing fighter to Dagobah, where he crash-lands. He meets Yoda, a diminutive creature who reluctantly accepts him as his Jedi apprentice after conferring with Obi-Wan's spirit. Yoda trains Luke to master the light side of the Force and resist negative emotions that will seduce him to the dark side , as they did Vader. Luke struggles to control his anger and impulsiveness and fails to comprehend
19780-567: The ice cavern and medical bay. Kershner wanted each character to make a unique entrance in the film. While filming Vader's entrance, the snow troopers preceding Prowse tripped over the polystyrene ice, and the stuntman behind him stood on his cape, breaking it off, causing Prowse to fall onto the snow troopers. The shoot was strenuous and mired in conflicts. Fisher suffered from influenza and bronchitis, her weight dropped to 85 pounds (39 kg) while working 12-hour days, and she collapsed on set from an allergic reaction to steam or spray paint. She
19952-455: The ice planet Hoth . While Luke Skywalker is scouting near the base, a wampa captures him before he can investigate a meteorite, but he escapes by using the Force to retrieve his lightsaber and wound the beast. Before Luke succumbs to hypothermia , the Force spirit of his deceased mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi , instructs him to go to the swamp planet Dagobah to train as a Jedi Knight under
20124-422: The insurers refused to allow him to perform a 15-foot (4.6 m) fall out of a window. He accidentally fell from a nine-inch ledge 40 feet (12 m) high but rolled on landing to avoid injury. Lucas returned to the set on July 15 and stayed for the rest of filming. He rewrote Luke's scenes on Dagobah, removing or trimming them so they could be shot in just over two weeks. Most of the cast completed filming by
20296-488: The loan to $ 31 million, including $ 27.7 million from Bank of Boston and $ 3 million guaranteed by Fox in exchange for an increased percentage of the theatrical returns and 10% of merchandising profits. Lucasfilm took out the loan, making the company directly liable. The Star Wars stage was completed in early May. It was too small to house the Rebel hangar and Dagobah sets, and an extension had to be funded and built. The producers mandated filming begin on
20468-469: The nature and power of the Force until he witnesses Yoda use it to levitate the X-wing from the swamp. Luke has a premonition of Han and Leia in pain and, despite Obi-Wan's and Yoda's protestations, abandons his training to rescue them. Although Obi-Wan believes Luke is their only hope, Yoda asserts that "there is another." Leia confesses her love for Han before Vader freezes him in carbonite to test whether
20640-693: The necessary tone. Kazanjian did not believe the Writers Guild of America West would approve of her receiving credit, but Lucas liked Brackett and supported her credit as co-writer. He also provided for her family beyond her contracted pay. The fifth draft was completed in February 1979. It revised some scenes and introduced a "Hogmen" species devised by Kershner; Lucas did not like the idea because he perceived them as slaves. Mark Hamill (Luke), Carrie Fisher (Leia), Harrison Ford (Han), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) all reprised their Star Wars roles. Hamill and Fisher were contracted for
20812-630: The planet Hoth. Initially scheduled to conclude on June 22, by the end of the first week it was obvious it would take longer and cost more. Filming the Hoth scenes on a set was considered, but ultimately rejected as inauthentic. The location filming coincided with the area's worst snowstorm in half a century, impeding the production with blizzards, 40-mile-per-hour (64 km/h) winds, and temperatures between −26 °F (−32 °C) and −38 °F (−39 °C). The weather cleared only twice; some days, filming could not take place. The frigid conditions made
20984-586: The precursor Venator -class Star Destroyer ( prequel trilogy ), the ubiquitous Imperial -class Star Destroyer ( original trilogy ), and the recent Resurgent -class and Xyston -class Star Destroyer ( sequel trilogy ). Numerous other classes of "Star Destroyers" share the basic triangular "dagger" hull; the successful v-shaped designs are explained in Legends as reflecting the Empire's "Tarkin's Doctrine" military philosophy and originating from Sith ideological influence, and have been adapted by numerous factions for
21156-520: The process will safely imprison Luke. Han survives and is given to Fett, who intends to collect his bounty from Jabba the Hutt . Lando frees Leia and Chewbacca, but they are too late to stop Fett's escape. The group fights its way back to the Falcon and flees the city. Luke arrives and engages Vader in a lightsaber duel over the city's central air shaft. Vader defeats Luke, severing his right hand and separating him from his lightsaber. He urges Luke to embrace
21328-411: The producers' favor if it exceeded $ 100 million. Filming had to begin by January 1979 for release on May 1, 1980. The deal offered the possibility of significant financial gain for Lucas, but he risked financial ruin if the sequel failed. To mitigate some of the risk, Lucas founded The Chapter II Company to control the film's development and absorb its liabilities. He signed a contract between
21500-408: The producers, and Hamill knew the actual line. While filming the scene, Hamill was positioned on a platform suspended 35 feet (11 m) above a pile of mattresses. Footage of his fall into the reactor shaft was damaged during processing and the scene had to be reshot in early August. The Vader confrontation took eight weeks to film. Hamill insisted on doing as many of his stunts as possible, though
21672-525: The project's conclusion, around 700 people had worked on Empire . Lucas's firm, Industrial Light & Magic, developed the special effects for The Empire Strikes Back at a cost of $ 8 million, including staffing and the construction of the company's new facility in Marin County, California. The building was still under construction when staff arrived in September 1978, and initially lacked
21844-430: The project's conclusion. Released on May 21, 1980, the highly anticipated sequel became the highest-grossing film that year , earning approximately $ 401.5 million worldwide. Unlike its lighthearted predecessor, Empire met with mixed reviews from critics, and fans were conflicted about its darker and more mature themes. The film was nominated for various awards and won two Academy Awards , two Grammy Awards , and
22016-400: The public, but it also brought negative attention in the form of threats and many requests for financial backing. Conscious that the sequel needed to exceed the original's scope—making it a bigger production—and that his production effects company Lucasfilm was relatively small and operating out of a makeshift office, Lucas considered selling the project to 20th Century-Fox in exchange for
22188-570: The quick pacing of Star Wars , not lingering on any scene for too long, and encouraged improvisation, modifying scenes and dialogue to focus more on characters' emotions, such as C-3PO interrupting Han and Leia as they are about to kiss. Kazanjian said many mistakes were made but blamed Weber, Lucasfilm vice president John Moohr, and primarily Kurtz. Actor John Morton called Kurtz an unsung hero, who brought his experience of filming war to Empire . The schedule overrun resulted in filming and post-production taking place simultaneously; filmed footage
22360-564: The rarest among Hasbro's Collector Fleet". The design of the Venator -class Star Destroyers appearing in Revenge of the Sith (2005) are meant to bridge the appearance of the Acclamator -class transports in Attack of the Clones (2002) and the Imperial -class in the original trilogy. This included making use of the Imperial Star Destroyer bridge set for interior shots of the Venator as
22532-451: The remainder as collateral for a loan from Bank of America for the film's $ 8 million budget. Fox had the right of first negotiation and refusal to participate in any potential sequel. Negotiations began in mid-1977 between the studio and Lucas's representatives. Fox had already given Lucas controlling interest in the series' merchandising and sequels because it had thought Star Wars would be worthless. Terms were agreed quickly for
22704-462: The required size of the army and the difficulties of traversing the inhospitable terrain. A force of over 30,000 was shipped from British India to Zula on the Red Sea on a fleet of more than 280 steam ships , while an advance detachment of engineers built a large port with two piers, warehouses and a lighthouse, and constructed a 20-mile (32 km)-long railway towards the interior. A road
22876-403: The rest are primarily concerned with "hard" military power ( show the flag , compellence/deterrence, punishment, armed intervention, and conquest). There is a § continuum in these capabilities . Examples of soft power projection include: The gray zone between cooperation and conflict has expanded due to the competition in power projection capabilities of the world's armies, as well as in
23048-496: The role offered little job security; he returned after being told further delays would lead to his being replaced. James Earl Jones returned to voice Vader but, as with Star Wars , declined a credit because he considered himself "special effects" to Prowse's physical performance. He earned $ 15,000 for half a day's work, plus a small percentage of the profits. Anthony Daniels was reluctant to return as C-3PO because he had received little acknowledgment for his previous performance, as
23220-475: The scene where it rotates to face the Death Star. For the crew at the front of the ship, this would result in a centripetal acceleration of 39 G . If a model of the Executor was built to scale and placed hovering over New York City , it would cast a shadow over the island of Manhattan . Like the Imperial Star Destroyer, the Super Star Destroyer has also been merchandised. Lego released
23392-402: The sequel compared to the original, in part because Fox executive Alan Ladd Jr. had been supportive of the original and was eager for the sequel. The 100-page contract was signed on September 21, 1977, dictating that Fox would distribute the film but have no creative input, in exchange for 50% of the gross profits on the first $ 20 million earned, with the percentage increasing to 77.5% in
23564-606: The sequel to a film as successful as Star Wars , and his friends warned him against taking the job, believing he would be blamed if it failed. Lucas convinced Kershner it was not so much a sequel as a chapter in a larger story; he also promised him he could make the film his own way. Lucas began formulating ideas in August 1977. These included the Emperor, Luke's lost sister, and an explanation of facial injuries Hamill had suffered from an accident after filming Star Wars (Lucas told Hamill that, had he died, his character would have been replaced, not recast). Hamill recounted being told
23736-543: The set consists of 5,374 pieces and comes with a commemorative plaque, at an original retail price of $ 649.99. For the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show , noted modder Sander van der Velden created a custom-built PC made to look like a Venator Star Destroyer. Built around a fully-functional, liquid-cooled PC, the surrounding case was constructed in the shape of a Venator using aluminum and 3D printed material. The final product required 400 hours of work to complete. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), set 30 years after
23908-409: The set, but arrived on May 6 after realizing the production was behind schedule and over budget. An official Lucasfilm memo instructed staff to misstate the film's direct costs as $ 17 million. At this point, Kurtz and Lucas estimated it would cost $ 25–28 million to complete filming. Finances ran out in mid-July when Bank of America refused to increase the loan. The crisis was kept from
24080-486: The ship carries a full legion of over 8,000 stormtroopers and over a hundred assault vehicles. The Finalizer features as the command ship for both Kylo Ren and General Hux during their journeys in The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). However, sometime before as the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), Resistance hero Finn managed to sneak aboard and severely damaged
24252-424: The ship's hyperdrive malfunctions. They hide in an asteroid field , where Han and Leia grow closer amid the tension. Vader summons several bounty hunters, including Boba Fett , to find the Falcon . Evading the Imperial fleet, Han's group travels to the floating Cloud City on the gas planet Bespin , which is governed by his old friend Lando Calrissian . Fett tracks them there, and Vader forces Lando to surrender
24424-658: The ship. This forced Ren to transfer his command over to a new Resurgent -class Star Destroyer, the Steadfast , and reduced Hux to a junior member of the First Order Supreme Council. B. Alan Orange of MovieWeb felt the design of the Finalizer was intimidating and scary while still being instantly recognizable as a Star Destoyer. They also believed it had the "perfect pulp name" in theme with Starkiller Base . YouTube content creator "LegoSpencer"
24596-525: The ships' exposed bridges and deflector shield generators to cause damage. A year after their defeat at Endor, the Empire makes a last stand at Jakku . During the battle, Imperial Star Destroyers use their tractor beams to drag New Republic ships down to the planet's surface, where their wrecks form the Graveyard of Ships as seen in The Force Awakens (2015). Examining what it would take to realistically build an Imperial Star Destroyer, it
24768-401: The sister character might be Leia, which he found disappointing. Lucas had written Star Wars but did not enjoy developing lore for an original universe. Science-fiction writer Leigh Brackett , whom Lucas met through a friend, excelled in quick-paced dialogue. He hired her for $ 50,000, aware that she had cancer. Between November 28 and December 2, 1977, Lucas and Brackett held
24940-602: The space for a hangar and other storage facilities is taken up by the superlaser. In April 2014, most of the licensed Star Wars novels, games, and comics produced since 1976 (and prior to 2014), were rebranded by Lucasfilm as Star Wars Legends ; and therefore declared non-canon to the franchise. Star Destroyers feature in numerous Legends publications, with a considerable amount of additional notable information. According to West End Games ' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game sourcebooks and other texts, Imperial -class Star Destroyers are constructed by Kuat Drive Yards and hold
25112-466: The speed of transportation and communication relatively to the extent of contemporary power projection. Roman troops moved 50 km per day; today Globemasters move troops 20,000 km per day. The speed of communication in the largest Empire in Americas ( Inca ) was 20 km per hour (running man); today it moves with the speed of light . Multiplying the range of power projection in those empires by increase in
25284-545: The speed of transportation or communication, Ostrovsky estimated the present power projection potential to exceed the size of Earth multiple times. The U.S. Department of Defense defines power projection as the "ability of a nation to apply all or some of its elements of national power—political, economic, informational, or military—to rapidly and effectively deploy and sustain forces in and from multiple dispersed locations to respond to crises, to contribute to deterrence, and to enhance regional stability". As distance between
25456-415: The stage on May 18, regardless of its state. The hangar scene involved 77 rebel extras, which cost £2,000 per day. Around 50 short tons (45 long tons) of dendritic salt , mixed with magnesium sulfate for a sparkle effect, were used for the snowy sets; this combination of substances gave the cast and crew headaches. Second unit director John Barry died suddenly in early June; Harley Cokeliss replaced him
25628-400: The start of August, including Ford, Fisher, Williams, Mayhew, and Daniels. Hamill began filming on the Dagobah set with Yoda. They only had 12 days to film because Oz was scheduled for another project. With the film now over 50 days behind schedule, Kurtz was removed from his role and replaced by Kazanjian and associate producer Robert Watts . One of the last scenes shot was of Luke exploring
25800-531: The start of filming in January 1979 loomed, a fire on Elstree's Stage 3—where The Shining (1980) was being filmed—destroyed the space planned for Empire ' s sets. The impact was significant, resulting in the Empire production being forced to give up two stages so The Shining could continue filming. Sixty-four sets had to be moved through nine stages and the filming schedule had to be altered. Poor weather delayed construction of necessary sets, props, and
25972-417: The tauntaun special effect was criticized, audiences liked Han's reply of "I know" to Leia's confession of love. Lucas was unimpressed by the scene, believing it was not how Han would act. Because the magnetic soundtrack could flake from the film reels, Kurtz hired people to watch the film reels 24 hours a day to identify defects; 22% were defective. Shortly after the film's theatrical release, Lucas decided
26144-435: The term itself is used most frequently in reference to militaries with a worldwide reach (or at least significantly broader than a state's immediate area). Even states with sizable hard power assets (such as a large standing army ) may only be able to exert limited regional influence so long as they lack the means of effectively projecting their power on a global scale. Generally, only a select few states are able to overcome
26316-466: The three began conceptualizing the Hoth battle in December. By this point, the budget had increased to $ 10 million. Lucas wanted a director who would support the material and accept that he was ultimately in charge. He considered around 100 directors, including Alan Parker and John Badham , before hiring his old acquaintance Irvin Kershner in February 1978. Kershner was reluctant to direct
26488-603: The unofficial Star Wars Technical Commentaries (he has since been the author of the official Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Incredible Cross-Sections and Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Incredible Cross-Sections ), has advocated using the term Imperator -class in lieu of Imperial -class. Saxton argues that "Imperial Star Destroyer" is a somewhat generic term, as the vast majority of Star Destroyer types are operated by
26660-567: The years, from small sets with just 21 pieces to the largest versions with thousands of pieces. These include two Ultimate Collector Series models, the first of which was released in 2002. Measuring 37-inch (940 mm) long and 23-inch (580 mm), it sold for $ 269.99 until being retired in 2007. The second UCS Star Destroyer was larger, 43-inch (1,100 mm) long and 26-inch (660 mm) wide, and sold for $ 699.99 between 2019 and 2022. For The Empire Strikes Back , George Lucas wanted Darth Vader's new flagship, Executor , to be huge and to play
26832-445: Was a token role , but was assured it was not specifically written for a black actor. Kershner said Williams had the fantastic charm of a "Mississippi riverboat hustler". Howard Rollins , Terry Alexander , Robert Christian , Thurman Scott, and Yaphet Kotto were also considered for the part. Yoda was voiced and puppeteered by Frank Oz, with assistance from Kathryn Mullen , David Barclay , and Wendy Froud . Lucas had intended for
27004-531: Was also allergic to most makeup. Her overuse of hallucinogens and painkillers worsened her condition, as did the anxiety she experienced while performing her speech to the rebels. Stress and personal traumas led to frequent arguments among Hamill, Fisher, and Ford. Ford and Hamill fell ill or were injured at different times. Hamill was depressed by his isolation from human cast members, as his scenes required him to interact mostly with puppets, robots, and actors whose voices would be added later or dubbed over. He
27176-723: Was also built for the artillery to be moved along with the help of elephants . After three months of trekking, the British force repelled an Ethiopian attack and launched an artillery bombardment against the fortress of Magdala which led to its capitulation; Tewodros committed suicide. In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905, the Japanese destruction of the Imperial Russian Navy's Pacific Fleet demonstrated Imperial Russia 's inability to project force in
27348-431: Was approximately 400,000 feet (120,000 m) of film, or 80 hours of footage. The final budget was $ 30.5 million. Kurtz blamed inflation , which had increased resource, cast, and crew costs significantly. Lucas blamed Kurtz for lack of oversight and poor financial planning. Watts said Kurtz was not good with people and never developed a working relationship with Kershner, making it difficult for him to temper
27520-463: Was available for this role, so Kurtz had him quickly change out of the Fett costume to stand in. John Morton portrays Fett in the same scene. There was no extensive casting for the Emperor. Lucas chose Clive Revill to provide the character's voice, and actress Marjorie Eaton physically portrayed the Emperor in test footage. The footage proved unsatisfactory, and special effects artist Rick Baker created
27692-428: Was born, aggravated by the salt-laden setting, and exhausted, he angrily chastised Kurtz for not using a double for the scene. Kershner's hands-on directing style, which included him acting out how he wanted a scene performed, agitated Hamill; Kershner, for his part, was frustrated that Hamill was not following his advice. The life-size hangar set was dismantled in mid-June to allow the construction of other sets around
27864-511: Was compensated with a donation to the Norwegian Red Cross . To film the Imperial probe landing, eight sticks of dynamite were placed on the glacier and set to explode at sunrise, but the demolitions expert in charge knocked the battery out of his radio and received the message too late to capture the intended shot. The opening sweeping shot of the area was captured by flying a helicopter to 15,000 feet (4,600 m) and performing
28036-612: Was confident in the film and spent little money on advertising, taking out small advertisements in newspapers instead of full-page spreads. The studio's market research showed 60% of those interested in the film were male. Lucasfilm set up a telephone number allowing callers to hear a message from cast members. Fox demanded a minimum 28-week appearance in theaters, although 12 weeks was the norm for major films. Estimates suggested Empire needed to earn $ 57.2 million to be profitable, after marketing, distribution, and loan interest costs. As with Star Wars , Lucas wanted to place all of
28208-609: Was estimated in 2016 that such a vessel would cost $ 636 billion USD . Using then-current technology and naval vessels as a reference, the ship would weigh 4.44 billion kilograms, generate 146.5 gigawatts of power, and its engines would produce a combined total thrust of 3.5 million newtons . However getting the parts into space to construct the Star Destroyer would require an additional $ 44.4 trillion USD in launch costs, suggesting that asteroid mining and refining technologies would have to be developed first to make it more economical. Joe Pappalardo of Popular Mechanics argues that
28380-599: Was inspired to build a model of the TIE fighter hangar bay on the Finalizer , a process which took six weeks to complete. The Mega -class Star Dreadnought Supremacy made its first appearance in The Last Jedi (2017). Described as the only Mega -class Star Destroyer in the galaxy, the Supremacy is 60,543 m (198,632 ft) wide, 13,234 m (43,419 ft) long and 3,975 m (13,041 ft) high. It has
28552-479: Was long avoided in the research with the subject of globalization mostly channeled to economic field, but in 2018 Historian Max Ostrovsky broke the path. In prehistory, he wrote, power was not projected behind entrance of a cave. In history, empires and colonies projected power ever farther, creating world system c. 1900. World Wars were expressions of power projected on global scale. The potential of power projection can be estimated mathematically by calculating
28724-404: Was meant to use an earpiece to hear Oz's Yoda dialogue, but for various reasons this did not work, and he struggled to form a relationship with the character. The Dagobah set was liberally sprayed with mineral oil, which caused him physical discomfort for long periods. Hamill called it a "physical ordeal the whole time ... but I don't really mind that". At one point, Oz cheered Hamill up with
28896-422: Was paid 0.25% of Empire ' s box office gross for his few hours of work. Billy Dee Williams was cast as Lando Calrissian, making him the first black actor with a starring role in the series. He found the character interesting because of his cape and Armenian surname ; Williams believed this gave him room to develop the character. Williams said Lando was much like himself—a "pretty cool guy". He believed it
29068-690: Was responsible mainly for crafting the Yoda puppet. Various techniques, including miniatures , matte paintings , stop motion , articulated models and full-size vehicles were used to create Empire ' s many effects. Industry professionals expected comedies and positive entertainment to dominate theaters in 1980 because of low morale in the United States caused by an economic recession . This generally increased theatrical visits as audiences sought escapism and ignored romantic films and depictions of blue-collar life . A surge of interest in science fiction following Star Wars led to many low-budget entries in
29240-459: Was scripted with both of them admitting their feelings for the other. Kershner felt this was too "sappy". He had Ford improvise lines repeatedly until Ford said he would do only one more take; his response to Leia's confession of love in the final take was "I know". By the end of the month, cast and crew morale was low. Hamill returned in early July to film his climactic battle against Darth Vader, portrayed by stunt double Bob Anderson , who said
29412-416: Was shipped immediately to ILM to begin effects work. A rough cut resembling the finished film (minus special effects) was put together by mid-October 1979. Lucas provided 31 pages of notes about changes he wanted, mainly alterations in dialogue and scene lengths. Jones recorded Vader's dialogue in late 1979 and early 1980. In early 1980, Lucas changed the long-planned opening of Luke riding his tauntaun to
29584-533: Was the British Expedition to Abyssinia in 1868 as a retaliation against Emperor Tewodros II of Ethiopia 's imprisonment of several missionaries and British government representatives. The expeditionary force sent was a tremendous logistical and technological challenge at the time. Commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Napier of the Bombay Army , military intelligence was used to estimate
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