Tusken Raiders are a fictional alien race in the Star Wars franchise . They first appeared in Star Wars (1977).
167-635: The Tusken Raiders are depicted as xenophobic and are known to be aggressive in their interactions with other species, though they are capable of compromise and cooperation with outsiders. They dress in heavy cloth robes, and cover their heads with strips of cloth to secure a breath mask and eye protection. They learned to train the Banthas native to Tatooine as mounts, and a marauding group of Tuskens will ride them single file, to hide their numbers. Tusken Raiders first appeared in Star Wars (1977). Early on in
334-482: A stop-motion creature over a human actor; he accomplished a similar effect with computer-generated imagery (CGI) in the 1997 Special Edition . According to Greedo actor Paul Blake , his character was created as a result of Lucas having to cut the Jabba scene. During production, the cast attempted to make Lucas laugh or smile, as he often appeared depressed. At one point, the project became so demanding that Lucas
501-518: A 1905 science fantasy written by Edwin Arnold . Lucas took the science fantasy concept and began developing what he would later call a "space fantasy". In May 1971, Lucas persuaded the head of United Artists , David Picker , to take a chance on two of his film ideas: American Graffiti and the space opera. Although Lucas signed a two-picture deal, the studio ultimately declined to produce Graffiti . Universal Pictures picked it up, and Lucas spent
668-527: A Buddhist monk who happened to be very good at fighting". As depicted in the canon , the Jedi study and utilize the Force in order to help and protect those in need. The Jedi members, known as Jedi Knights, respect all life by defending and protecting those who cannot do it for themselves, striving for peaceful and non-combative solutions to any altercations they encounter and fighting only in self-defense and for
835-502: A Death Star being included in both films. In 1975, Lucas envisioned a trilogy which would end with the destruction of the Empire, and possibly a prequel about Obi-Wan as a young man. After Star Wars became tremendously successful, Lucasfilm announced that Lucas had already written twelve more Luke Skywalker stories, which, according to Kurtz, were "separate adventures" rather than traditional sequels. On February 27, 1975, Fox granted
1002-617: A Force Projection, allowing the Resistance to escape. When Rey learned of her lineage and exiled herself on Ahch-To out of fear of turning to the dark side, Luke appeared before her as a Force spirit and encouraged her to face the Emperor. Along with the spirits of other past Jedi, he then empowered Rey during her final confrontation with Sidious, which marked the definitive defeat of the Sith. Later, he and Leia gave Rey their blessings to adopt
1169-479: A Force spirit. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens , Obi-Wan's voice can briefly be heard just after Rey 's force vision when she came into contact with Anakin's lightsaber. In Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker , Obi-Wan appears as a disembodied voice alongside other past Jedi, empowering Rey to face a rejuvenated Darth Sidious. Anakin Skywalker was a human Jedi Knight, one of the main protagonists of
1336-482: A Jedi named Kanan Jarrus survived the purge; the latter trains a new apprentice, Ezra Bridger . The series also reveals that, following the start of the purge with Order 66, Sidious commissioned the Inquisitorius, a group of former Jedi who had turned to the dark side for various reasons, to aid Darth Vader in hunting down the remaining Jedi. The Clone Wars spinoff series Star Wars: The Bad Batch follows
1503-570: A Thousand Faces (1949), directly influenced Lucas, and was what drove him to create the 'modern myth' of Star Wars . Lucas explained that the Jedi are trained, allowed and expected to love people (even their enemies, the Sith), but they are not to form attachments because attachment leads to the dark side of the Force. When one has, gets or wants a person or experience and attaches to them, one becomes afraid to lose them. The fear of loss feeds into greed, wanting to keep things, thus, an attached person
1670-541: A Thousand Faces , James George Frazer 's The Golden Bough , and Bruno Bettelheim 's The Uses of Enchantment . Author Michael Kaminski has objected to Lucas's claim regarding the Bettelheim book, arguing that it was not released until after Star Wars was filmed ( J.W. Rinzler speculates that Lucas may have obtained an advance copy). Kaminski also writes that Campbell's influence on Star Wars has been exaggerated by Lucas and others, and that Lucas's second draft
1837-524: A Tusken scout in the episode. The sign language later appeared to a greater extent in " Chapter 9: The Marshal ", as well as the first three episodes of The Book of Boba Fett . "Chapter 5: The Gunslinger" was the first time that Tuskens had communicated on-screen. Media outlets praised the sign language for humanizing the Tuskens and moving away from their characterization as indigenous "savages". Fans, especially deaf viewers, were similarly enthusiastic about
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#17327726314232004-506: A character that did not make the final cut of the film. Lucas initially resisted casting Ford as Han, since Ford had previously worked with Lucas on American Graffiti , and was therefore not unknown. Instead, the director asked Ford to assist with auditions by reading lines with other actors. However, Lucas was eventually won over by Ford, and cast him as Han over many other actors who auditioned. Lucas recognized that he needed an established star to play Obi-Wan. He considered Cushing for
2171-408: A duel. He communes with Kenobi before returning to the Force. In Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker , he appears as a disembodied voice alongside other past Jedi, empowering Rey to face a rejuvenated Darth Sidious. Obi-Wan Kenobi was a human Jedi Master who trained Anakin Skywalker, at the behest of his deceased master Qui-Gon Jinn, and later Anakin's son Luke Skywalker, making him one of
2338-443: A fellow veteran, for analysis. Luke initially declines Obi-Wan's offer to accompany him to Alderaan and learn the ways of the Force, but he is left with no choice after Imperial stormtroopers murdered his family and destroyed his home while searching for the droids. Seeking a way off the planet, Luke and Obi-Wan travel to the city of Mos Eisley and hire Han Solo and Chewbacca , pilots of the starship Millennium Falcon . Before
2505-526: A former ally named Obi-Wan Kenobi . R2-D2 goes missing, and while searching for him, Luke is attacked by Sand People . He is rescued by the elderly hermit Ben Kenobi, who soon reveals himself to be Obi-Wan. He tells Luke about his past as one of the Jedi Knights, former peacekeepers of the Galactic Republic , who drew mystical abilities from the Force but were hunted to near-extinction by
2672-523: A galactic civil war, Rebel Alliance spies have stolen plans to the Death Star , a colossal space station built by the Galactic Empire that is capable of destroying entire planets. Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan , secretly a Rebel leader, has obtained the schematics, but her ship is intercepted and boarded by Imperial forces under the command of Darth Vader . Leia is taken prisoner, but
2839-589: A half weeks in Tunisia, production moved to Elstree Studios in London for interior scenes. Kurtz has described Lucas as a shy "loner" who does not enjoy working with a large cast and crew. According to Carrie Fisher, he gave very little direction to the actors, and when he did, it usually consisted of the words "faster" and "more intense". Laws in Britain stipulated that filming had to finish by 5:30 pm, unless Lucas
3006-688: A leader of the Rebel Alliance . As seen in The Rise of Skywalker , Leia began training as a Jedi under her brother shortly after Return of the Jedi , but quit her training when she had a vision that it would result in the death of her yet to be born son. Decades later, while leading the Resistance against the First Order , Leia also briefly mentored Rey in the ways of the Force, despite her limited knowledge about it. Ultimately, Leia gave her life to redeem her son, Ben Solo , who had turned to
3173-612: A list of Force-sensitive children, which could be used to rebuild the Jedi Order. Once their mission was completed, Cal decided to destroy the Holocron, believing it to be better for those children to discover their own destinies. Kanan Jarrus (born Caleb Dume) was a human Jedi Padawan who fought for the Rebellion during its formation. First introduced as a main character of the animated television series Star Wars Rebels , Jarrus
3340-407: A lot of samurai pride" and turned down the roles of Obi-Wan and Vader because he thought Star Wars would employ cheap special effects and would therefore "cheapen the image of samurai". Lucas credited Guinness with inspiring the cast and crew to work harder, which contributed significantly to the completion of filming. Ford said he admired Guinness's preparation, professionalism and kindness towards
3507-547: A month. Anakin eventually finds her, but she is mortally injured and dies in his arms. Seized by a violent rage, Anakin slaughters the entire tribe out of revenge, including the women and children. This was referenced by Chancellor Palpatine in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith to justify Anakin's reasoning for killing Count Dooku , and after he says it, a faint sound of the Tusken Raider's braying calls
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#17327726314233674-421: A mystical energy field called "The Force," the concept of a Jedi turning to the dark side, and a historical Jedi who was the first to turn, and who subsequently trained the Sith. The script also included a Jedi Master with a son who trains to be a Jedi under his father's friend; this would ultimately form the basis for the finished film and, later, the original trilogy. This version was more a fairy tale quest than
3841-583: A rejuvenated Darth Sidious. Ezra Bridger is a human Jedi Padawan who was born on the planet Lothal on the same day the Galactic Empire was established. He witnessed many injustices of the Imperial occupation of his homeworld for much of his childhood and was separated from his parents from a very early age. He was able to survive alone using street smarts and skills but was discovered by Kanan Jarrus to have potential Force sensitivity after he encounters
4008-504: A small group of Raiders while travelling through their land, in search of a bounty. They are initially hostile until he communicates with them via sign language. In the Season 2 episode " Chapter 9: The Marshal ", a Tusken clan teams up with villagers from Mos Pelgo in order to slay a Krayt dragon . A tribe of Tusken Raiders appear in various flashbacks in the first three episodes of The Book of Boba Fett , where they find Boba Fett after
4175-521: A special game mode called "hunt". Tusken Raiders appear in Knights of the Old Republic and The Old Republic when players visit Tatooine. In Knights of the Old Republic , it is suggested that humans, Jawas , and Tusken Raiders share a common ancestry and that Tusken Raiders refer to themselves as the "ghorfa". Star Wars creator George Lucas said that the Tuskens' design was inspired by
4342-522: A trial. In turn, Fett helps the Tuskens raid a Pyke Syndicate spice train that had been attacking their territory, teaching them how to ride speeder bikes in the process, and demands that the Pykes pay a toll to the tribe before entering their territory again in the future. However, after returning from collecting the toll, Fett finds that the tribe has been massacred, seemingly by the Nikto gang he had stolen
4509-517: A week or it would be shut down. The crew split into three units, led by Lucas, Kurtz, and production supervisor Robert Watts . Under the new system, they met the studio's deadline. The screenplay originally featured a human Jabba the Hutt, but the character was removed due to budget and time constraints. The idea of Jabba being an alien did not arise until work began on the 1979 Star Wars re-release. Lucas would later claim he had wanted to superimpose
4676-423: Is a 1977 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas , produced by Lucasfilm and distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox . It is the first film released in the Star Wars film series and the fourth chronological chapter of the " Skywalker Saga ". Set "a long time ago" in a fictional galaxy ruled by the tyrannical Galactic Empire , the story follows a group of freedom fighters known as
4843-587: Is heard in Anakin's mind as he ponders. In Star Wars Rebels Season 3, Episode 20, a group of Tuskens attack Ezra and Chopper when they land on Tatooine to look for Kenobi, successfully destroying their ship. However, Ezra and Chopper escape and the Tuskens are killed by Darth Maul . Tusken Raiders appear in The Mandalorian . In the Season 1 episode " Chapter 5: The Gunslinger ", Din Djarin comes across
5010-471: Is not a story about the future, but rather a "fantasy" that has more in common with the Brothers Grimm than 2001: A Space Odyssey . He said his motivation for making the film was to give young people an "honest, wholesome fantasy life," of the kind his generation had. He hoped it would offer "the romance, the adventure, and the fun that used to be in practically every movie". While impressed with
5177-474: Is now known as the Dykstraflex system. Visually, Lucas wanted Star Wars to have the "ethereal quality" of a fairy tale, but also "an alien look." He hoped to achieve "the seeming contradiction of [the] strange graphics of fantasy combined with the feel of a documentary." His first choice for cinematographer was Geoffrey Unsworth , who had worked on 2001: A Space Odyssey . Unsworth initially accepted
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5344-497: Is renamed Kylo Ren and destroys all that Luke built. After Kylo's fall and the destruction of the New Jedi Order, Luke goes into a self-imposed exile on Ahch-To , believing himself and the Jedi to be a negative influence on the galaxy. In the sequel The Last Jedi , the scavenger Rey ( Daisy Ridley ) discovers Luke on Ahch-To and convinces him to train her in the ways of the Force. During her training, Luke explains that
5511-407: Is selfish and unable to let go. The fear of loss turns into anger, which will lead to hate, and hate will lead into suffering, mostly on the part of the one who is selfish, because then one will spend their lives being afraid rather than actually living. The light side is focused on compassion and giving; thus it is love, and the opposite of attachment – it is everlasting joy, devoid of fear of loss and
5678-594: The Clone Wars series, the Jedi believed romantic feelings are natural and as such, they did not prohibit them, but for a Jedi Knight, it was essential to make the right choice for the Order and not neglect their Jedi duties in the favor of their beloved, even if that would mean the end of the relationship. This proves problematic when Anakin, now a young adult ( Hayden Christensen ), falls in love with Padmé Amidala ( Natalie Portman ). The Clone Wars , first spoken of in
5845-544: The Star Wars Rebels episode "Path of the Jedi" , Kanan Jarrus stated: There were around 10,000 Jedi Knights defending the galaxy. Now, we are few. But in those days, we had small outposts, temples spread throughout the stars. The Empire sought out these temples and destroyed many of them... Yoda was a wise, experienced, and powerful Grand Master of the Jedi of an unknown species and the oldest known prophet in existence (having lived at least 900 years), considered
6012-579: The Barsoom series by Edgar Rice Burroughs , a series that Lucas considered adapting to film. According to the Star Wars: Rogue One – The Ultimate Visual Guide , "Jedi" in-universe is derived from "Jedha," a planet that was once home to a Jedi temple and was a source of kyber crystals. Kyber crystals are used to power lightsabers and were considered sacred by the Jedi Order. In his book The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind
6179-596: The Bedouin , an Arab tribe from the desert regions of North Africa . In his script for The Mandalorian episode " Chapter 5: The Gunslinger ", Dave Filoni mentioned that the Tusken Raiders should use some form of sign language . Deaf actor Troy Kotsur was hired as a consultant. When developing the sign language, he attempted to avoid American Sign Language and suit the Tuskens' cultural and environmental context. A lifelong Star Wars fan, Kotsur also played
6346-545: The Falcon reaches Alderaan, the Death Star commander Grand Moff Tarkin has the planet obliterated by the station's superlaser. Upon arrival, the Falcon is captured by the Death Star's tractor beam , but the passengers avoid detection and infiltrate the station. As Obi-Wan leaves to deactivate the tractor beam, Luke persuades Han and Chewbacca to help him rescue Leia, who is scheduled for execution after refusing to reveal
6513-532: The Jedi Order are fictional characters, and often protagonists , featured in many works within the Star Wars franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Old Galactic Republic , the Jedi Order is depicted as a religious, academic, meritocratic , and military-auxiliary (peacekeeping) organization whose origin dates back thousands of years before the events of the first film released in
6680-695: The Rebel Alliance , who aim to destroy the Empire's newest weapon, the Death Star . When the Rebel leader Princess Leia is captured by the Empire, Luke Skywalker acquires stolen architectural plans of the Death Star and sets out to rescue her while learning the ways of a metaphysical power known as " the Force " from the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi . The cast includes Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Peter Cushing , Alec Guinness , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , David Prowse , and James Earl Jones . Lucas had
6847-458: The droids R2-D2 and C-3PO escape with the plans, crashing on the nearby planet of Tatooine . Darth Vader learns of this and orders the Imperials to pursue the droids. The droids are captured by Jawa traders, who sell them to the moisture farmers Owen and Beru Lars and their nephew, Luke Skywalker . While Luke is cleaning R2-D2, he discovers a recording of Leia requesting help from
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7014-674: The highest-grossing film until the release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982); subsequent releases have brought its total gross to $ 775 million. When adjusted for inflation, Star Wars is the second-highest-grossing film in North America (behind Gone with the Wind ) and the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time . It received Academy Awards , BAFTA Awards, and Saturn Awards , among others. The film has been reissued many times with Lucas's support—most significantly
7181-407: The original trilogy , Return of the Jedi , ends with Luke redeeming Vader and helping to destroy the Empire, thus fulfilling his destiny as a Jedi. The two last Jedi Masters die during the events of the films, after which they return as Force spirits to help Luke. Now that they're extinct, the Jedi are romanticized, deified. But if you strip away the myth and look at their deeds, the legacy of
7348-555: The " Chosen One " of a Jedi prophecy, destined to bring balance to the Force. At the end of The Phantom Menace , following Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul , Anakin is paired with his apprentice, the young Obi-Wan Kenobi ( Ewan McGregor ), who promises to train him. The sequel, Episode II: Attack of the Clones , establishes that the Jedi forswear attachments, being in the same category of possession and striving to cultivate compassion, unconditional love instead. As revealed in
7515-424: The "light side" of the Force. Furthermore, the Jedi view fear to be the root of suffering: fear leading to anger, anger leading to hate, and hate leading to suffering. The Jedi warn that an excess of these negative emotions can turn practitioners away from the light side of the Force towards the dark side, which embraces passions, aggression, hate, rage, fear, and bitterness as a way of life. The Sith are followers of
7682-496: The 2023 sequel, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor , it is revealed that mercenary Bode Akuna was also a survivor of Order 66. In the limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi , the Great Jedi Purge is depicted in a flashback in which Reva Sevander, future Inquisitor called Third Sister, escapes from the clones during the night of Order 66. The exact size of the pre-purge Jedi's membership and operations are never specified. However, in
7849-478: The 20th-anniversary theatrical "Special Edition"—and the reissues have contained many changes, including new scenes, visual effects, and dialogue. Often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, Star Wars quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, launching an industry of tie-in products, including novels , comics , video games , amusement park attractions and merchandise such as toys, games, and clothing. It became one of
8016-513: The 50-year-old but still toddler Grogu was sought by a remnant of the Galactic Empire due to his connection to the Force, but was found and adopted by the Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin , who sought to reunite him with the Jedi. When Grogu was eventually captured by Moff Gideon's Imperial remnant, Djarin mounted a rescue, which would have been unsuccessful if not for the arrival of Luke Skywalker (whom Grogu had previously contacted through
8183-472: The Adventures of Luke Starkiller . This version had most of the elements of the final plot, with only some differences in the characters and settings. It presented Luke as an only child whose father was already dead, and who was cared for by a man named Ben Kenobi. This script would be rewritten for the fourth and final draft, dated January 1, 1976, and titled The Adventures of Luke Starkiller as taken from
8350-518: The Chosen One. In Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker , Anakin appears as a disembodied voice alongside other past Jedi, empowering Rey to face a rejuvenated Sidious. Ahsoka Tano is a Togruta Jedi Padawan discovered on her homeworld of Shili by Jedi Master Plo Koon. Plo brought her to Coruscant to train as a Jedi. She eventually became the Padawan learner of Anakin Skywalker during
8517-539: The Clone Wars, Jedi Master Dooku left the Jedi Order as a result of differences with his fellow Jedi, becoming the 20th Jedi Master in the history of the Order to do so. To showcase the failures of the Jedi they created statues of the fallen Jedi and placed them in the Jedi Temple Archives. The animated television series Star Wars: The Clone Wars depicts the battles of the Clone Wars, focusing on
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#17327726314238684-750: The Clone Wars. Among many campaigns, Ahsoka found herself advising rebels on the planet Onderon, including Steela and Saw Gerrera, in their fight against the Confederacy. These rebels would eventually form part of the basis of the Alliance for the Restoration of the Republic, a relationship that would later prove beneficial to her. She was accused of bombing the hangar at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant before clearing her name with Anakin's help. However,
8851-464: The Empire. Luke learns that his father, also a Jedi, fought alongside Obi-Wan during the Clone Wars until Vader, Obi-Wan's former pupil, turned to the dark side of the Force and murdered him. Obi-Wan gives Luke his father's lightsaber , the signature weapon of the Jedi. R2-D2 plays Leia's full message, in which she begs Obi-Wan to take the Death Star plans to Alderaan and give them to her father,
9018-764: The Force and, as the Sith Lord Darth Krayt, briefly conquered the galaxy . In the Junior Jedi Knights and New Jedi Order series, it is revealed that Jedi Knight Tahiri Veila was raised by the Tusken Raiders after they killed her parents. A Tusken Raider named "Hoar" appears as a playable character in the PlayStation fighting game Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi . In the Xbox Original game Star Wars: Battlefront II players are allowed to play as Tusken Raiders in
9185-1079: The Force to aim his torpedoes into the exhaust port, causing the Death Star to explode moments before it can fire on the Rebel base. In a triumphant ceremony, Leia awards Luke and Han medals for their heroism. Phil Brown and Shelagh Fraser appear as Luke's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru , respectively, and Jack Purvis portrays the Chief Jawa. Rebel leaders include Alex McCrindle as General Dodonna and Eddie Byrne as General Willard. Imperial commanders include Don Henderson as General Taggi , Richard LeParmentier as General Motti, and Leslie Schofield as Commander #1. Rebel pilots are played by Drewe Henley (Red Leader, mistakenly credited as Drewe Hemley), Denis Lawson (Red Two/ Wedge , credited as Dennis Lawson), Garrick Hagon (Red Three/Biggs), Jack Klaff (Red Four/John "D"), William Hootkins (Red Six/Porkins), Angus MacInnes (Gold Leader, credited as Angus McInnis), Jeremy Sinden (Gold Two), and Graham Ashley (Gold Five). Uncredited actors include Paul Blake as
9352-407: The Force to control and command animals, a skill that proved more useful several times during his service in the Rebellion. Bridger later went missing in action during the battle to liberate Lothal from Imperial occupation, where he successfully defeated Grand Admiral Thrawn , regarded by many as the Empire's best tactician. Luke Skywalker was a human Jedi Knight (later Master) and the protagonist of
9519-528: The Force). With Djarin's approval, Luke took Grogu with him so that the child could be trained as a Jedi. Though Grogu briefly trained with Luke, he showed signs of not being fully committed to the Jedi path and wishing to be with Djarin instead, causing Luke to doubt his abilities as a teacher, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett . After speaking with Ahsoka Tano, Luke decided to let Grogu choose his own destiny, and
9686-412: The Force. With peace and justice restored to the galaxy, Rey lives on to start the Jedi Order again. In a deleted scene from Attack of the Clones , the "Lost Twenty" is the name given to a group of Jedi Masters—numbering twenty in total—who left the Jedi Order throughout its history. The first 12 of this Lost Twenty became "Dark Jedi" who eventually founded the first Sith Empire. In the years preceding
9853-467: The Hebrew term "yedid," which means "beloved." In his book The Secret History of Star Wars , Michael Kaminski suggests that Lucas may have been influenced by this term when creating the name for his knights. Kaminski notes that Lucas has cited Jewish mysticism as an inspiration for his work, and that he may have been drawn to the idea of his heroes being beloved protectors. George Lucas acknowledged that
10020-421: The Imperial era, he lived on Bracca, working as a scrapyard rigger and hiding his Force powers. While scrapping a freighter, an accident forced Cal to reveal his Force abilities to save a co-worker, exposing him to the Empire, who dispatched two Inquisitors to hunt him down. On the run, Cal was rescued by Cere Junda, a Jedi Knight also in hiding, and worked with her and other allies to find a Jedi Holocron containing
10187-580: The Jedi Council's response during the ordeal soured her faith in the Order, and she left the Order to forge her own path in the galaxy. She briefly returned in the service of the Republic during the final days of the Clone Wars, when she led part of the 501st Clone Legion in the siege of Mandalore to capture the Sith Lord Darth Maul , who attempted to warn her that Anakin would soon fall to the dark side. Shortly after capturing Maul, Ahsoka
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#173277263142310354-478: The Jedi Order's last hope. Darth Vader ( David Prowse / James Earl Jones ) is also established as the Jedi's main enemy. By the end of the film, which depicts the battle of Yavin , Luke is on the path to becoming a Jedi. In the sequel, The Empire Strikes Back , Luke receives Jedi training from the elderly (and only surviving) Jedi Master Yoda ( Frank Oz ), even as he learns that Vader is, in fact, his father, former Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker . The third film in
10521-462: The Jedi and clone troopers they lead against the Separatists and its Sith leaders. The feature-film pilot reveals that Anakin trained an apprentice, Ahsoka Tano , between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith . Later arcs explore the foundations of Order 66 and Darth Sidious' manipulation of the Jedi Order. The animated television series Star Wars Rebels reveals that Ahsoka and
10688-413: The Jedi is failure. Hypocrisy, hubris. [...] At the height of their powers, they allowed Darth Sidious to rise, create the Empire, and wipe them out. In The Force Awakens , the first film in the sequel trilogy, it is revealed that Luke had attempted to rebuild the Jedi Order, but failed when his nephew Ben Solo ( Adam Driver ) fell to the dark side, lured by the mysterious Snoke ( Andy Serkis ). Ben
10855-552: The Jedi, Sith , and other Force concepts have been inspired by many sources. These include: knighthood , chivalry , paladinism , samurai bushido , Shaolin Monastery , Feudalism , Hinduism , Qigong , Greek philosophy and mythology , Roman history and mythology , Sufism , Confucianism , Shintō , Buddhism and Taoism , and numerous cinematic precursors. The works of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and mythologist Joseph Campbell , especially his book The Hero with
11022-576: The Journal of the Whills, Saga I: The Star Wars . Lucas's friends Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck helped him revise the fourth draft into the final pre-production script. Lucas finished the screenplay in March 1976, when the crew started filming. During production, he changed Luke's surname from Starkiller to Skywalker, and changed the title first to The Star Wars , and then, finally, to Star Wars . For
11189-485: The Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire. The Jedi are first introduced in the 1977 motion picture Star Wars as an order of warrior monks who serve as "the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy " and embrace the mystical Force. Obi-Wan Kenobi ( Alec Guinness ) explains that the Galactic Empire has all but exterminated the Jedi, and seeks to train Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hamill ) to be
11356-462: The Original Film , J.W. Rinzler notes that Lucas originally considered using the term "Jedidiah" for his knights, but ultimately settled on "jedi." Rinzler also suggests that the word may have been influenced by the term "bodhisattva," which refers to a Buddhist concept of an enlightened being who chooses to remain in the world to help others. Another potential influence on the word "jedi" is
11523-433: The Rebellion's X-wing squadron in a desperate attack against the Death Star, while Han and Chewbacca leave to pay off a debt to the crime lord Jabba the Hutt . In the ensuing battle, Vader leads a squadron of TIE fighters and destroys several Rebel ships. Han and Chewbacca unexpectedly return in the Falcon , knocking Vader's ship off course before he can shoot Luke down. Guided by the voice of Obi-Wan's spirit , Luke uses
11690-407: The Skywalker surname and continue their family's legacy. Leia Organa was the daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, the twin sister of Luke Skywalker, and one of the main characters of the original and sequel trilogies. While Force-sensitive, she didn't become aware of her connection to the Force or her lineage until much later in life, instead focusing on a career as a senator and, secretly,
11857-573: The Spectres for the first time. After discovering how much of a team player he could be during a rescue operation, they recruited Bridger, who began training him in the ways of the Jedi under Jarrus, himself still a Jedi Padawan. Bridger took a long time learning how to wield a lightsaber and use it to deflect blaster bolts, modifying his first one to fire stun blasts in the interim. He was not well skilled in lightsaber duels against Inquisitors and Darth Vader, but later discovered his unique ability to use
12024-495: The Starkiller, Episode One: The Star Wars . He had made substantial simplifications and introduced the young, farm-dwelling hero as Luke Starkiller. In this draft, Luke had several brothers. Annikin became Luke's father, a wise Jedi Knight who played a minor role at the end of the story. Early versions of the characters Han Solo and Chewbacca were present, and closely resemble those seen in the finished film. This draft introduced
12191-471: The United States. The filmmakers experienced many problems in Tunisia. Production fell behind schedule in the first week due to malfunctioning props and electronic breakdowns. The radio-controlled R2-D2 models functioned poorly. The left leg of Anthony Daniels's C-3PO costume shattered, injuring his foot. A rare winter rainstorm struck the country, which further disrupted filming. After two and
12358-706: The Unknown Regions. Ahsoka is one of the few Jedi to survive past the Imperial era and into the New Republic era. After the fall of the Empire, Ahsoka took on Sabine Wren as her apprentice. In Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker , Ahsoka appears as only a voice alongside other past Jedi, empowering Rey to face a rejuvenated Darth Sidious. Cal Kestis was a human Jedi Padawan and the main protagonist of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order . Trained by Jaro Tapal, Cal witnessed his master's death during Order 66, which he himself barely managed to survive. During
12525-402: The Whills , which chronicled the tale of CJ Thorpe, an apprentice "Jedi-Bendu", who was being trained by the legendary Mace Windy. He felt that this story was too difficult to understand, however. Lucas began writing a 13-page treatment called The Star Wars on April 17, 1973, which had narrative parallels with Kurosawa's 1958 film The Hidden Fortress . He later explained that Star Wars
12692-432: The action-filled adventure story of the previous draft, and ended with a text crawl that previewed the next story in the series. According to Lucas, the second draft was over 200 pages long, which led him to split up the story into multiple films spanning multiple trilogies. While writing a third draft, Lucas claims to have been influenced by comics, J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Hobbit , Joseph Campbell 's The Hero with
12859-511: The beginning of the film. He explained that having "the first half hour of the film be mainly about robots was a bold idea." Meanwhile, ILM was struggling to achieve unprecedented special effects. The company had spent half its budget on four shots that Lucas deemed unacceptable. With hundreds of shots remaining, ILM was forced to finish a year's work in six months. To inspire the visual effects team, Lucas spliced together clips of aerial dogfights from old war films. These kinetic segments helped
13026-400: The better part of his life, during his training on Coruscant he learned that Humans and Tusken Raiders were genetically unable to interbreed. This leads him to believe that his mother must have been a human, captured by the Tusken Raiders at a young age and raised as a Tusken. The series Star Wars: Legacy , set some 200 years later, reveals that A'Sharad eventually turned to the dark side of
13193-479: The bounty hunter Greedo , Alfie Curtis as the outlaw who confronts Luke in the cantina, and Peter Geddis as the Rebel officer who is strangled by Darth Vader. Heavily synthesized audio recordings of John Wayne (from his earlier films) were used for the voice of Garindan, an Imperial spy. Lucas had the idea for a space opera prior to 1971. According to Mark Hamill, he wanted to make it before his 1973 coming-of-age film American Graffiti . His original plan
13360-456: The character served no purpose after his duel with Vader. At Fox, Alan Ladd endured scrutiny from board members over the film's complex screenplay and rising budget. After the filmmakers requested more than the original $ 8 million budget, Kurtz said the executives "got a bit scared." According to Kurtz, the filmmaking team spent two weeks drafting a new budget. With the project behind schedule, Ladd told Lucas he had to finish production within
13527-403: The clan's history. The storyteller is required to memorize the histories word-for-word, eliminating any chance for misinterpretation or distortion. Apprentice storytellers often are more hard-pressed to prove themselves than warriors, for a single mistake in reciting the histories means instant death by decapitation. As violent as their nature is, Sand People stay as far from the moisture farmers as
13694-412: The command Order 66: Operation Knightfall . This resulted in the clone troopers being forcibly brainwashed into viewing their Jedi generals as traitors to the Republic and subsequently executing them. Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker led the 501st Legion to carry out "Operation Knightfall" against the Jedi Temple, burning and slaughtering all Jedi within, including Temple-Defender Shaak Ti. Sidious deceived
13861-415: The conventional way. He was forced to break open the walls, ceilings and floors, placing quartz lamps inside the openings he created. This lighting system gave Lucas the ability to shoot in almost any direction without extensive relighting. In total, filming in Britain took fourteen and a half weeks. While visiting an English travel agency, Lucas saw a poster depicting Tikal , Guatemala, and decided to use
14028-575: The dark side and became the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus . He is one of the main antagonists of the prequel trilogy. He led the war against the Jedi and the Republic until his demise aboard General Grievous' ship in the Battle of Coruscant at the hands of Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon Jinn was a wise and powerful human Jedi Master, who was trained by Count Dooku and mentored Obi-Wan Kenobi. Unlike other, more conservative Jedi, he valued living in
14195-424: The dark side and become his Sith apprentice, Darth Vader. The latter begins helping Sidious hunt down and destroy the Jedi, who are nearly exterminated during the events of Revenge of the Sith ; Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano are among a handful of Jedi that avoided the initial purge. As revealed in the Clone Wars series, each of the clones were implanted with chips that Palpatine would activate with
14362-405: The dark side and the traditional enemies of the Jedi. While the Sith ultimately seek violent and absolute rule over the galaxy, the Jedi work to protect democracy, harmony, and justice. The Jedi are depicted, in the franchise's Old Republic era, as a monastic organization well-trained in the martial arts , who cooperate intimately with the galactic government and work towards bringing "peace into
14529-435: The dark side, and became one with the Force. Later, she and Luke gave Rey their blessings to adopt the Skywalker surname and continue their family's legacy. Grogu was a Jedi Initiate of the same species as Yoda who first appeared in The Mandalorian . Raised at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during the Clone Wars, he was rescued by Jedi Master Kelleran Beq during the Great Jedi Purge and hidden for his own safety. Decades later,
14696-403: The deal and gain control of merchandising and sequel rights. It's the flotsam and jetsam from the period when I was twelve years old. All the books and films and comics that I liked when I was a child. The plot is simple—good against evil—and the film is designed to be all the fun things and fantasy things I remember. The word for this movie is fun. —George Lucas, 1977 Since commencing
14863-452: The defense of those they protect. By training the mind and the body, the Jedi seek to improve themselves by gaining unfettered access to the Force while also seeking to improve those individuals and groups they come in contact with. Like their evil counterparts, the Sith , the main weapon of the Jedi is the lightsaber. However, according to Lucas, "The Force really doesn't have anything to do with
15030-417: The farmers do them. There are occasional skirmishes with the more outlying settlements. The comic book series Star Wars: Republic explains that exiled Jedi Sharad Hett and his son A'Sharad Hett lived among the Tusken Raiders for many years. Hett was one of the few non-Tuskens to be accepted into their ranks and was even given the title of " warlord ". Although A'Sharad Hett believed he was half-Tusken for
15197-545: The few survivors of Order 66 following the Galactic Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire, Obi-Wan hid on the desert planet Tatooine , watching over Anakin's son Luke, knowing that he would one day grow to become a Jedi and defeat Vader. In Obi-Wan Kenobi , while Obi-Wan hid on Tatooine , Senator Bail Organa 's daughter, Leia Organa , was captured upon the request of the Third Sister. Obi-Wan
15364-535: The film Lucky Lady (1975). Christian remembers that Lucas did not want anything in Star Wars to stand out, and "wanted it [to look] all real and used." In this "used future" aesthetic, all devices, ships, and buildings related to Tatooine and the Rebels look aged and dirty, and the Rebel ships look cobbled together in contrast to the Empire's sleeker designs. Lucas believed this aesthetic would lend credibility to
15531-419: The film a budget of $ 5 million, which was later increased to $ 8.25 million. Lucas then started writing with a budget in mind, conceiving the cheap, "used" look of much of the film, and—with Fox having just shut down its special effects department—reducing the number of complex special effects shots called for by the script. The finalized third draft, dated August 1, 1975, was titled The Star Wars From
15698-669: The film while Lucas was still filming in Tunisia; as Lucas noted, the editor was in an "impossible position" because Lucas had not explained any of the film's material to him. When Lucas viewed Jympson's rough cut , he felt the editor's selection of takes was questionable. He felt Jympson did not fully understand the film nor Lucas's style of filmmaking, and he continued to disapprove of Jympson's editing as time went by. Halfway through production, Lucas fired Jympson and replaced him with Paul Hirsch , Richard Chew , and his then-wife, Marcia Lucas . The new editing team felt Jympson's cut lacked excitement, and they sought to inject more dynamism into
15865-489: The film's opening crawl , Lucas originally wrote a composition of six paragraphs with four sentences each. He showed the draft to his friend, director Brian De Palma , who called it "gibberish" that "goes on forever." De Palma and screenwriter Jay Cocks helped edit the crawl into its final form, which contains only four sentences. Lucas had a preference for casting unknown (or relatively unknown) actors, which led him to select Hamill and Fisher for leading roles. Hamill
16032-533: The film's fictional places, and Christian was enthusiastic about this approach. Barry and Christian started working with Lucas before Star Wars was funded by Fox. For several months, in a studio in Kensal Rise , England, they planned the creation of props and sets with very little money. According to Christian, the Millennium Falcon set was the most difficult to build. He wanted the interior of
16199-592: The film's visual effects. Star Wars suffered production difficulties: the cast and crew believed the film would be a failure, and it went $ 3 million over budget due to delays. Few were confident in the film's box office prospects. It was released in a small number of theaters in the United States on May 25, 1977, and quickly became a surprise blockbuster hit, leading to it being expanded to a much wider release. Star Wars opened to positive reviews, with praise for its special effects. It grossed $ 410 million worldwide during its initial run, surpassing Jaws (1975) to become
16366-704: The film, a party of them attack Luke Skywalker and knock him unconscious. However, Obi-Wan Kenobi frightens them off by imitating the call of a local predator and rescues Luke. Tusken Raiders briefly appear in Episode I: The Phantom Menace , taking shots at the Boonta Eve Classic podracer pilots, and again in Episode II: Attack of the Clones , set 22 years before Star Wars ; in this film, they kidnap Anakin Skywalker 's mother, Shmi Skywalker , and torture her for
16533-430: The film. Jympson's rough cut of Star Wars (often called the "Lost Cut") differed significantly from the final version. Author David West Reynolds describes Jympson's version as "more leisurely paced", and estimates that it contained 30–40% different footage from the final cut. Although most of the differences relate to extended scenes or alternate takes, there were also scenes which were completely removed to accelerate
16700-532: The final film of the sequel trilogy, it is discovered that Darth Sidious created Snoke and has returned from death and has been secretly manipulating events from the Sith world Exegol . In his last attempt to reclaim the galaxy, Sidious unveils the Final Order, a massive fleet of Xyston -class Star Destroyers built by the Sith Eternal . The Emperor offers the Sith fleet to Kylo Ren in exchange for killing
16867-644: The first 25 films selected by the United States Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1989, and its soundtrack was added to the U.S. National Recording Registry in 2004. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) followed Star Wars , rounding out the original Star Wars trilogy . A prequel trilogy and a sequel trilogy have since been released, in addition to two standalone films and various television series . Amid
17034-562: The fort's placement over one of the Raiders' holy wells. Although the Sand People are aggressive and violent by nature, they have deep-seated traditions that they cling to tightly. Young raiders are required to prove their adulthood in various physical activities. While the Sand People have no written language, the most revered member of a Tusken clan is the storyteller. He knows the life-story of every member of his clan, and also knows of
17201-401: The franchise . The fictional organization has inspired a real-world new religious movement and parody religion : Jediism . Within the Star Wars galaxy , the Jedi are powerful guardians of order and justice, who, through intuition, rigorous training, and intensive self-discipline , are able to wield a supernatural power known as the Force , thus achieving the ability to move objects with
17368-509: The galaxy by being ambassadors and troubleshooters", according to Lucas. Jedi characters investigate certain crimes ranging from high-profile murder to political corruption, act as diplomats between powerful interplanetary groups, protect the highest government officials of the Republic, track down fugitives, and are promoted as leaders in the Republic's army during the Clone Wars . Still, their creed demands that they defend and protect all life and use their power only for knowledge and defense. With
17535-578: The galaxy together." ". . . a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him. It [partially] controls your actions, but it also obeys your commands". The prequel trilogy depicts the Jedi in their prime, headquartered at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant , and dealing with the rising presence of the dark side of the Force and the return of the Sith. In Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn ( Liam Neeson ) discovers nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker ( Jake Lloyd ), whom he believes to be
17702-549: The galaxy". Throughout the franchise, Jedi are often recognizable by their robes and tunics in various shades of brown and their use of lightsabers : sword-like weapons with a colorful blade made of plasma . Along with New Age elements, Lucas developed the Jedi creed by adopting certain elements from Eastern religions —namely Buddhism and potentially Taoism . In that same vein, the Jedi creed focuses on compassion for others, mindfulness, non-attachment, and meditation, which are all characteristics of what Jedi characters call
17869-398: The generally low popularity of the genre at the time. Francis Ford Coppola subsequently brought the project to a division of Paramount Pictures he ran with fellow directors Peter Bogdanovich and William Friedkin , but Friedkin questioned Lucas's ability to direct the film, and both directors declined to finance it. Walt Disney Productions also turned down the project. Star Wars
18036-563: The general—who came from a family of dwarfs—into a supporting role. Lucas envisioned the Corellian smuggler, Han Solo, as a large, green-skinned monster with gills. He based Chewbacca on his Alaskan Malamute dog, Indiana, who often acted as his "co-pilot" by sitting in the passenger seat of his car. The dog's name would later be given to the character Indiana Jones . Lucas completed a second draft in January 1975 entitled Adventures of
18203-660: The globe. He ultimately decided that Southern Tunisia, on the edge of the Sahara , would make an ideal Tatooine. Principal photography began in Chott el Djerid on March 22, 1976. Meanwhile, a construction crew in nearby Tozeur spent eight weeks creating additional Tatooine locations. The scenes of Luke's Tatooine home were filmed at the Hotel Sidi Driss, in Matmata . Additional Tatooine scenes were shot at Death Valley in
18370-522: The idea for a science fiction film in the vein of Flash Gordon around the time he completed his first film, THX 1138 (1971), and he began working on a treatment after the release of American Graffiti (1973). After numerous rewrites, filming took place throughout 1975 and 1976 in locations including Tunisia and Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, England. Lucas formed the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic to help create
18537-470: The inclusion of an alien sign language in Star Wars and started a Facebook group to further develop the Tusken language. Tusken Raiders have been criticized as an Arab or Islamic stereotype. Further cultural criticism compares the representation of the Tusken Raiders to stereotypes of Indigenous people . Star Wars (film) Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope )
18704-477: The innocence of the story and the sophistication of Lucas's fictional world, United Artists declined to fund the project. Lucas and Kurtz then presented the treatment to Universal Pictures, the studio that financed American Graffiti . Universal agreed it could be a successful venture, but had doubts about Lucas's ability to execute his vision. Kurtz has claimed the studio's rejection was primarily due to Universal head Lew Wasserman's low opinion of science fiction, and
18871-588: The job, but eventually withdrew to work on the Vincente Minnelli -directed A Matter of Time (1976). Unsworth was replaced by Gilbert Taylor , who had overseen photography for Dr. Strangelove and A Hard Day's Night (both 1964). Lucas admired Taylor's work on both films, describing them as "eccentrically photographed pictures with a strong documentary flavor." Once photography was under way, Lucas and Taylor had many disputes. Lucas's lighting suggestions were rejected by Taylor, who believed Lucas
19038-420: The last remaining Jedi, Rey, who is revealed to be his granddaughter. After the death of Kylo's mother, Leia Organa ( Carrie Fisher ), Kylo returns to the light and reclaims his identity as Ben Solo. At the end of the film, Ben joins Rey as she confronts Sidious. Rey channels the power of the past Jedi to destroy Sidious and the Sith, before dying herself. Ben sacrifices his life to revive Rey and becomes one with
19205-466: The latter accidentally while searching for a buzzing, sparking sound to add to the projector-motor hum. For Chewbacca's speech, Burtt combined the sounds of four bears, a badger, a lion, a seal, and a walrus. Burtt achieved Vader's breathing noise by breathing through the mask of a scuba regulator; this process inspired the idea of Vader being a burn victim. Jedi Legends Jedi ( / ˈ dʒ ɛ d aɪ / ), Jedi Knights , or collectively
19372-545: The latter escaped from the Sarlacc , was robbed of his Mandalorian armor, and left for dead. They initially force him to work as a slave digging for black melons in the desert, until he wins their respect and admiration after he kills a large sand creature, saving a Tusken child's life in the process. Following this, the Tuskens welcome Fett as one of their own, teaching him their combat style and desert survival skills, and eventually initiating him into their tribe after he passes
19539-473: The lightsaber. Anybody can have a lightsaber. It's just a weapon like a pistol". Qui-Gon Jinn gives an insight into the Force in The Phantom Menace when he tells Anakin: "Your focus determines your reality". And later, he explains: "Midi-chlorians are microscopic lifeforms that reside within all of your cells. And we are symbionts with them. Lifeforms living together for mutual advantage. Without
19706-466: The location for the moon Yavin 4 . The scenes of the Rebel base on Yavin were filmed in the local Mayan temples. The animation of the Death Star plans shown at the base were created by computer programmer Larry Cuba , using the GRASS programming language . It is the only digital computer animation utilized in the original version of Star Wars . The visual simulation of Yavin 4 orbiting its mother planet
19873-416: The location of the Rebel base. After disabling the tractor beam, Obi-Wan sacrifices himself in a lightsaber duel against Vader, which allows the rest of the group to escape. Using a tracking device placed on the Falcon , the Empire locates the Rebel base on the moon Yavin 4 . Analysis of the Death Star schematics reveals a weakness in a small exhaust port leading directly to the station's reactor. Luke joins
20040-618: The main characters in the Star Wars franchise. Having fought in the Clone Wars, Obi-Wan proved himself an adept strategist, duelist, and spy, as his leadership style heavily favours subterfuge and misdirection while commanding clone troopers, or wielding the Force. Due to his charisma and persuasion skills, he became known as 'The Negotiator' during the Clone Wars. Obi-Wan best exemplifies the Jedi Code: in spite of Darth Vader 's betrayal and his master ( Qui-Gon Jinn ) being killed by his nemesis, Darth Maul , he never fell into darkness. As one of
20207-457: The mannerisms of animals he observed in public zoos. Prowse was originally offered the role of Chewbacca, but turned it down, as he wanted to play the villain. Prowse portrayed Vader physically, but Lucas felt his West Country English accent was inappropriate for the character, and selected James Earl Jones for Vader's voice. Lucas considered Orson Welles for the voice role, but was concerned his voice would be too familiar to audiences. Jones
20374-485: The maternal uncle of Ben Solo . After redeeming his father from the dark side of the Force, who died killing his master and the last Sith, Darth Sidious, in order to save Luke, he set out to train a new generation of Jedi to rebuild the Order, only to have them wiped out by Supreme Leader Snoke , a puppet created by a revived Sidious, who also turned Ben to the dark side, adopting the Kylo Ren persona. Skywalker then spent
20541-407: The midi-chlorians, life could not exist and we would have no knowledge of the Force. They continually speak to us, telling us the will of The Force. When you learn to quiet your mind you'll hear them speaking to you". In A New Hope , Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker: "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, it binds
20708-476: The mind , perform incredible feats of strength , and connect to certain people's thoughts . As Star Wars creator George Lucas explains, the Jedi are "warrior-monks who keep peace in the universe", avoiding the use of violence except as a last resort, with a mission to "use their power to keep the governments of all the planets in line, so that they don't do terrible things". The Jedi have the "moral authority to do that" since they are "the most moral of anybody in
20875-419: The moment as the best way to embrace the Force. While other Jedi respected him highly, they were frequently puzzled by his beliefs. He refused to take a seat on the Jedi Council, despite him being among the wisest and most powerful of the Jedi. Jinn was both the Jedi to discover the Sith's return after a millennium, upon being attacked by Darth Maul during a mission to protect Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo , and
21042-431: The next two years making the coming-of-age film, which was immensely successful. In January 1973, he began working on the space opera full-time. He began the process by inventing odd names for characters and places. By the time the screenplay was finalized he had discarded many of the names, but several made it into the final script and later sequels. He used his early notes to compile a two-page synopsis titled Journal of
21209-461: The one to find the ability to become a Force spirit after death, though he wasn't capable of having a physical body. Following his death at Darth Maul's hands, Jinn guided both Yoda and Obi-Wan to the ability to become a physical Force spirit after death. Within the Disney+ TV series, Obi-Wan Kenobi , Qui-Gon Jinn appears as a force spirit following Darth Vader 's defeat to Obi-Wan Kenobi in
21376-429: The original 1977 film, begin with hundreds of Jedi participating in the battle of Geonosis . In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith , Yoda confides to Mace Windu ( Samuel L. Jackson ) that the prophecy of the Chosen One could have been misread. Palpatine ( Ian McDiarmid ), who is revealed to be Darth Sidious, manipulates Anakin's attachment for Padmé and distrust and resentment of the Jedi in order to turn him to
21543-491: The original trilogy. As the last Padawan of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he became an important figure in the Rebel Alliance 's struggle against the Galactic Empire . Luke was heir to a family deeply rooted in the Force, being the twin brother of Rebellion leader Princess Leia Organa of the planet Alderaan , the son of former Queen of Naboo and Republic Senator Padmé Amidala and Jedi turned Sith Lord Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker), and
21710-407: The other actors. He recalled Guinness having "a very clear head about how to serve the story." On top of his salary, Guinness received 2.25% of the film's backend grosses, which made him wealthy later in life. Daniels said he wanted the role of C-3PO after he saw a Ralph McQuarrie concept painting of the character and was struck by the vulnerability in the droid's face. After casting Daniels for
21877-399: The pace of the narrative. The most notable of these were a series from Tatooine, when Luke is first introduced. Set in the city of Anchorhead, the scenes depicted Luke's everyday life among his friends, and showed how their lives are affected by the space battle above the planet. These scenes also introduced Biggs Darklighter, Luke's closest friend who leaves to join the Rebellion. Hirsch said
22044-411: The pain of loss. "As long as you love other people and treat them kindly, you won't be afraid". Lucas, identifying himself as "Buddhist Methodist" or "Methodist Buddhist" stated that his philosophy of non-attachment , depicted in his movies was influenced by the fact that he was from San Francisco, the "Zen Buddhism capital of the United States". In 2020, he indicated that the Jedi were "designed to be
22211-405: The past Jedi allowed Darth Sidious to rise to power. She also discovers several ancient Jedi texts hidden away in a tree. Rey learns the truth about Ben's fall to the dark side and believes herself to be his only chance of redemption. Luke decides to stay on Ahch-To and attempts to burn down the tree with the texts, but cannot bring himself to do so. However, Yoda appears as a Force spirit and burns
22378-538: The people of the Republic that the Jedi were corrupted warmongers responsible for prolonging the Clone Wars, labeling them criminals with bounties placed on them. Darth Vader continued to hunt and kill nearly every surviving Jedi during the early years of the Empire, in what became known as the Great Jedi Purge . For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in
22545-400: The physical performance, Lucas intended to hire another actor for the droid's voice. According to Daniels, thirty well-established actors auditioned—including Richard Dreyfuss and Mel Blanc —but Daniels received the voice role after one of the actors suggested the idea to Lucas. Baker (R2-D2) and Mayhew (Chewbacca) were cast largely due to their height. At 3 feet 8 inches (1.12 m), Baker
22712-435: The planet and Kenobi defeats his former apprentice, allowing Leia to return to her parents. Following this event, Qui-Gon Jinn appears before Kenobi as a force spirit, after years of failed attempts by Obi-Wan to communicate with the deceased Jedi Master. Obi-Wan mentored Luke Skywalker in the Jedi arts, before meeting his demise at the hands of his former apprentice aboard the Death Star , though he continued guiding Luke as
22879-468: The prequel trilogy, and the central antagonist of the original trilogy. He is the Chosen One, being born of the Force. He was apprenticed to Obi-Wan Kenobi and proved to be a very gifted duelist and Force user, being appointed to the Jedi High Council at the age of 22. He secretly married Padmé Amidala at the onset of the Clone Wars and has two children, Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa . He
23046-524: The production. Taylor claims that Lucas avoided contact with him, which motivated the cinematographer to make his own decisions about how to shoot the film. Originally, Lucas envisioned Tatooine as a jungle planet, and Kurtz traveled to the Philippines to scout locations. However, the thought of spending months filming in the jungle made Lucas uncomfortable, so he made Tatooine a desert planet instead. Kurtz then researched various desert locales around
23213-433: The ranks of the Jedi Order, he was tasked with training the young Force-sensitive Ezra Bridger throughout his eventual service to the larger Rebellion. Ultimately, Jarrus died to save his friends, in particular Hera Syndulla , who would later give birth to her and Jarrus' son, Jacen Syndulla. In Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker , he appears as a disembodied voice alongside other past Jedi, empowering Rey to face
23380-461: The rest of his life in exile on Ahch-To , the original headquarters of the Jedi Order, blaming himself for Ben's turn and the destruction of his Order, until he was found by Rey, the Last Jedi and the secret granddaughter of Sidious, whom he reluctantly trained in the Jedi arts. Shortly after, he gave his life to distract Kylo Ren, now Supreme Leader of the First Order , on the planet Crait via
23547-514: The rise of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious and the Galactic Empire , the Jedi Order is outlawed and most of its members killed in the ensuing political purge . Later efforts are made to revive the organization. The word Jedi is said to have been adapted by George Lucas from Japanese 時代劇 ( jidaigeki ) (meaning 'period drama' motion pictures about samurai ), or perhaps inspired by the words Jed (Leader) and Jeddak (King) in
23714-470: The role, but decided the actor's lean features would be better employed as the villainous Tarkin. The film's producer, Gary Kurtz , felt a strong character actor was required to convey the "stability and gravitas" of Obi-Wan. Before Guinness was cast, the Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune —who stars in many Akira Kurosawa films—was considered for the role. His daughter, Mika Kitagawa, said her father "had
23881-475: The scenes were removed because they presented too much information in the first few minutes of the film, and they created too many storylines for the audience to follow. The removal of the Anchorhead scenes also helped distinguish Star Wars from Lucas's previous film; Alan Ladd called the deleted scenes " American Graffiti in outer space". Lucas also wanted to shift the narrative focus to C-3PO and R2-D2 at
24048-473: The ship to look like a submarine, and used inexpensive airplane scrap metal to achieve the desired effect. Set construction later moved to Elstree Studios , where Barry created thirty sets. All nine sound stages at Elstree were needed to house the fabricated planets, starships, caves, control rooms, cantinas, and Death Star corridors. The Rebel hangar was so massive it had to be built at nearby Shepperton Studios , which contained Europe's largest sound stage at
24215-476: The speeder bikes from, and holds an impromptu funeral. In the seventh episode, it is revealed that it was the Pykes who killed the tribe and framed the Nikto gang. According to the noncanon Star Wars Expanded Universe sources, Tusken Raiders are named after Fort Tusken, an early Old Republic mining settlement in which all of the settlers were overwhelmed, captured, or killed by Tusken Raiders, then referred to as "Sand People". The attack probably occurred due to
24382-635: The studio visualize the film, which positively influenced their decision to fund the project. His artwork also set the visual tone for Star Wars and the rest of the original trilogy. The trouble with the future in most futurist movies is that it always looks new and clean and shiny ... What is required for true credibility is a used future. —George Lucas on the aesthetic of Star Wars Lucas wanted to create props and sets (based on McQuarrie's paintings) that had never before been used in science-fiction films. He hired as production designers John Barry and Roger Christian , who were then working on
24549-440: The team understand his vision for scenes in Star Wars . Sound designer Ben Burtt had created a library of sounds that Lucas referred to as an "organic soundtrack". Blaster sounds were created by modifying the noise of a steel cable being struck while under tension. Lightsaber sound effects were a combination of the hum of movie projector motors and interference caused by a television set on a shieldless microphone. Burtt discovered
24716-530: The time. In 1975, Lucas founded the visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) after discovering that Fox's visual effects department had been shut down. ILM began its work on Star Wars in a warehouse in Van Nuys , California. Most of the visual effects used pioneering digital motion control photography developed by John Dykstra and his team, which created the illusion of size by employing small models and slowly moving cameras. The technology
24883-497: The titular group of enhanced clones, who disobey Order 66 and instead choose to save a younger Kanan after his master is killed by the other clones. The canon video game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order introduces Cal Kestis, a former Padawan hiding from the Empire who accidentally exposes his Force abilities to aid someone, putting him on the Inquisitors' radar. Kestis gets aid from Cere Junda, another Jedi Knight in hiding. In
25050-472: The tree, teaching him that failure is just as important as success, and those masters are defined by those who surpass them. Near the end of the film, Luke confronts Kylo on the planet Crait . It is subsequently revealed that Luke had been projecting himself from Ahch-To; he dies from the effort and becomes one with the Force. Rey is shown to have taken the sacred Jedi texts before she left Ahch-To, in order to continue her training. In The Rise of Skywalker ,
25217-484: The wisest and most powerful Jedi Master within the Star Wars universe. Mace Windu was a human Jedi Master of the Order and one of the last members of the Order's upper echelons before the fall of the Galactic Republic . Plo Koon was a Kel Dor Jedi Master who served as a General during the Clone Wars and a member of the Jedi Council . Koon led the 442nd Siege Battalion in the Battle of Cato Neimoidia, in which he
25384-412: The writing process in January 1973, Lucas wrote four different screenplays for Star Wars , searching for "just the right ingredients, characters and storyline." By May 1974, he had expanded the original treatment into a full, 132-page rough draft, which included elements such as the Sith, the Death Star, and a general named Annikin Starkiller. He then changed Starkiller to an adolescent boy, and shifted
25551-441: Was "even closer to Campbell's structure" than the third. Lucas has claimed he wrote a version of the screenplay that was 250–300 pages long, which outlined the plot of the entire original trilogy. Realizing it was too lengthy for a single film, he decided to spread the story over three films. This division caused problems with the first episode; Lucas had to use the ending of Return of the Jedi for Star Wars , which resulted in
25718-515: Was accepted by Twentieth Century-Fox in June 1973. Studio president Alan Ladd Jr. did not grasp the technical side of the project, but believed in Lucas's talent. Lucas later stated that Ladd invested in him, not in the film. The Fox deal gave Lucas $ 150,000 to write and direct the film. In August, American Graffiti opened to massive success, which afforded Lucas the necessary leverage to renegotiate
25885-545: Was betrayed by her clone troopers as part of Order 66, but she managed to escape alongside Clone Captain Rex (whose control chip she removed). Years later, Ahsoka served the nascent Rebel Alliance as the spymaster and head of its intelligence network, directing operations behind the codename Fulcrum. After the Galactic Civil War, she began searching for Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn , who had gone missing in
26052-483: Was cast as Luke over Robby Benson , Robert Englund , William Katt , Kurt Russell , and Charles Martin Smith , while Fisher was cast as Leia over Karen Allen , Amy Irving , Terri Nunn , Cindy Williams , and Linda Purl . Jodie Foster was offered the role, but turned it down because she was under contract with Disney. Koo Stark was also considered for Leia, but was instead cast as Luke's friend Camie Marstrap,
26219-523: Was created on the Scanimate analog computer. All the other computer monitors and targeting displays in the film featured simulated computer graphics, which were generated using pre-digital animation methods, such as hand-drawn backlight animation. Although Obi-Wan did not die in the final version of the script, Alec Guinness disliked the character's dialogue and said he begged Lucas to kill him off. Lucas, however, claimed he added Obi-Wan's death because
26386-465: Was diagnosed with hypertension and exhaustion and was warned to reduce his stress level. Post-production was equally stressful due to increasing pressure from the studio. Another obstacle arose when Hamill's face became visibly scarred after a car accident, which restricted re-shoots featuring Luke. Star Wars was originally slated for release on December 25, 1976, but production delays pushed it back to mid-1977. Editor John Jympson began cutting
26553-585: Was eventually seduced to the dark side by the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, and became the Sith Lord Darth Vader , serving the Galactic Empire. While he was a member of the Jedi Council, he trained a Padawan of his own, Ahsoka Tano during the Clone Wars. Vader was eventually redeemed by his son in Return of the Jedi and gave his own life to save Luke, killing Sidious and fulfilling the prophecy of
26720-524: Was in the middle of a shot, in which case he could ask the crew to stay an extra 15 minutes. However, his requests were usually turned down. Most of the British crew considered Star Wars a children's film, and the actors sometimes did not take the project seriously. Kenny Baker later confessed that he thought the film would be a failure. According to Taylor, it was impossible to light the Elstree sets in
26887-473: Was known to be the leader of a small rebel cell called the Spectres, operating on the planet Lothal . As a survivor of Order 66, Jarrus was forced to break certain Jedi traditions to avoid being detected by Imperial forces that continued their mission to eliminate any Jedi on sight, such as eschewing traditional Jedi robes or occasionally using a blaster, a weapon typically shunned by Jedi. Although he lost his master Depa Billaba to Order 66 before he could ascend
27054-559: Was offered the role of the dimunitive droid immediately after meeting Lucas. He turned it down multiple times, however, before finally accepting it. R2-D2's beeps and squeaks were made by sound designer Ben Burtt by imitating baby noises, recording his voice over an intercom, and finally mixing the sounds together using a synthesizer. Mayhew initially auditioned for Vader, but Prowse was cast instead. However, when Lucas and Kurtz saw Mayhew's 7-foot-3-inch (2.21 m) stature, they quickly cast him as Chewbacca. Mayhew modeled his performance on
27221-407: Was overstepping his boundaries by giving specific instructions, sometimes even moving lights and cameras himself. After Fox executives complained about the soft-focus visual style of the film, Taylor changed his approach, which infuriated Lucas. Kurtz said that Lucas's inability to delegate tasks resulted from his history directing low-budget films, which required him to be involved with all aspects of
27388-495: Was sent to rescue the ten-year old Princess, and, after retrieving Leia on the planet Daiyu, was forced to duel his former apprentice Darth Vader on the planet Mapuzo, before escaping. Leia Organa , who was imprisoned by the Third Sister on the planet Nur, is saved by Obi-Wan Kenobi a second time before the two escape to the planet Jabiim with aid from the Path. Vader and Kenobi duel once more following Obi-Wan's attempted escape from
27555-491: Was shot down by his own troops upon the occurrence of Order 66 . Kit Fisto was a Nautolan Jedi Master, who served as a member of the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars . During the attempted arrest of Chancellor Palpatine , Fisto was killed by the Sith Lord in a duel, leaving Mace Windu to face the Chancellor alone. Count Dooku was a human Jedi Master who was trained by Yoda and mentored Qui-Gon Jinn, who later fell to
27722-575: Was to adapt the Flash Gordon space adventure comics and serials into films, having been fascinated by them since he was young. Lucas attempted to purchase the rights, but they had already been acquired by producer Dino De Laurentiis . Lucas then discovered that Flash Gordon was inspired by the John Carter of Mars book series by Edgar Rice Burroughs , the author of Tarzan . Burroughs, in turn, had been influenced by Gulliver on Mars ,
27889-530: Was uncredited until 1983. However, upon the film's release, audiences and critics immediately recognized Jones' voice as Darth Vader. During pre-production , Lucas recruited several conceptual designers: Colin Cantwell , who visualized the initial spacecraft models; Alex Tavoularis, who created storyboard sketches from early scripts; and Ralph McQuarrie, who created conceptual images of characters, costumes, props, and scenery. McQuarrie's paintings helped
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