With the release of the newest Star Wars movie, the franchise has been making a massive comeback. Here are just a few fun facts to prepare you for the movie (and a marathon of the other films, let's be honest).
(If you're a hardcore Star Wars fan, you probably know these facts already...)
1. Luke almost went to the Dark Side!
George Lucas toyed with the idea that after Luke removes dying Vader's helmet... he puts it on, proclaims "Now I am Vader," and turns to the Dark Side.
2. "I have a bad feeling about this."
The phrase "I have a bad feeling about this" or "I have a very bad feeling about this" is said in every Star Wars movie.
3. Ewoks speak Tibetan.
The Ewok language is a combination of Tibetan and Nepalese.
4. Well, someone had better be dying...
Chewbacca's voice is a mix of bears, walruses, lions, badgers and other dying animals.
5. Do lightsaber noises sound familiar to you?
The noise a lightsaber makes is created by combining the hum of an old television's picture tube and the buzz of a film projector's motor.
6. No wonder it looks so real!
Filmmakers used a physical crawl to shoot the opening credits in the original films. Additionally, because Lucas refused to shoot a traditional credits scene, he subsequently left the Directors Guild.
7. Imagine a world without Han Solo.
In an early story outline of Return of the Jedi, Han Solo dies, Luke flees into the wilderness, and the Rebel forces are scattered. (But then Lucas took pity on us and changed the ending to a big Ewok party. Yay!)
8. Wish you could live in Luke's house? You can!
Many of the buildings constructed for Tatooine are still standing in Tunisia; some are actually used by locals.
9. Star Wars and Doctor Who would be the most epic crossover ever...
The bounty hunter Bossk’s clothing is a recycled spacesuit from Doctor Who.
10. Yoda's species is never named.
Forever a mystery, it is.
11. The word 'Ewok' is actually never said aloud in the Star Wars movies.
#MINDBLOWN.
12. Give a kid a sword and...
While filming Jedi fight scenes, Ewan McGregor kept getting carried away and making lightsaber sounds himself, which had to be removed in post-production.
13. That explains EVERYTHING.
Of the 9 diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader meets 6 of them, and only 5 are required to make a diagnosis.
14. DREAM. JOB.
Lucasfilm has someone on staff whose job is just to maintain Star Wars canon.
