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Star Wars Mythbusters
Darth Vader is from the German (or Dutch) for “Dark Father”
1. “General Vader/Imperial Commander” appears on an early-1974 list of potential character names by George Lucas
(screenshots from @jwrinzler’s essential Making of #StarWars book series)
Darth Vader is from the German (or Dutch) for “Dark Father”
1. “General Vader/Imperial Commander” appears on an early-1974 list of potential character names by George Lucas
(screenshots from @jwrinzler’s essential Making of #StarWars book series)
2. “Darth Vader, a tall, grim-looking general” appears in the May 1974 The #StarWars rough draft
3. Darth Vader is not Luke Skywalker’s father until the April 1, 1978 second draft of #EmpireStrikesBack
4. “Darth” doesn’t mean anything in Dutch or German
MYTH BUSTED
3. Darth Vader is not Luke Skywalker’s father until the April 1, 1978 second draft of #EmpireStrikesBack
4. “Darth” doesn’t mean anything in Dutch or German
MYTH BUSTED
Star Wars Mythbusters
Imperial AT-AT walkers in #EmpireStrikesBack were inspired by Oakland container cranes
1. In late-1977, @ILMVFX art director Joe Johnston proposed a two-legged walking tank to replace wheeled or treaded tank concepts for the Hoth battle
#StarWars
Imperial AT-AT walkers in #EmpireStrikesBack were inspired by Oakland container cranes
1. In late-1977, @ILMVFX art director Joe Johnston proposed a two-legged walking tank to replace wheeled or treaded tank concepts for the Hoth battle
#StarWars
2. Johnston’s two-legged tank evolved into a four-legged one, inspired by a 1968 Syd Mead illustration of a walking truck, General Electric’s 1968 walking truck prototype and the alien invaders of H.G. Wells’s classic sci-fi novel War of the Worlds
#StarWars
#StarWars
3. #StarWars creator George Lucas and AT-AT stop-motion animator Phil Tippett both refuted the claim that the walkers were inspired by Oakland cranes in a 2007 @SFGate interview. “That’s a myth,” Lucas said.
MYTH BUSTED
MYTH BUSTED
I will continue busting #StarWars myths on this thread in the coming days/weeks. I have quite a long list. Apologies to @donttrythis, @JamieNoTweet, @KariByron, @grantimahara, @ToryBelleci, et al.
Star Wars Mythbusters
Traditional #StarWars matte paintings were painted on shower door glass
1. Making of SW author J.W. Rinzler asked the original trilogy matte painters, who said this wasn’t true.
MYTH BUSTED
https://twitter.com/jwrinzler/status/1068923928964296704
Traditional #StarWars matte paintings were painted on shower door glass
1. Making of SW author J.W. Rinzler asked the original trilogy matte painters, who said this wasn’t true.
MYTH BUSTED
https://twitter.com/jwrinzler/status/1068923928964296704
2. Corroboration that #StarWars matte paintings were not on shower doors, from original trilogy matte painter Harrison Ellenshaw, via @agraphafx.
https://twitter.com/agraphafx/status/1019374953102172162
https://twitter.com/agraphafx/status/1019374953102172162
Star Wars Mythbusters
The Slave I design was based on street lamps outside of @ILMVFX in Marin County
1. Designer Nilo Rodis-Jamero based the Slave I on a round radar dish, as stated in #StarWars: The Annotated Screenplays and seen in Ralph McQuarrie’s “East Landing Platform”. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
The Slave I design was based on street lamps outside of @ILMVFX in Marin County
1. Designer Nilo Rodis-Jamero based the Slave I on a round radar dish, as stated in #StarWars: The Annotated Screenplays and seen in Ralph McQuarrie’s “East Landing Platform”. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
2. #StarWars creator George Lucas interpreted the round Slave I in 3/4 perspective as an oval so the design changed.
3. Only while building the Slave I model did an @ILMVFX employee point out to Rodis-Jamero that nearby street lamps resembled the ovoid ship.
MYTH BUSTED – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
3. Only while building the Slave I model did an @ILMVFX employee point out to Rodis-Jamero that nearby street lamps resembled the ovoid ship.
MYTH BUSTED – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
3. More corroboration that @ILMVFX matte paintings were not painted on shower doors from #StarWars original trilogy matte painting photographer/compositor Craig Barron, via @halhickel
https://twitter.com/halhickel/status/1158499070404464640
https://twitter.com/halhickel/status/1158499070404464640
Star Wars Mythbusters
Chewbacca was named for the Russian words “chudovishye” (meaning monster) combined with “sobaka” (meaning dog).
1. “Chuiee Two Thorpe”, later “Chewie” a hotshot pilot, appears in the early-1973 Journal of the Whills outline by #StarWars creator George Lucas. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
Chewbacca was named for the Russian words “chudovishye” (meaning monster) combined with “sobaka” (meaning dog).
1. “Chuiee Two Thorpe”, later “Chewie” a hotshot pilot, appears in the early-1973 Journal of the Whills outline by #StarWars creator George Lucas. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
2. In The Making of #StarWars, George Lucas says that he came up with “Chewbacca” and other Wookiee names by “changing words around”. No mention of Russian.
3 The origin of the Russian words myth appears to be a 2007 website which cites no other sources or quotes.
MYTH BUSTED? – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
3 The origin of the Russian words myth appears to be a 2007 website which cites no other sources or quotes.
MYTH BUSTED? – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
Star Wars Mythbusters
The wampa attack on Luke Skywalker was written into #EmpireStrikesBack to explain Mark Hamill’s scars from his 1977 car accident
1. In Empire story notes, George Lucas wrote “Luke crash in beginning (scar on face)” to explain why he might look different.
The wampa attack on Luke Skywalker was written into #EmpireStrikesBack to explain Mark Hamill’s scars from his 1977 car accident
1. In Empire story notes, George Lucas wrote “Luke crash in beginning (scar on face)” to explain why he might look different.
2. By the November 1977 #EmpireStrikesBack treatment, Luke is “bashed in the face by a snow monster”.
MYTH CONFIRMED
(screengrabs from The Making of The Empire Strikes Back by J.W. Rinzler) #StarWars
MYTH CONFIRMED
(screengrabs from The Making of The Empire Strikes Back by J.W. Rinzler) #StarWars
Star Wars Mythbusters
The final Millennium Falcon design is based on a hamburger with a bite taken out of it and an olive
1. In an interview, likely from 2006, George Lucas said “I thought of the design... flying back from London [in November 1975]: a hamburger.”
#StarWars
![Star Wars MythbustersThe final Millennium Falcon design is based on a hamburger with a bite taken out of it and an olive1. In an interview, likely from 2006, George Lucas said “I thought of the design... flying back from London [in November 1975]: a hamburger.” #StarWars](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBevLbbU4AAD7pT.jpg "Star Wars MythbustersThe final Millennium Falcon design is based on a hamburger with a bite taken out of it and an olive1. In an interview, likely from 2006, George Lucas said “I thought of the design... flying back from London [in November 1975]: a hamburger.” #StarWars")
![Star Wars MythbustersThe final Millennium Falcon design is based on a hamburger with a bite taken out of it and an olive1. In an interview, likely from 2006, George Lucas said “I thought of the design... flying back from London [in November 1975]: a hamburger.” #StarWars](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EBevLbdU4AAuLWx.jpg "Star Wars MythbustersThe final Millennium Falcon design is based on a hamburger with a bite taken out of it and an olive1. In an interview, likely from 2006, George Lucas said “I thought of the design... flying back from London [in November 1975]: a hamburger.” #StarWars")
The final Millennium Falcon design is based on a hamburger with a bite taken out of it and an olive
1. In an interview, likely from 2006, George Lucas said “I thought of the design... flying back from London [in November 1975]: a hamburger.”
#StarWars
2. But Falcon designer Joe Johnston recalled that Lucas “may have said that it could have the essence of a flying saucer” and that he picked the “disc-shaped hull” design out of a series of “very rough sketches”.
#StarWars #ANewHope
#StarWars #ANewHope
3. A preliminary Johnston drawing, likely from after Lucas’s Nov. 1975 flight, shows a disc-shaped hull with a centered cockpit and the unhamburger-like long neck/engine package from the previous Falcon design.
(image from The Art of #SoloAStarWarsStory) #StarWars
(image from The Art of #SoloAStarWarsStory) #StarWars
4. In a recent Facebook post, Johnston called the “burger with an olive” story an “urban myth”.
MYTH BUSTED?
#StarWars #ANewHope
(Kudos to @Kitbashed for their decade-long research on the evolution of the Millennium Falcon’s design, including the Johnston quotes)
MYTH BUSTED?
#StarWars #ANewHope
(Kudos to @Kitbashed for their decade-long research on the evolution of the Millennium Falcon’s design, including the Johnston quotes)
Star Wars Mythbusters
Ralph McQuarrie’s artwork sold 20th Century Fox on #StarWars
1. The Fox deal memo for Star Wars was signed on Aug 20, 1973.
2. McQuarrie & Colin Cantwell were hired Nov 1974, to design what was scripted & help LFL formulate a budget based on those designs. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
Ralph McQuarrie’s artwork sold 20th Century Fox on #StarWars
1. The Fox deal memo for Star Wars was signed on Aug 20, 1973.
2. McQuarrie & Colin Cantwell were hired Nov 1974, to design what was scripted & help LFL formulate a budget based on those designs. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
3. Even with the concept art & models as visual aids, Fox put a “moratorium” on further #StarWars development in October 1975.
4. The Fox board of directors met in December 1975 and finally green-lit the film.
(screengrabs from The Making of Star Wars) – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
4. The Fox board of directors met in December 1975 and finally green-lit the film.
(screengrabs from The Making of Star Wars) – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
5. Each Fox board member had been given a portfolio of McQuarrie and Joe Johnston art. But it is generally agreed that Lucas’ relationship with Fox executive Alan Ladd Jr. and his belief in the project that got #StarWars the green light.
MYTH BUSTED – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
MYTH BUSTED – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
Star Wars Mythbusters
R2-D2 is named for “Reel Two, Dialogue Two”, sound mixing tracks that George Lucas was working with
1. In The Making of #StarWars, Lucas recalled that, when mixing THX 1138, someone yelled out “R2D2” for “Reel Two, Dialogue Two” and he jotted the name down.
R2-D2 is named for “Reel Two, Dialogue Two”, sound mixing tracks that George Lucas was working with
1. In The Making of #StarWars, Lucas recalled that, when mixing THX 1138, someone yelled out “R2D2” for “Reel Two, Dialogue Two” and he jotted the name down.
2. The actual “R2-D2” reel that Lucas spoke of turned up at an April 2018 Skywalker Ranch screening for American Graffiti, saved by the film’s sound designer Walter Murch.
MYTH CONFIRMED
(photo courtesy of @missingwords) #StarWars
https://twitter.com/missingwords/status/984599564869976064
MYTH CONFIRMED
(photo courtesy of @missingwords) #StarWars
https://twitter.com/missingwords/status/984599564869976064
If you have any #StarWars myths you’d like me to bust or confirm, reply to this tweet with your ideas and I’ll add them to the list!
Star Wars Mythbusters
At the time of #StarWars’ release in 1977, Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t lying to Luke Skywalker about his father because Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader were different people – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
At the time of #StarWars’ release in 1977, Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t lying to Luke Skywalker about his father because Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader were different people – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
1. In the August 1975 third draft of “The #StarWars”, Kenobi explains to Luke Starkiller that his father Annikin was killed at the “Battle of Condawn”.
2. The backstory to Lucas’ January 1978 fourth draft is “about Ben & Luke’s father & Vader, when they are young Jedi Knights”. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
2. The backstory to Lucas’ January 1978 fourth draft is “about Ben & Luke’s father & Vader, when they are young Jedi Knights”. – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
3. In August 1977, after the release of #StarWars, Lucas stated that Vader massacred the Jedi but Kenobi and Luke’s father Annikin survived.
4. Darth Vader wasn’t Luke’s father until the second draft of #EmpireStrikesBack in April 1978.
MYTH CONFIRMED – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
4. Darth Vader wasn’t Luke’s father until the second draft of #EmpireStrikesBack in April 1978.
MYTH CONFIRMED – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
Great thread by @ILMVFX’s-own @tvaziri on the audience’s interpretation, over time, of Alec Guinness’s acting in this scene... https://twitter.com/tvaziri/status/778285866821226496 – bei Industrial Light and Magic
Star Wars Mythbusters
Chewbacca was inspired by George Lucas’s dog, an Alaskan Malamute called Indiana that rode in the front seat of his car
1. George Lucas is quoted in late-1997 that Indiana “inspired me to give Han Solo a sidekick who was like a big, furry dog.”
#StarWars
Chewbacca was inspired by George Lucas’s dog, an Alaskan Malamute called Indiana that rode in the front seat of his car
1. George Lucas is quoted in late-1997 that Indiana “inspired me to give Han Solo a sidekick who was like a big, furry dog.”
#StarWars
2. The Making of #StarWars verifies Lucas’s story.
3. Lucas’s dog Indiana also inspired the name “Indiana Jones” for that film series and the Jones family Malamute that the character named himself after.
MYTH CONFIRMED
3. Lucas’s dog Indiana also inspired the name “Indiana Jones” for that film series and the Jones family Malamute that the character named himself after.
MYTH CONFIRMED
4. Further confirmation from @kershed’s essential The #StarWars Archives 1977-1983, in which Lucas says, “I got the idea from looking at Marcia [Star Wars editor & Lucas’ ex-wife] & the dog when they go out driving together. Indiana, the dog, sits in the front next to Marcia...” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
![4. Further confirmation from @kershed’s essential The #StarWars Archives 1977-1983, in which Lucas says, “I got the idea from looking at Marcia [Star Wars editor & Lucas’ ex-wife] & the dog when they go out driving together. Indiana, the dog, sits in the front next to Marcia...” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EB-RPqVUYAEUR9n.jpg "4. Further confirmation from @kershed’s essential The #StarWars Archives 1977-1983, in which Lucas says, “I got the idea from looking at Marcia [Star Wars editor & Lucas’ ex-wife] & the dog when they go out driving together. Indiana, the dog, sits in the front next to Marcia...” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd")
Star Wars Mythbusters
Lando Calrissian was created to replace Han Solo in case Harrison Ford didn’t return for #ReturnoftheJedi
1. Unlike Hamill and Fisher, Ford did not sign a option for a second or third #StarWars film, not wanting to be tied up with a studio contract.
Lando Calrissian was created to replace Han Solo in case Harrison Ford didn’t return for #ReturnoftheJedi
1. Unlike Hamill and Fisher, Ford did not sign a option for a second or third #StarWars film, not wanting to be tied up with a studio contract.
2. Prior to the wide release/success of #StarWars, Alan Dean Foster wrote a low-budget potential sequel, published in March 1978 as Splinter of the Mind’s Eye. According to Foster, he was specifically told not to include Han Solo because Ford hadn’t committed to more films.
3. In the late-November 1977 ESB story conference, George Lucas spoke of rounding out Han’s character with someone from his past, a gambler. No mention of the gambler replacing Han Solo.
4. Ford happily returned for #EmpireStrikesBack, signing his contract in June 1978.
4. Ford happily returned for #EmpireStrikesBack, signing his contract in June 1978.
5. According to #ReturnoftheJedi producer Howard Kazanjian, Lucas considered writing Han out as Ford hadn’t agreed to a 3rd film.
6. By May 1980, Kazanjian convinced Ford to return for ROTJ.
MYTH BUSTED? (Lando was more than just a Han replacement but also served as a fallback)
6. By May 1980, Kazanjian convinced Ford to return for ROTJ.
MYTH BUSTED? (Lando was more than just a Han replacement but also served as a fallback)
Bonus Round:
According to Lucas, Yoda *was* (in part) created to replace Alec Guinness, who wanted to return to the role of Ben Kenobi but, in January 1978, was dealing with health concerns. By August 1979, Guinness felt well enough to return for #EmpireStrikesBack.
According to Lucas, Yoda *was* (in part) created to replace Alec Guinness, who wanted to return to the role of Ben Kenobi but, in January 1978, was dealing with health concerns. By August 1979, Guinness felt well enough to return for #EmpireStrikesBack.
Star Wars Mythbusters
The love triangle between Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa & Han Solo isn’t weird because Leia wasn’t Luke’s sister until the release of #ReturnoftheJedi in 1983.
1. In a #EmpireStrikesBack outline from 1977, George Lucas wrote “Mention lost sister trained Jedi”.
The love triangle between Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa & Han Solo isn’t weird because Leia wasn’t Luke’s sister until the release of #ReturnoftheJedi in 1983.
1. In a #EmpireStrikesBack outline from 1977, George Lucas wrote “Mention lost sister trained Jedi”.
2. In the late November 1977 #EmpireStrikesBack story conference, George Lucas discussed Luke having a lost twin sister, kept safe on the other side of the universe. She is also training to be a Jedi and Luke becomes aware of her through his training. #StarWars
3. In Leigh Brackett’s February 1978 #EmpireStrikesBack first draft, Luke’s father Annikin appears on Dagobah and revels that Luke has a sister, the siblings kept apart from each other for their mutual safety. #StarWars
4. In an early #ReturnoftheJedi scene list, George Lucas adds the note “Sister!” to a mention of Leia, perhaps the moment when he decided that Leia was Luke’s sister.
MYTH CONFIRMED
#StarWars
MYTH CONFIRMED
#StarWars
“For three years I do nothing but rewrite the script. I get a cut of the film, look at it & say, ‘Okay, what do I need? How is the story working? How can I mold it?’... It’s not just laid out & I follow it.” - George Lucas, 2017 interview for @kershed’s The #StarWars Archives.
Star Wars Mythbusters
Leia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 1983
1. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
![Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECbDE_AU4AExyrO.jpg "Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd")
![Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECbDE--U4AEkOsy.jpg "Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd")
![Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECbDE--U8AE_Z0a.jpg "Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd")
![Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECbDE--U4AAmKyG.jpg "Star Wars MythbustersLeia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 19831. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd")
Leia Organa remembers her mother because Padmé Amidala was alive when Leia was a child, at the time of #ReturnoftheJedi’s release in 1983
1. In George Lucas’ February 1981 rough draft, Obi-Wan tells Luke that “[Leia] was taken to Alderaan by your Mother.” – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
2. In the Revenge of the Jedi story conference in July 1981, Lucas says that the Skywalker twins are six-months-old when their mother takes Leia to Alderaan. Their mother subsequently dies on Alderaan, when Leia is two.
#StarWars #ReturnoftheJedi – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
#StarWars #ReturnoftheJedi – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
3. In the September 1981 second draft by Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan, Luke was taken to Obi-Wan’s brother Owen on Tatooine & Leia taken to Alderaan by their mother, who died soon after. In the same scene, Obi-Wan calls Luke “ #TheLastJedi”.
MYTH CONFIRMED
#StarWars #ReturnoftheJedi – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
MYTH CONFIRMED
#StarWars #ReturnoftheJedi – bei Lucasfilm Ltd
Further confirmation that Oakland container cranes did not influence the design of #TheEmpireStrikesBack’s walkers from AT-AT stop-motion animator Phil Tippett himself. #StarWars https://twitter.com/philtippett/status/1222331682759430144
Star Wars Mythbusters
Early concept art of Jabba the Hutt depicts the crime lord wearing a fez, as he was, in part, inspired by Sydney Greenstreet’s villainous Signor Ferrari in 1942’s Casablanca.
Early concept art of Jabba the Hutt depicts the crime lord wearing a fez, as he was, in part, inspired by Sydney Greenstreet’s villainous Signor Ferrari in 1942’s Casablanca.
1. Although oft-repeated, I personally have checked every piece of Jabba the Hutt concept art & maquette in the Lucasfilm archive, verified by archivists in the Lucas Museum collection, and no fez-wearing Jabba art has turned up. @PhilTippett, can you verify?
MYTH BUSTED?
MYTH BUSTED?
