10 Surprising Facts About Star Wars

With the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” the world has once again been drawn back into the universe created by George Lucas nearly 40 years ago. While many people are familiar with the series, there are still some little-known facts that may surprise even the most avid Star Wars fans. Here are 10 surprising facts about Star Wars.

Alien Languages? Not So Much.

While many of the characters in the Star Wars universe speak in alien languages, it turns out that some of those languages are not so alien after all. For example, Greedo, the character shot by Han Solo at the Mos Eisley Cantina, was speaking in Quecha, a native language from South America. Additionally, the language spoken by the Jawa characters is actually Zulu, spoken faster and at a higher pitch.

E.T. Shows Up

While the first Star Wars film was released in 1977, it wasn’t until 1999’s “Episode I – The Phantom Menace” that audiences caught a glimpse of E.T.’s people. During the Galactic Senate scene, the audience can see a short cameo of the Asogian delegation, which includes E.T.’s species. The appearance was the result of a promise made by George Lucas to Steven Spielberg that a Yoda toy would appear in “E.T.”

Chewie is Bigfoot?

The Star Wars movies were filmed in many different locations, but some scenes were shot in northern California, which is known for its towering redwood trees–and also for being Bigfoot country to those who believe in the legendary creature. During filming for “The Empire Strikes Back,” actor Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca, was asked not to go through the forest in costume to keep from being accidentally shot by Bigfoot hunters.

Southpaw Storm Troopers

Did you ever notice that most of the Stormtroopers in the Star Wars movies appeared to be left-handed? This was due to a combination of factors, including their ammo magazines being on the left side of their gear and the fact that the Latin word for left is “sinister.” However, it’s also possible that the Stormtroopers’ left-handedness may have been the result of their being clones.

Bad Feelings

In every Star Wars movie, someone always says a variation of “I have a bad feeling about this.” It’s become a running gag among fans of the series, and you can see each instance of the phrase on the Star Wars Wikia.

Yoda is a Muppet?

Despite his fearsome Jedi powers, Yoda was brought to life by the famous Muppet master, Frank Oz. In addition to voicing Yoda, Oz is also known for portraying numerous other Muppet characters, including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, and Cookie Monster.

One Famous Dog

Did you know that Chewbacca’s appearance was actually based on George Lucas’ dog? Lucas’ dog was a Malamute named Indiana, who was also the inspiration for the name of Indiana Jones, the character played by Harrison Ford in the “Indiana Jones” films.

Homage to a Birthday

For many years, every Star Wars film was released within 10 days of May 14, which just happens to be the birthday of George Lucas. Lucas created the Star Wars universe and served as screenwriter on the first six films, so the coincidence seems fitting.

Welcome to the United Kingdom

While “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was filmed in many locations around the world, it is technically a British movie due to the significant tax breaks offered by the British government. This has caused some embarrassment for the government, as they appear to be benefiting from a loophole in their own tax laws.

It’s All in a Name

The name “Yoda” has its origins in the Sanskrit language, where the word for warrior is “Yodha.” This link was likely intentional, as Yoda is one of the most powerful Jedi warriors in the Star Wars universe.

In conclusion, Star Wars is a fascinating universe filled with intriguing characters, epic battles, and surprising lore. While these 10 facts may only scratch the surface of what we know about the series, they offer a fun glimpse into the creative process behind one of the most beloved franchises in modern history. May the Force be with you!