25 Star Wars Facts to Bring Out Your Inner Jedi

Posted by , Updated on January 18, 2024

Star Wars has had an everlasting effect on our collective psyche. Adults and children around the world easily recognize iconic images such as Darth Vader or a lightsaber. With the resent release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, we dug up some lesser-known facts (and easter eggs) you might not know about the franchise. Enjoy these 25 Star Wars facts to bring out your inner Jedi!

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25

Tatooine was named after the town Tataouine in Tunisia (where most of the filming of Tatooine was done).

Ksar Ouled SoltaneSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia
24

Many of the original Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia used a mix of existing locations. In fact, there are many structures which you can still visit.

Hotel Sidi DrissSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia
23

The sound of a TIE Fighter was actually made by mixing an elephant's trumpet and a car driving on wet terrain.

Tie fighterSource: StarWars.com, Image: Jessica Spengler via Flickr
22

No one knows the name of Yoda's species, but they were all excellent Jedi.

yodaSource: Wookiepedia, Image: pixabay.com
21

Before becoming a Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader was written by Lucas as a bounty hunter. Boba Fett was written in as the bounty hunter so Vader could take his rightful place.

darth vaderSource: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: Sam Howzit via Flickr
20

And Luke Skywalker was originally called Luke Starkiller.

luke and darth vaderSource: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: JD Hancock via Flickr
19

George Lucas has said the Millennium Falcon was modelled after a hamburger.

Millennium FalconSource: cnet.com, Image: Bagogames via Flickr
18

The droid starfighter was the only type of ship able to invert its wings upon landing and walk about.

DroidfighterSource: StarWars.com, Image: spiritwalkersg via flicker
17

While filming, many of the crew got coffee from a coffee stand on studio grounds named Javva the Hutt.

Dutch_Bros_coffee_at_Minter_Bridge_-_Hillsboro,_OregonSource: TheForce.net, Image: Wikipedia
16

Rapper Tupac Shakur auditioned for the role of Jedi Mace Windu (which eventually went to Samuel L. Jackson).

tupac shakurSource: Rolling Stone, Image: jlmaral via Flickr
15

The name of planet Kashyyyk's native race, the Wookiees, translates as "People of the Trees".

WookieeSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikimedia
14

Early versions of the screenplay saw Luke as a sixty-something year old general.

luke skywalker and r2d2Source: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: Manoel Lemos via Flickr
13

The first screenplay introduced Han Solo as a green-skinned, noseless creature with gills, similar to Greedo.

han soloSource: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: Bagogames via Flickr
12

Greedo speaks Quecha, a South American language spoken in the central Andes mountains.

greedoSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Sonny Abesamis via Flickr
11

The Jawa's language is a sped up version of Zulu, a language spoken in southern Africa and understood by 50% of South Africans.

jawa from star warsSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikimedia
10

No one ever wore a clone trooper suit - all these prequel soldiers were computer-generated images.

clone trooperSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikimedia
9

Some of 'NSYNC's members made a cameo appearance in the second film. The scene was cut out in post-production.

Nsync album coverSource: MTV, Image: Jonobacon via Flickr
8

The 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey had its film-famous EVA pod make an appearance in Watto's junkyard on Tattoine.

2001Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Ian Burt via Flicker
7

"I have a bad feeling about this" is a famous Star Wars phrase which has been used in every Star Wars movie to date - let's see if it's used in The Force Awakens!

starwars2Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Thomas S. via Flicker
6

Even E.T. made an appearance in Star Wars as an Asogian senator in the Galactic Senate.

E.T. LogoSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia
5

The Asogian senator was named Grebleips and came from Brodo Asogi (just like E.T.). Did you notice Grebleips is Spielberg (the director of E.T.) spelled backwards?

Steven_SpielbergSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia
4

R2-D2 popped into George Lucas's head as the name for the lovable droid after a member of the crew of American Graffiti (which he was working on) asked him to get Reel Two of the Second Dialogue track, known in industry jargon as R2-D2.

R2D2Source: Craft Cinema via Blogspot, Image: Wikipedia
3

Some random props make appearances in The Phantom Menace. Try to find the toaster, foot massager, and inflatable life boat.

inflatable boatSource: TheForce.net Image: Wikipedia
2

The word Ewok is just a reversal of the syllables in Wookiee. The Battle of Endor was originally written to happen on Kashyyyk, the Wookie planet.

ewokSource: Wookiepedia, Image: Stéfan via Flickr
1

The credits show Jabba the Hut as being played by himself.

Jabba the huttSource: TheForce.net Image: Wikipedia