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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Tatooine was named after the town Tataouine in Tunisia (where most of the filming of Tatooine was done).
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia24
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.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia23
The sound of a TIE Fighter was actually made by mixing an elephant's trumpet and a car driving on wet terrain.
Source: StarWars.com, Image: Jessica Spengler via Flickr22
No one knows the name of Yoda's species, but they were all excellent Jedi.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: pixabay.com21
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.
Source: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: Sam Howzit via Flickr20
And Luke Skywalker was originally called Luke Starkiller.
Source: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: JD Hancock via Flickr19
George Lucas has said the Millennium Falcon was modelled after a hamburger.
Source: cnet.com, Image: Bagogames via Flickr18
The droid starfighter was the only type of ship able to invert its wings upon landing and walk about.
Source: 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.
Source: TheForce.net, Image: Wikipedia16
Rapper Tupac Shakur auditioned for the role of Jedi Mace Windu (which eventually went to Samuel L. Jackson).
Source: Rolling Stone, Image: jlmaral via Flickr15
The name of planet Kashyyyk's native race, the Wookiees, translates as "People of the Trees".
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikimedia14
Early versions of the screenplay saw Luke as a sixty-something year old general.
Source: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: Manoel Lemos via Flickr13
The first screenplay introduced Han Solo as a green-skinned, noseless creature with gills, similar to Greedo.
Source: Not of This Earth, John L. Flynn, Image: Bagogames via Flickr12
Greedo speaks Quecha, a South American language spoken in the central Andes mountains.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Sonny Abesamis via Flickr11
The Jawa's language is a sped up version of Zulu, a language spoken in southern Africa and understood by 50% of South Africans.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikimedia10
No one ever wore a clone trooper suit - all these prequel soldiers were computer-generated images.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikimedia9
Some of 'NSYNC's members made a cameo appearance in the second film. The scene was cut out in post-production.
Source: MTV, Image: Jonobacon via Flickr8
The 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey had its film-famous EVA pod make an appearance in Watto's junkyard on Tattoine.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Ian Burt via Flicker7
"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!
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Thomas S. via Flicker6
Even E.T. made an appearance in Star Wars as an Asogian senator in the Galactic Senate.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia5
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?
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Wikipedia4
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.
Source: Craft Cinema via Blogspot, Image: Wikipedia3
Some random props make appearances in The Phantom Menace. Try to find the toaster, foot massager, and inflatable life boat.
Source: TheForce.net Image: Wikipedia2
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.
Source: Wookiepedia, Image: Stéfan via Flickr1
The credits show Jabba the Hut as being played by himself.
Source: TheForce.net Image: Wikipedia
