George Lucas talks Yoda!

During a recent event commemorating the 45th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, 80-year-old filmmaker George Lucas shared fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes, focusing primarily on the character of Yoda. When asked why Yoda speaks in his unique manner, Lucas revealed that it was a deliberate choice to capture audience attention more effectively. He explained, “If I had him speak in normal English, people wouldn’t pay as much attention… But if he had an accent or if his dialogue was difficult to understand, they would focus on what he was saying.” Lucas went on to describe Yoda as the film’s philosophical figure, acknowledging that he needed a unique approach to keep even 12-year-old viewers engaged.

His agreement to create the films is legendary lore, and he elaborated, “I proposed, ‘I’ll do it for $50,000, taking care of writing, directing, and producing… Yet, I do crave the sequels.’ Moreover, I sought the rights because I am determined to make those movies regardless of this one’s fate.

In addition to the terms of his agreement, he proposed something revolutionary for the industry. I replied, “By the way, I’d like to discuss licensing.” This concept was foreign to them, as they were unimpressed with the film and had a negative perception of movie merchandising up until that point. Intrigued by his demands, the studio doubted his ability to fulfill them, reasoning that creating toys or merchandise required a billion dollars and a year’s time, and there was no profit in it at all.

For Lucas, the marketing strategy for the film fell short of his expectations. Instead, he orchestrated a secretive campaign by enlisting children to promote the movie at Disneyland, Comic Cons, and similar events. “I had kids walking around Disneyland and various conventions,” he explained. “And that’s why Fox was taken aback when, on the first day, lines stretched around the block.

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2025-04-26 13:23