Steven Spielberg and George Lucas engaged in a spirited back-and-forth homage to each other’s films. In the Halloween trick-or-treating scene in “E.T.” (1982), Yoda appears for a minute. In case you’re thinking, ‘Of course, there’s a kid in a Yoda costume, Yoda’s been around for like two years,’ E.T. says, “Home, home!” while walking toward the creature.
Additionally, theme music reminiscent of Yoda from “The Empire Strikes Back,” the film that introduced Yoda, plays over E.T.’s. exclamations.
R2-D2 Rolls Into Action
The sometimes-spunky bot took out an enemy droid in “Revenge of the Sith” (2005). R2 throws it into reverse in a clearly passive-aggressive move to trip a droid.
A lot of things are going on in this scene with lightsabers swinging and sparks flying, but if you pay attention as it cuts to a closeup of the little white and blue bot, you’ll see it backing up to take down a tall, bipedal droid. It is a little blip of comic relief.
Is There an E.T. Easter Egg?
Yes. E.T. and two of his consorts appear briefly in the 1999 film. Three alien beings who look exactly like Steven Spielberg’s endearing E.T. are spotted in the Senate Chamber as representatives of the Asogian Brodo Asogi race.
Given that George Lucas and Spielberg are known to reference each other’s films, it’s not a surprise this happened. Any doubts of an intentional reference here come in the way of a couple of bars of the E.T. theme song playing over this snippet of “The Phantom Menace.” Plus, the creature’s name. It is Senator Grebleips, Spielberg spelled backward!
Can You Spot the Space Potato?
It is so unlikely, but it actually happened. A potato can be seen flinging through an asteroid field during one of the fight scenes in “The Empire Strikes Back.” If you look closely, you can spot the flying potato at the point when the Millennium Falcon tries to flee the Imperial fleet.
The visual effects crew stuck the spud in as a gag, secretly sniggering, ‘George Lucas will never find out about this.’ And he didn’t, for many years.
Samuel L. Jackson Has the Only Purple Lightsaber in the Galaxy
Many of the actors who play a character in the Star Wars franchise are childhood fans who bring that excitement with them. One of them is Samuel L. Jackson.
The action movie legend brought the topic of lightsaber colors up with George Lucas. In a YouTube video, Lucas explains the law of the lightsaber. He tells Jackson that red is for the bad guys and blue or green is for the good guys, “that’s just the way it works.” In response, Jackson intones, “No purple lightsaber?” Lucas caved immediately.
Three Easter Eggs in “Return of the Jedi”
We are talking about the creatures are part of the opening scene that takes place on Jabba the Hut’s barge. Far from being arbitrary, these three have names assigned by George Lucas, who was inspired by the classic sci-fi film “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (1951).
In that movie, the line, “Klaatu Barada Nikto” is uttered by an Earthling who delivers it, as if chanting a spell, repeating it twice. The incantation is meant to stop the GORT (Genetically Organized Robotic Technology) alien. Luke Skywalker slaughters Klaatu, Barada, and Nikto, leaving open whether or not Lucas is a fan of the old sci-fi movie.
The Flags in Front of Maz Kanata’s Castle
In these films, it's like everything has a deeper meaning. Secret references and hidden signs are everywhere. That is exactly the case with the flags hanging over Maz Kanata’s castle. Each and every flag is a reference to something in the Saga. Every film, from the prequel trilogy to the original trilogy is represented.
A prominently displayed flag is Boba Fett’s Mandalorian flag. Several flags referencing the Pod Race from “The Phantom Menace” can also be picked out.
The “Wilhelm Scream” Was Dubbed In
The Wilhelm Scream is a classic soundbite from a 1951 movie. The track was originally tagged, “man being eaten by an alligator.” In 1953 it became known as the Wilhelm scream, even though in that movie, it was paired to a visual of a man taking an arrow to the leg. It’s been sampled in nearly 400 movies since.
The Star Wars franchise has used the screech in nearly every iteration. The first time we heard it, Luke Skywalker took out a Stormtrooper who falls to his death in agony — the Wilhelm scream dubbed in. That was in the original “Star Wars” movie, now known as “Episode IV: A New Hope.”
Yoda Appears in “E.T.”
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas engaged in a spirited back-and-forth homage to each other’s films. In the Halloween trick-or-treating scene in “E.T.” (1982), Yoda appears for a minute. In case you’re thinking, ‘Of course, there’s a kid in a Yoda costume, Yoda’s been around for like two years,’ E.T. says, “Home, home!” while walking toward the creature.
Additionally, theme music reminiscent of Yoda from “The Empire Strikes Back,” the film that introduced Yoda, plays over E.T.’s. exclamations.
There Is a Beastie Boys Reference in “The Force Awakens"
Resistance pilot “Ello Asty” was named by the creature department, according to J.J. Abrams. He is quoted saying that he gave them the thumbs up as a wink and a nod to the band’s 1989 album “Hello Nasty.” Abrams also noted that the name on the pilot’s helmet spells “L-O-S-T,” tying in the director’s TV series.
The fact is, Abrams is a Beastie Boys fan, and this is not the only reference. For example, another creature named Ilco Munica, was lifted from the B-Boys’ album “Ill Communication.”
Most People Don’t Know About These Royal Stormtroopers
But that may have something to do with the fact that the scene ended up on the cutting room floor. It’s a pity, too, because it was a high point in the lives of these two British royals. Prince Harry and Prince William secretly visited Pinewood Studios during the filming of “The Last Jedi.”
Both huge fans of the Force, the starstruck boys, unluckily for them, are both over six feet. Stormtroopers are not that tall. The cut appears on the deleted scenes section of “Last Jedi” on Blu-ray.
The Significance of the Planet Wobani
Wobani is found in the Galactic Empire. It was an Imperial prison camp that first shows up on “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016). In that movie, Jyn Erso was freed from Wobani by the Rebel Alliance.
The cloud-shrouded planet initially appeared in the 2015 video game, “Star Wars Battlefront.” But what is most intriguing is the planet’s name. It is an anagram of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
A Crowd-Surfing Stormtrooper in “Return of the Jedi"
A crowd-surfing Stormtrooper spotted at the end of “Return of the Jedi,” can be seen amongst celebrations of the toppling of the Emperor’s Palpatine Statue, but only for a brief second.
This Stormtrooper is not a willing crowd-surfer. It is being tossed around by the enemy of his defeated cause.
The Blue Milk Thing
Luke Skywalker first drank blue milk in the 1977 “Star Wars: A New Hope.” It is one of those things Star Wars fans ogle over, so much so, that Disneyland sells it at the Star Wars theme park in California. Fans are drawn to it because the peculiar milk-like beverage was a mystery that begged many questions. Especially, where does it come from?
Answers have petered out slowly since Luke’s first sip. In reality, it is regular milk with blue food coloring because how could dairy milk exist on Tatooine? There are no cows.
The Origin of Blue Milk
In “Return of the Jedi” the source of Luke Skywalker's mysterious blue milk, although sometimes green, is revealed. Since, obviously, cows do not live on any planets of the Star Wars galaxy, the milk comes from a mammalian species that happen to populate Tatooine and other planets.
The creatures are known as Bantha. It becomes clear that the milk comes from these beasts as Skywalker is serving himself a cup of it by tapping a Bantha’s udder in “The Last Jedi.”
The Beastie Boys Song “Slow and Low” Drops in on “The Last Jedi”
Slowen Lo is an Abednedo species that is obviously named after the B-Boys’ 1986 song. It is the fourth Abednedo to be named in homage to the NYC hip-hop band. “Slow and Low” is from their first album, “Ill Communication.”
Slowen Lo is voiced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and is credited as “J.G.L.” in “The Last Jedi.”
“Rebel Scum” Was First Uttered "Episode VI"
Even if you are not a Star Wars fanatic, it’s fairly certain you’ve still heard of “rebel scum.” It comes from the battle of Endor when Leia and Han Solo are confronted by Imperial Officer Renz. He spits out, “You rebel scum,” to Solo who just took out an Imperial dude despite being told, “freeze!”
It was just a split-second line from “Return of the Jedi,” but it stuck. A youthful daredevil named Han Solo was tagged with the epithet, and the fandom loved it.
“Several Easter Eggs Spawned From the Iconic “Rebel Scum” Line
Though it was a blip in a battle, the insult landed in sequels quite a few times. It took on a life of its own and even became a badge of honor of sorts. Poe Dameron, a daring pilot like Solo was called “rebel scum” by General Hux. That was in “The Last Jedi.” It was actually used twice in that movie.
The second time we heard it was from Finn. Confronting Captain Phasma, Phasma sneered at Finn, “You were always scum.” Finn fearlessly responded, “Rebel scum!”
A Defeated Imperial Droid Lay Crumpled in the Corner
In “The Empire Strikes Back,” a droid is pictured in the scrap room on Bespin, near the incinerator. That pile of rubble is the droid formerly known as IG-88. It had been one of the deadliest droids in the galaxy, second only to Boba Fett, who blew up IG-88 with a cannon that triggered its own stock of grenades.
IG-88 had been hired by Darth Vader, himself, to track down the Millennium Falcon. The bounty hunter droid was an unstoppable killer bot, until, that is, Boba Fett plotted its demise.
The IG-11 Droid Is Often Confused With IG-88
In “The Mandalorian” series, droid IG-11 is an assassin hunter like IG-88, but it is a completely separate bounty hunting robot. It served as a male-programmed bounty hunter during the New Republic Era but was destroyed by Din Djarin as it was closing in on a mission to kill an infant named Grogu.
When IG-11 was reassembled, it served as a nurse droid, programmed to care for patients.
Finn’s Stormtrooper Name Is Fn-2187
Most people can remember Princess Leia being held prisoner in cell number 2187 on the Death Star in “Star Wars: A New Hope.” It is announced by Han as he goes to rescue her.
Forty years later, in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” we find Finn’s Stormtrooper named in reference FN-2187. It was Poe who gave FN-2187 his nickname Finn, put together by the FN in his tag.
Fn-2187 Is an Easter Egg Embedded in Another Easter Egg
The true significance of 2187 goes back to George Lucas’ education. At USC’s cinema school, he discovered film shorts from the National Film Board of Canada. One of these made a big impression on the budding filmmaker. A 1964 abstract short film by Arthur Lipsett is titled “21-87.”
It was a quirky film with very little narrative, but he loved it and said he viewed the short about twenty or thirty times.
An 1138 Reference Is Spotted in “Star Wars: Episode IV”
It is a very brief example, but in the 1977 film, Chewbacca is transferred to cell number 1138. If it seems like a random designation, it’s not. The number is actually dear to Lucas’ heart as it was the title of a short film, he made in film school.
The 1967 film was titled, in full, “Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB.” This work was recognized and got his foot in the door in the film industry. It served as a stepping stone to making “American Graffiti” (1973).
Fans Love to Spot Han’s Gold Dice
The dice first appear in the original trilogy. In “A New Hope” they are spotted in the Millennium Falcon cockpit, dangling in a comparable fashion to fuzzy dice on a car’s rearview mirror. Presumably forgotten, it was exciting when the pair of gold dice show up in “The Last Jedi.” They also appear in “The Force Awakens.”
The dice pass from Han Solo to Qi’ra, and then from Luke to Leia in “The Last Jedi.” Luke, in a sentimental nod to the passing of Han Solo, takes his dice from his ship.
There Is a Star Wars Hieroglyphic in “Indiana Jones"
Star Wars Easter eggs are clearly not limited to the Expanded Universe. Here’s a blatant Star Wars reference in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” If you look at the post next to Indiana Jones, there is an engraving of R2-D2 and C-3PO.
It is counterintuitive seeing a hieroglyphic from a galaxy far, far away in the future, but it is the exact type of cross-referencing pranks directors Steven Spielberg and George Lucas loved to pull.
Another Significant Numeric Reference Is 327
In the original 1977 movie, the Millennium Falcon docks on bay 327 of the Death star. Lest one thinks it is of no consequence, 327 is also the docking bay in “The Empire Strikes Back” at Cloud City’s platform. So, what’s the point of the number? It is significant to George Lucas. His breakout movie “American Graffiti” pictures the number on a car engine.
Additionally, 327 is the number on the hyperdrive core of Naboo’s cruiser and it is used by Boba Fett as an alias.
Two Easter Eggs Can Be Spotted in This Scene
During the battle of Eravana, Chewbacca’s arm is injured. Finn is milling through some stuff on the Millennium Falcon looking for supplies to treat him. At one point he digs up a familiar-looking sphere, the remote training ball used by Luke Skywalker in the original movie. He looks at it then hastily throws it aside.
Finn also ditches aside a holo-chess board that harks from that classic film as well. These Easter eggs are found in “The Force Awakens.”
Movie Poster Easter Egg
The Star Wars movie franchise is chock full of fun Easter egg surprises. It goes back a long way, way before we began calling them, “Easter eggs.” Even before the internet, there were plenty of dropped signs and references in George Lucas’ creations.
In this one, found in the first movie, we can spot a “Star Wars” movie poster inside the cockpit of Princess Leia’s ship.
Darth Vader Lurks in the Credits of This Movie
If you’re not paying attention, you will miss it. This little sound surprise can be heard in the ending credits of “The Phantom Menace.”
It’s not until the last ten seconds that a couple of breaths from Darth Vader punctuate the closing credit music, but it’s enough to send a shiver down one’s spine.
How Did Homer Simpson Get a Cameo in “Attack of the Clones?”
It’s hard to say. But, in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, Homer flashes onto the scene and just as quickly disappears. He is manning a fighter ship and spraying ammo at the enemy clones who are attacking Count Dooku.
Homer pilots a Republic ship in “Attack of the Clones” and the snippet can be seen at just about the two-hour mark, shortly after Obi-Wan enters the arena and Yoda begins to speak.
The Millennium Falcon Makes a Surprise Visit in a Prequel Movie
The ship’s cameo appears in “Revenge of the Sith.” The Millennium Falcon can be spotted docking on Coruscant early in the 2005 movie. When fans first saw it, there was speculation that the ship was a random YT cruiser.
However, George Lucas cleared it all up when he confirmed it was the Millennium Falcon lowering in for a landing at the dock.
Carrie Fisher’s Real-Life Daughter Made a Cameo Appearance
Billie Lourd, the daughter of the actress who portrayed Princess Leia, appeared on screen with her mother in “The Force Awakens.” In that 2015 film, Lourd wore buns reminiscent of Princess Leia and appeared briefly as a minor character in the movie.
After Carrie Fisher’s untimely death in 2016, Lourd took over her mother’s role, reprising Leia’s character as Lieutenant Connix in “The Rise of Skywalker” in the modern trilogy.
Princess Leia’s Storied Holograph Shows up in “The Last Jedi.”
In a nostalgic flashback, Princess Leia’s iconic message gets a reboot in “The Last Jedi.” This happens when R2-D2 shows her plea, so reminiscent of the first “Star Wars” movie.
R2 hoped that by replaying the message, Luke Skywalker might be enticed to join the fight against the First Order.
“I Have a Bad Feeling About This”
This is one of the most iconic lines out of the Star Wars franchise. It pops up in every movie ever made that takes place in that galaxy far, far away.
It grabbed our attention for the first time when Luke Skywalker said, “I have a very bad feeling about this,” on approaching the Death Star in the Millennium Falcon in “Star Wars.”
“The Last Jedi” Does Not Contain the Line, “I Have a Bad Feeling About This” (In English)
“Star Wars: Episode VIII: The Last Jedi” is the only movie of the Saga that doesn’t seem to contain the line. But it’s in there. Director Rian Johnson put our worries to rest when he revealed that the line is in the film, but it is spoken in droid speak.
Droid BB-8 says it to Poe in the Galactic Basic Standard language in “Episode VIII.” It can be heard during the opening battle scene.
Lando Calrissian Utters the Famous Line
In “The Rise of Skywalker” Lando gets to deliver the refrain for the first time. He says, “I have a bad feeling about this” as he looks out a window and sees henchmen from the First Order coming after them.
It happens on the planet Pasaana just after he has divulged his alliance with Rey’s side.
Han Solo Says the Line at Least Four Times
Han says, “I got a bad feeling about this” as the walls of the trash compactor start moving in “The Empire Strikes Back.” He also mutters the catchphrase as he, Luke, and Chewbacca are being readied to roast by the Ewoks. He added “really” that time. And, in “The Force Awakens” Han says the line because Rathtars have been unleashed on his vessel.
Finally, he mixes it up in “Rogue One.” Guiding the Millennium Falcon out of the maelstrom, he says, “I have a really good feeling about this!”
A Reference From C-3p0 Finally Makes Sense
In “The Empire Strikes Back,” C-3P0 memorably comments to Han, “Sir, I don’t know where your ship learned to communicate, but it has the most peculiar dialect.” The context of the bot’s confusion is not explained until “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” 40 years later.
In that 2018 movie, we learn that Lando’s droid, L3-37, was the peculiar droid C-3P0 was communicating with. We knew L3-37’s hardware was destroyed in battle, but we didn’t know her software was uploaded to the Millennium Falcon, and that is who C-3P0 refers to.
A Star Wars Easter Egg Landed in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”
Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises have a couple of things in common, namely, Lucasfilm and Harrison Ford. More than one Easter egg has wound up in each film.
Just as the hieroglyph of C-3P0 and R2-D2 is seen in “The Raiders of the Lost Ark,” a nightclub called Club Obi-Wan is featured in the opening sequence of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984). Hint: George Lucas is responsible for the Indiana Jones franchise via Lucasfilm.
Stormtrooper Cameos
While we can’t recognize the faces, there are quite a few Stormtrooper cameos. In “The Force Awakens,” musicians Michael Giacchino and Nigel Godrich are Stormtroopers FN-3181 and FN-9330. Giacchino is a composer who worked with J.J. Abrams on both “Star Trek” and “Lost.”
Godrich is from Radiohead. He’s produced, composed, and engineered music for the band.
007 Doubles as a Stormtrooper
Although he categorically denies it, James Bond star Daniel Craig dressed up as a Stormtrooper one time. He played the trooper who was mind-controlled by Rey in “The Force Awakens.”
He even had a line, repeating Rey’s command, “You will remove these restraints. And leave this cell, with the door opened.” As it happened, Craig was filming “Spectre,” located in the same Pinewood Studios lot.
“Bonk!”
This is one of those Easter eggs that just happened. It’s like a blooper that was left in the film out of good humor. The “bonk” moment takes place on the Death Star right about the time the trash compactor is closing in on our heroes.
A trio of troopers rushes into a hallway in pursuit of C-3P0 right as the automatic door lifts. The Stormtrooper in the rear can be seen clocking his helmeted nut right on the forehead. You can even hear the “clunk” sound effect. Anyone who has noticed the “bonk” is glad it made the cut.
Boba Fett Sans Helmet
Saga enthusiasts can’t help but wonder who or what is under Boba Fett’s brushed chrome armor and helmet. The proficient assassin played by Jeremy Bulloch is the only character besides Darth Vader, probably, who intrigues us by not revealing his identity. However, there are two scenes where we see the actor underneath.
He appears in “The Empire Strikes Back” as an Imperial Officer, the one who grabs Leia when she tries to warn Luke. Secondly, he is Captain Colton in the “Revenge of the Sith,” piloting Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda to Coruscant.
George Lucas Cameos in “Revenge of the Sith”
It’s a rare sighting, given that Lucas prefers to stay behind the camera. In fact, it’s only the second time he’s surfaced in any of the movies in the franchise. But unless you know ahead of time, you will not be able to spot the prolific creator’s brief appearance.
He plays Baron Papanoida, a blue-skinned man from Pantora. His total screen time does not even last 10 seconds. The “Revenge of the Sith” marks the first prequel movie of the new trilogy and the director’s return to the Saga.
This Star Wars Cipher Landed on Indiana Jones’ Turf
In “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” there is a scene that references both C-3P0 and Obi-Wan Kenobi. It happens when Indiana Jones discovers his plane waiting for him on the river.
The serial number of the plane is not arbitrary, naturally, because it is OB-CPO, referring to both Star Wars characters. OB-CPO also appears in the video game “Star Wars Galactic Spy.”
Luke Starkiller?
Yes. George Lucas originally conceived the name of the hero of “Star Wars” to be Luke Starkiller. Obviously, he thought better of it and went with Luke Skywalker.
We find out the origin of it in “The Force Awakens.” It was J.J. Abrams who explained that the gigantic superweapon of the First Order, a weapon of mass destruction as big as a planet, was named Starkiller, in homage to Skywalker’s working name.
The Millennium Falcon Cameos in “First Contact”
As we know, Star Wars Easter eggs can be spotted pretty much anywhere. In making “Star Trek: First Contact,” the visual effects team thought it would be funny to stick the Millennium Falcon into the opening battle scene.
Industrial Light and Magic, the same special effects company that the Star Wars franchise employs, also worked on the 1996 Star Trek film so the crew just happened to have a Millennium Falcon on hand.
“Rogue One” Gives a Nod to Disney’s Animated Series
The Ghost starship served as the base of a band of Lothal rebels in Disney’s “Star Wars Rebels” series. It is named for its ability to travel through Imperial detectors. Plus, the starship hosted the Phantom, a sub craft that detached for battle.
In “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the Ghost starship can be spotted in the Battle of Scarif. It also is shown landing on the Yavin IV base.
Finn’s Bacta Suit Harks Back to Luke
We see a Bacta suit for the first time when Luke Skywalker is submerged in the Bacta tank at the opening of “The Empire Strikes Back.” The Jedi pilot is healing from a punishing battle wound on Hoth.
The quick healing Bacta tank contraption is also used to revive Finn in “The Last Jedi.” In that movie, he wakes from a coma suited up like Luke.
This Easter Egg in “The Last Jedi” Is for Hardcore Fans
In the first trilogy, hyperdrive was a button the pilot could push to send the ship lightyears into the future and, to the point, out of the reach of Imperial hunters. Skywalker and Solo were saved by this super cool feature more than once.
When we get to “Rogue One,” however, there is a new technology that renders hyperdrive useless. It’s revealed by Jyn Erso, a Rebellion fighter, who discovers the Empire’s plan to make Hyperdrive obsolete. She says, “Hyperspace tracking. Navigational systems.” And that’s all that serious Star Wars fans had to hear.
JJ Abrams Gives a Wink to a 1979 Horror Flick
According to “Entertainment Weekly,” JJ Abrams said he named Captain Phasma, the shiny, chrome Stormtrooper, after the seventies’ low-budget horror movie “Phantasm.” It was one of Abrams’s favorite movies.
He said, “Phasma I named because of the amazing chrome design that came from Michael Kaplan’s wardrobe team. It reminded me of the ball in ‘Phantasm,’ and I just thought, Phasma sounds really cool.” That chrome sphere was a track-and-kill machine, so a Stormtrooper named after it does make sense.
Gonk Appears in “The Force Awakens”
A GNK droid makes an appearance on Jakku in “Episode VII.” The droid is called Gonk because of its droid initials but also because of the gonky sounds it makes navigating around while speaking Gonkian. The droid is a box-like bot that is primarily used as a power generator. They are equipped with AI capabilities, but Gonk is not the brightest bot in the Galaxy.
That said, it did get a cameo role in “The Force Awakens,” reintroducing it to the Saga for the first time since the original trilogy.
R2-d2 Cameos as Space Junk in ‘Star Trek’
It’s at once hilarious and heartbreaking to see Luke’s dutiful R2 droid flailing around with the rest of the space junk in JJ Abrams' 2009 film. It’s a very quick instant that the droid can be spotted in “Star Trek.”
It happens as the Enterprise tracks down Nero’s ship, just after the demise of Vulcan.
“This Will Begin to Make Things Right”
Some fans interpreted the first line of “The Force Awakens,” the prequel that took light years to make, as a sign that the new “Star Wars” franchise by Disney would right the perceived wrongs of George Lucas's prequel efforts. The line is significant on its own too.
It is said to Poe Dameron by Force-leader Lor San Tekka who gives Poe the keys to Luke Skywalker’s account, in other words, to his secret location.
Space Bots' Travels Through Cinematic Space
R2-D2 is spotted amongst a bunch of space debris in a different franchise, this time, in “Star Trek Into Darkness.” JJ Abrams’ 2013 “Star Trek” movie finds the famous droid dropped into the action during the starship battle.
It happens about an hour and seventeen minutes into the film. R2 and fellow crewmembers are ripped out of the ship into space. We can thank the Industrial Light & Magic effects people for this sighting.
“2001: A Space Odyssey” Visits Watto’s Junkyard
This is a blink-and-you-miss-it reference. In “The Phantom Menace” (1999), snarky moviemakers are stuck in an old beat-up pod from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” It lay disheveled in the junk heap. The type of EVA pod that was featured in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film was built for transport and performing maintenance outside of spacecraft.
In “The Phantom Menace,” the old pod can be spotted during the scene where Qui-Gon Jinn is walking through the junkyard with Watto. The large round feature makes it visible.
Jabba the Hutt Is Credited as “Himself”
There is a little bit of controversy surrounding this memorable creature. In the first film of the Saga, Jabba the Hutt is impossible to miss. It was created as a giant puppet. Later, the decision was made to create Jabba the Hutt with CGI for “The Phantom Menace.” People yet complain it doesn’t look exactly the same.
Lucas refuted the criticism saying that the Hutt is not real, it is a character, so it is always going to be fake. In the ending credits, they made it clear that Jabba is the same Hutt by crediting the creature as “himself.”
Leia’s Ship Is Called the Raddus
Leia commands The Raddus in “The Last Jedi,” and it was given that name for a special reason. It harks back to the time a Mon Calamari named Raddus took a serious risk to support the Resistance’s fight against The First Order. He was a commander during the Battle of Scarif in “Rogue One.”
Admiral Raddus bravely acquired the plans of the Death Star. He even left retirement to join the cause and it was Leia who convinced him.
The Millennium Falcon’s Radar Dish
By the time of “The Rise of Skywalker,” the Resistance ship appears to have its original, round radar dish intact. It came as a surprise because the dish had been ripped off the ship the time Lando piloted it into the second Death Star. That dish was replaced with a rectangular radar dish. In “The Last Jedi,” however, that dish is torn off the Millennium Falcon as well.
As it turns out, that dish was replaced with an exact replica of the original radar dish. It’s almost like visual effects were simplifying by repurposing Falcon effects for “The Rise of Skywalker.”
Han Solo’s Famous Line Revisited
It’s not as weighty as, “may the force be with you,” but it is arguably just as famous. Princess Leia tells Solo she loves him at a tense moment in “The Empire Strikes Back” and he says, “I know.”
The surprise response still makes people laugh. A reference to the line is in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Lando tells Han Solo he hates him, and Han flips it up and says, “I know.”
“Let the Wookiee Win”
C-3PO says it to R2-D2 who is engaged with Chewbacca in a game of Dejarik—a holographic board game comparable to chess. R2-D2’s move takes out Chewie’s yellow dude with a body slam by a large green lizard. The Wookiee roars and Han Solo warns the droids that Chewie may rip out someone’s arms for beating him at Dejarik.
In “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” the Wookiee gets beat by the same move. He roars and tries to wipe the holographic figures off the board. His opponent, this time, does not let the Wookie win.
A Strip of White Duct Tape Is Spotted on a Stormtrooper’s Armor
“Star Wars” was put together on a relatively low budget, at least compared with the sequels and prequels. Cost-saving measures are often cited in “A New Hope.”
A piece of duct tape used for holding together the armor of a stormtrooper is caught in this freeze-frame moment when Leia is captured.
Justin Theroux Makes a Peek Performance in “The Last Jedi”
His character is a hacker who appears at the Canto Bight casino for just seconds. He has slicked-back hair and is wearing a white tux.
Initially, early in the making of “The Last Jedi,” his character known as Master Codebreaker was supposed to have more screen time, but Theroux agreed to do the cameo and was happy with what he got. He said it was a childhood dream come true.
Luke’s X-Wing Fighter Reemerges
Luke Skywalker ditched his trusty X-Wing in “The Empire Strikes Back.” He sunk it in a shallow inlet of seawater on the planet of Ahch-To, vowing never to fight again. The sunken X-Wing shows up once more in “The Rise of Skywalker.” Rey discovers it having traveled to Achc-To to track down Skywalker.
Another flashback happens when Luke raises the X-Wing out of the sea for Rey to use. It reminds us of the time Luke, in a scene with Yoda, was unable to levitate the craft in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
The Return of Palpatine’s Line
In “Revenge of the Sith,” Palpatine tells Anakin Skywalker, “The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.” He is referring to a powerful Sith on the dark side who could stave off death on anyone except himself.
Palpatine essentially dangles the coveted dark power in front of Anakin who is very attentive and eventually chooses to be an apprentice to the dark side. The line comes back to haunt us when Palpatine repeats those words exactly to Kylo Ren, Anakin’s grandson, in “The Rise of Skywalker.”
The Spice Trade Links Two of Our Favorite Star Wars Characters
Han Solo notoriously joined the good guys in the first trilogy after leaving his smuggling days behind. It was not a reputable occupation, actually illegal, but his acumen as a spice runner was renowned.
At one point, he boasts of his speed and efficiency as a smuggler to Skywalker. Much later, it comes out in “The Rise of Skywalker” that Poe Dameron is a former spice runner too.
“Nice Flying, Lando”
This is a wonky Easter egg only the wonkiest Star Wars fanatics catch. The line is heard in the climactic battle in “The Rise of Skywalker.” An older-looking gunner exclaims, “Nice flying, Lando!” It’s a quick bit that most miss. As it turns out, the character, Wedge Antilles, hails from the original trilogy, which explains his age.
The role was played by Denis Lawson, and the actor returned to the Saga in “The Rise of Skywalker.” It was the Antilles who fought alongside Skywalker in the Death Star mission, but we did not know because he had been dubbed over by a different actor.
The Origin of Rey and Kylo Ren’s Mind Link
Through the prequels, the mental connection between these two characters proves to be very powerful. The Force allows them to wield their mind linkage in surprising ways. But the very first time they show their ability goes back to “The Last Jedi.”
It was then that their bond suggested its potentiality. It happens when Kylo Ren feels the rain falling on Rey, who is standing under the Millennium Falcon on Ahch-To, across the galaxy from her.
“Rogue One” Director Gareth Edwards Shows up in “The Last Jedi”
The director plays a Resistance soldier in a scene that appears near the end of the movie. It would be an astute Star Wars fan who could catch Gareth Edwards’ cameo in “The Last Jedi.”
He appears briefly as a fighter against an attack by the First Order on Crait. To pick him out, look for the only Resistance fighter without a helmet.
Producers of “The Phantom Menace” Put Themselves in the Movie
Three producers of “The Phantom Menace” show up in the film at the very end. Pictured at the Royal Palace, they make a cameo as Naboo noblemen dressed in brown cloaks.
Producer Rick McCallum, editor Paul Martin Smith, and sound editor Ben Burtt can all be seen standing near Palpatine and Padme Amidala at a Naboo ceremony. They make a momentary onscreen appearance.
An Easter Egg for Playstation Gamers
Qi’ra introduces a new fighting style in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” L3-37 points it out with emotions of amazement and surprise asking, “What was that?” It was a new fighting style called Teräs Käsi. Qi’ra employs it during the infiltration of the Kessel ship in “Solo.” But Teräs Käsi was already witnessed by PlayStation gamers who own “Masters of Teräs Käsi” (1997).
That’s where it debuted in live-action form. To get perfectly wonky, the Teräs Käsi style originated in “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire”, a novel from the canon that was released in 1996.
Jedi Padawan Is Related
The first time Jett Lucas appeared in a Star Wars movie, he played Jedi Padawan Warpoc Skamini in “Attack of the Clones.” In case you’re wondering, yes, he is related. Jett Lucas is George Lucas’ son.
He also got a small part in “Revenge of the Sith” as Zett Jukassa. He was shot down by Legion Clone Troopers, but he did get to wield a lightsaber.
An Easter Egg From the Lucas Lineage
Daughter Katie Lucas makes a couple of appearances in Star Wars movies. She filled in as a childhood friend of Anakin Skywalker. She even had a line, but only one.
Katie Lucas was credited as Jenna Green. She was still in braces in that scene. Katie is back in “Attack of the Clones” as a purple-skinned character.
The Lucas-Family Was All in
Amanda Lucas played a character whose name is an anagram of her own. She was Adnama in “Attack of the Clones,” a minor character who can be seen hanging out at the Outlander Club. She is also in “The Phantom Menace” where she voiced a couple of lines as a battleship pilot named Tey How.
In the battle of Naboo, she can be heard saying, “We’re losing power. There seems to be a problem with the main reactor.” How went up in smoke with the rest of the crew after Anakin Skywalker’s direct hit took out the Vuutun Palaa battleship.
The Aki-Aki Festival of the Ancestors Takes Place Every 42 Years
It was C-3P0 who tells Poe that the celebration occurs once every 42 years. The grand festival on the planet Pasaana is introduced in the 2019 “The Rise of Skywalker” movie. You’re probably thinking, ‘so, what?’ but the reference to 42 years is significant.
They stuck that in there as an Easter egg giving a nod to the fact that it had been 42 years between the making of “The Rise of Skywalker” and “Star Wars: A New Hope.”
The Iconic Luke Skywalker Twin Sunset From “A New Hope” Revisited
It is a special moment when Rey and BB-8 stroll off into a scenic view of Tatooine’s binary suns in “The Rise of Skywalker” (2019). It’s arguably more sentimental for the nostalgic viewer who is old enough to remember Luke Skywalker striking a very similar path in the 1977 “Star Wars.”
But seriously, anyone who watched Lucas’ first intergalactic sci-fi blockbuster would be touched. Especially when you learn Rey and BB-8 are walking toward a sunrise, signifying a new hope for Skywalker's name as she had just revealed she is Rey Skywalker.
Jurassic Park Dinosaur Egg Sighted in “The Last Jedi”
One of the most memorable scenes from Steven Spielberg’s T-Rex adventure is the part when the water in two glasses begins to vibrate, signaling the massive lizard’s terrifying entrance. In “The Last Jedi,” a stampede of fathers racing into Canto Bight cause a glass of water to vibrate similarly.
Another factoid that seals this “Last Jedi” egg sighting is actress Laura Dern who plays Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. She stars in both films.
Gary Cameoed in “The Last Jedi”
Gary was Carrie Fisher’s adored pet. He makes an appearance in “The Last Jedi” at the Canto Bight being held by an alien. Gary the dog, got super famous after his owner died. Gary even has his own Twitter account.
Dropping in a trailer for the film, the so-ugly-it’s-cute doggo tweeted, “Just watched the new trailer of The Last Jedi and my mom looks more beautiful than ever.”
A Star Wars Blu-Ray Trilogy Set Delivers a Rare Easter Egg
And it has Boba Fett’s name written all over it. In 2011, Lucasfilm released the “Star Wars: The Complete Saga” as a Blu-ray disk set. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, the director of marketing dropped a hint about a special Easter egg that fans can find.
Devotees everywhere raced out to acquire the box set and discovered, way down in a bonus disc, an original animation short from 1978. Guess who is in it—Boba Fett. This is where his character originated.
Kylo Ren’s Scar Pays Homage to Anakin Skywalker
In “The Force Awakens,” Rey and Kylo battle it out. The contentious saber duel ends with Kylo Ren receiving a slash by Rey, right across his face. This reminds us of his grandfather. Anakin was scarred in battle likewise as a Jedi succumbing to Obi-Wan Kenobi. It marked his turn to the dark side as Darth Vader. Kylo Ren’s scar reflects the similarities between these two bad dudes.
And then there’s that question about why Ren’s scar shifted to a different place in “The Last Jedi.” The only answer from moviemakers is that it looks cooler.