Top 10 Star Wars Facts You Probably Didn't Know!

Okay, let us explain: After making it abundantly clear that there is “no underwear in space,” George Lucas demanded that Fisher have her breasts tapped down to avoid any sexually suggestive movement. As if that weren’t bad enough, in “Return of the Jedi” Leia was forced to wear a metal bikini that simply wouldn’t stay still. Scenes of Fisher in the bikini would require multiple reshoots as nip-slips occurred frequently. To make matters worse, the costume lacked proper coverage from behind, causing Fisher to quip that “if you stood behind me you could see straight to Florida.” We suppose her role came with a disclaimer emphasizing that “those that are shy need not apply.”

It may sound a little wacky, but it’s 100% true. According to *NSYNC member Joey Fatone, back in 2001 when the second installment of the “Star Wars” prequel series was being shot, the daughters of both George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum begged their fathers to include the members of their favorite boy band in their newest film. While Lance Bass and Justin Timberlake were too beat to participate, the rest of the *NSYNC crew was more than happy to help out. Joey and his brother Steven, JC Chasez and Chris Kirkpatrick eventually filmed two scenes as Jedi knights, but ultimately, their cameos ended up on the cutting room floor.

When you create one of the most iconic and technologically advanced films in history, you can be sure that other directors will want to borrow your tricks, as well as at least one or two of your crewmembers. Such was the case when George Lucas set out to shoot his iconic space opera. Having seen Stanley Kubrick’s own version of space brilliantly brought to life in the 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Lucas surrounded himself with as many of Kubrick’s old production crew as possible. Making his version of space seem believable relied on the expertise of a group that became known as “The Class of 2001.” And we gotta say, it seems like Lucas’ gamble paid off.

When people remember the final installment in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, many things come to mind: Lando almost falling in the Sarlacc pit, Leia’s iconic metal bikini, Ewoks, and of course, the defeat of the Emperor and the redemption of Darth Vader. Yet, there were several darker endings proposed: one saw Han Solo killed, Leia struggling as Queen and Luke going off on his own. But, the even darker alternate ending would’ve seen Luke defeat his father, only to put on his helmet and declare, “Now I am Vader,” thus turning to the dark side. A noticeably bleaker ending than what was eventually shot, George Lucas scrapped the idea in favor of something a little more hopeful and merchandise-friendly.

While many hardcore fans felt that “The Phantom Menace” didn’t quite live up to the hype, most can agree that Darth Maul was a pretty badass villain. Rocking a horn covered skull, black and red skin and wielding a double-bladed lightsaber, this guy was the definition of not-to-be-messed-with. While the actor who portrayed him is the relatively unknown Ray Park, a much more famous actor nearly inhabited the role. Del Toro was actually cast as Maul before dropping out due to a disagreement over his character’s lack of speaking lines. Ultimately, Park must’ve been less concerned with his character’s dialogue, as Darth Maul only speaks a few lines during the course of the film – and not with Park’s voice anyway.

As an actor in a “Star Wars” film, it's only natural that your presence will be required at numerous film-related functions and events. However, one such actor is no longer on the invite list. David Prowse, the man who actually donned the iconic black mask of Darth Vader, has reportedly been banned from all Lucas Film-associated events. According to Prowse, when he inquired as to why he was suddenly on the blacklist, the only reason given was that he had “burnt too many bridges” between himself and Lucasfilm. Geez, imagine playing one of the most evil characters in film history only to end up equally ostracized in your regular life!

Ever since he portrayed the character of Jules in 1994’s neo-noir crime comedy “Pulp Fiction,” the world has known that Samuel L. Jackson is a badass. In the film, the character of Jules carries a wallet that displays his unofficial title. As such, when he accepted the role of Mace Windu in the “Star Wars” prequels, it was only a matter of time before this title ended up on the side of his lightsaber. In case you haven’t already figured it out, Jackson claims that “BMF” was engraved on the side of his purple lightsaber.

Chewbacca is the ultimate sidekick: the perfect combination of loyalty, fighting skills, and comic relief. However, what made him stand out were his enormous size, his unintelligible dialogue, and his beautiful brown fur. Thankfully for moviegoers everywhere, the latter was allowed to remain unencumbered by anything as pedestrian as clothing. See, studio executives believed that because Chewie wasn’t wearing any clothes he was essentially naked. So they wanted the character redesigned to accommodate a pair of shorts. Ignoring the fact that this request must’ve made George Lucas spit out his morning coffee, the image of Han Solo’s sidekick wearing a pair of shorts is downright hilarious. Ultimately, the idea was scrapped and Chewie was allowed to go commando.

It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the role that made Harrison Ford a household name. The character of Han Solo was the definition of cool under pressure and Ford’s devil-may-care attitude suited him perfectly. Yet, when George Lucas was casting the part he was looking for someone new. Ford, having worked with Lucas on “American Graffiti,” agreed to feed lines to those auditioning for the role. It was only after numerous actors came and went that Lucas realized the man helping him find Han Solo was in fact Han Solo himself. Several films and billions of dollars later, it’s safe to say the right choice was made.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:
- Qui-Gon Jinn’s Communicator Was a Women’s Razor
- Part of Yoda’s Likeness Was Based on Albert Einstein
- A Wookiee Army Was Supposed to Assist the Rebels in “Return of the Jedi”

Until his appearance in “The Force Awakens,” the name Luke Skywalker conjured up images of a young, inexperienced farmhand living with his aunt and uncle. While his character experiences growth during the original trilogy, the iconic image of him staring lustfully at the galaxy, desperate for an adventure, remains. Thus, it was all the more shocking when it was revealed an early draft of “Star Wars” portrayed Luke as a 60-year-old war vet, and yet another gave him the name Starkiller. That name made it all the way to shooting, until George Lucas relented, realizing it would evoke negative emotions towards the character. The name would live on, however, serving as the title of the deadly ice planet from “The Force Awakens.”