A long time ago, in a studio far far away,
twins were conceived.
In the mind of George Lucas that is,
Luke and Leia were born.
-_-
I know this is a bit of an ambitious post for today but I just couldn’t help but highlight both siblings since their names both beautifully begin with L. Let’s get the logistical stuff out of the way first. After Walt Disney passed away, and Disney went into a slump, a kind of a funk, you might say. Michael Eisner was made CEO in 1984. I know a lot of people dislike Eisner and that his name leaves a bad taste in mouths. But he did a lot for Disney and helped make it into the world we know and very much love today. While the animation department was setting films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast into motion. Eisner pushed for more story based rides, original ideas such as Captain EO and rides based on already existing films. Disney partnered with Lucasfilm to create the first third-party ride at Disneyland. In 1987, the motion simulator, Star Tours made its debut.
In 2012, George Lucas retired and sold Lucasfilms, along with the Star Wars franchise to Disney for $4.05 Billion. And in 2015, Disney released the first film in a new trilogy and the continuation of Luke and Leia‘s journey through the galaxy. Their journey began in Episode III, after the collapse of the Old Republic and rise of the Empire. Padme dies after childbirth and her twin children are separated. Leia is adopted by Senator Bail and Queen Breha Organa and raised as a Princess on Alderaan. While Obi-Wan brings her brother Luke to his Anakin’s home planet of Tatooine, to live with his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. They meet again 19 years later during the events on the first Death Star (Episode IV : A New Hope). The two become dear friends but it’s not until four years later on Endor (Return of the Jedi) when the two discover that they are twins.
Back to the drawing board, Luke and Leia were close to being separated well before shooting ever began on Star Wars. At one point, Lucas thought of cutting Leia from the script and changing Luke into a woman. Lucas even thought about casting the major characters as dwarfes, an idea he turned into the 1988 film, Willow. Lucas even considered casting a Japanese actress for the role of Leia. Anakin Starkiller once took the place of Luke as the young hero and Luke was to be a grizzled veteran of the Jedi Order much like Obi-Wan or perhaps, much more similar to how he appears in Episode VII The Force Awakens. Even once shooting began, Luke’s last name was Starkiller, the change to Skywalker didn’t cause problems because the first time we hear it is when Luke is rescuing Leia. There were also several scenes in a New Hope that were later cut. One of these scenes is Luke watching through a pair of binoculars as Leia’s ship battles imperial cruisers. These scenes have never been added to the film, but have been included in the novelization of the movie.
When Han Solo finds Luke delusional in the harsh elements of Hoth, he uses a Native American trick to keep save his life. Using Luke’s lightsaber, he cuts open his tauntaun and stuffs Luke inside. This is like the hunter Hugh Glass, who according to legend cut open a bear he just killed in order to protect himself from a sudden blizzard. Lucas had always been fascinated by mythologies, legends and history in general.
According to the expanded universe, when Luke loses his hand, the Emperor finds his lightsaber and severed hand and keeps them as a trophy. In Leigh Brackett‘s original script, Darth Vader was not Luke’s father. Anakin Skywalker was completely separate from Darth Vader. He came to Luke as a Force ghost to train him. Anakin also revealed that he had a sister, Nellith Skywalker. Instead of Obi-Wan separating the twins, Anakin did it, to keep them safe. She was trained as a Jedi in a different part of the galaxy and the two of them would defeat the Empire together. In a 2004 documentary, George Lucas stated that he never intended Leia to be Luke’s sister. After Return of the Jedi, there was going to be a sequel trilogy where Luke searches for her. Lucas changed his mind, instead wanting to tie everything up in Return of the Jedi. A hint at this might be a certain scene in Empire…
Originally, Yoda was not going to appear in Return of the Jedi. George Lucas met with a psychologist who told him that unless it was specifically stated that Vader was Luke’s father, moviegoers under 12 would just think Darth Vader had lied. Lucas gave the task to Yoda, believing that he was the best person to deliver the news. An idea that was cut from the script, was that Luke and Leia’s mother actually died when they were 4. She had disguised herself as a handmaiden and worked under Leia’s adopted parents. (Not sure how they would have found that out)
To suspend the willing suspension of disbelief for a moment, remember the scene when the Falcon is arriving at Bespin? Han and Leia are very happy, this has nothing to do with the anticipation of seeing Lando. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford had gone out partying the night before and were still drunk while shooting.
My husband was shocked when I told him that the first time I watched Star Wars was when the trilogy was rereleased in 1997. But my family wasn’t that in to SciFi, we were more into Universal Monster Movies, Indiana Jones, and of course Disney. I didn’t know what I was missing and once I watched it in my hometown theater for the first time, I was hooked. I used to play Star Wars with my best friend during Elementary school. She would be Leia and I would be Luke. (Luke being my favorite character at the time. He’s now tied with Rey 🙂 ) I went to each opening day of the prequels and was even fortunate to find someone who loved it just as much as I do. I’m so excited for what Disney has in store for us within our lifetime.
I hope you found my post to Luke and Leia interesting.
Thank you for reading.
May the Force be With You.
❤
Don’t forget to check out my Instagram!
Luke and Leia
“He used to say that artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up.”
The Biggest News of the Week…
My cousin, Linda’s twins arrived early and they are just so tiny and beautiful.
I can’t imagine how they’re going to juggle the responsibility of twins.
But knowing my cousin, I know she will be a strong, kind and wonderful mother.
And her husband will not just be a good father, but a great dad.
I am so happy and excited for the four of them.
what a wonderful adventure awaits them.
6.November.15
I tried to donate blood…don’t ask.
but we ended up having a great night amiss that little hiccup.
05.November.15
Remember, remember!
The fifth of November,
The Gunpowder treason and plot;
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!
Guy Fawkes and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England’s overthrow.
But, by God’s providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James’s sake!
If you won’t give me one,
I’ll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn’orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!
happy guy fawkes day
04-Nov-15
my new cousins were born!
All Soul’s Day
A day in which we can remember our loved ones who have passed.
It’s a day the one’s who have been left behind can pray for their souls to enter into heaven.
I don’t know if I really believe this part, it does make sense that some souls are not perfect enough to get into heaven.
But that’s when I start to think that we just over think this and sometimes when it comes to our loved ones, one just needs to keep the faith and believe that they’re in Heaven.
Stan and I watched a rather unsettling documentary this evening. I heard about it from an article on top 15 documentaries to watch. The article told me that it was best to go into it with knowing as little back story as possible. So, that’s what I did and I’ll be extending the same courtesy onto you. The documentary is entitled: Dear Zachary and it is a very well done and moving documentary. Let me just warn you that it can be difficult to watch and I suggest that you don’t view it alone.
Whether you’re interested or not, I urge you to take a visit to the website.
01…November…15
I’ve decided to take on the National Novel Writing Month Challenge.
I am only announcing this as another incentive and way to push myself to complete this challenge.
I’m a Pantser, which means I’m jumping in cold without an outline or lots of notes.
I just went with an idea that I’ve been thinking about for a long time and like most people, I’d like to hope, I need something pushing me to finish a project.
So, wish me luck 🙂 … I’m gonna need it!
Back up to Halloween
31.October.15
For our first official Halloween as a family, the three of us went as the DC Trinity.
Though I would like to think of Annie as being Wonder Girl instead, if we’re being picky now 😛
all in all, it was a great Halloween
So, now if you’ll excuse me, I need to root-root-root for my home team.
This weekend is a rather intense Football Sunday for us…
Thank you so much for reading!
PS
Here’s a little present Annie sent to Gracie.
a friendship necklace of sorts.
PPS
in other news…
For you Archie fans out there, I found this article on CBR.
I’m a pretty big fan of Archie Comics, just as my mother was before me and my Grandmother before her. And for just about as long as I can remember, I’ve read that they’ve been trying to adapt the gang into a film. I, for one, am quite happy that they have not done so yet. I don’t know about you, but certain things just shouldn’t be adapted. Remember that show from the ’60s?
It’s not very fair of me to say that this was a bad show. I just didn’t agree with the voice actors who were chosen.
I never pictures Betty, Veronica or Archie sounding like that.
So, read over the article and let me know what you think.
Are you down for an Edgy Archie series?
This could be terrible but it could be also be pretty cool.
For example?
The Carrie Diaries, Hannibal and Gotham.
Just to name a few, these TV series were all “prequels” to some pretty iconic characters.
at first I was not fans of any of these prequels, but once you think about them as their own property, they held up on their own.
The Carrie Diaries is a pretty cute show when you push out all the continuity errors.
So, although I don’t necessarily agree with a low self-esteem, Betty and emo Jughead…hey, it might be fun.
Also, if you like adaptations, definitely check out:
Also, just so we all stay healthy.
🙂 thank you 🙂
Writing for Murphy 