in Movies & TV

Amazing Behind-The-Scenes Photos From The Original Star Wars Trilogy

3.8k Views 4 Comments

Star Wars series is one of the most successful and influential franchises in motion picture history. It was made with special effects and developed into an enormously lucrative merchandising industry. The first movie “Star Wars” was released in 1977 after four years of production with a total budget of $9.5 million. It earned $100 million by the end of the summer and won six Academy Awards.

The second film ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ was released in 1980. And after three years the third sequel ‘Return of the Jedi‘ was released. Thousands of actors were assessed in the search for the trilogy’s main cast. The series continued to make remarkable advancements in the field of special effects into the 21st century.

Here’s a list of behind-the-scenes photos from the original Star Wars trilogy in which you get to see how the magic happens. It’s truly remarkable to see these photos of them enjoying a break from the characters they play. Vote your favorites and don’t forget to share.

#1 Rather than hire thousands of extras, Star Wars utilized matte paintings that create an illusion of a real environment.

Rather than hire thousands of extras, Star Wars utilized matte paintings that create an illusion of a real environment.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#2 The suit used for C-3PO was notoriously clunky, which made movement and communication incredibly difficult for actor Anthony Daniels. Here, Harrison Ford helps up his immobile colleague.

The suit used for C-3PO was notoriously clunky, which made movement and communication incredibly difficult for actor Anthony Daniels. Here, Harrison Ford helps up his immobile colleague.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#4 Boba Fett, looking slightly less threatening without the helmet.

Boba Fett, looking slightly less threatening without the helmet.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#5 Harrison Ford, taking a break from trying to fix that pesky hyperdrive.

Harrison Ford, taking a break from trying to fix that pesky hyperdrive.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#6 Kenny Baker enjoys a sandwich while still in costume as R2D2.

Kenny Baker enjoys a sandwich while still in costume as R2D2.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#7 We’re pretty sure this scene didn’t make the cut.

We're pretty sure this scene didn't make the cut.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#8 A young Warwick Davis bewitches Carrie Fisher on the set of Return Of The Jedi.

A young Warwick Davis bewitches Carrie Fisher on the set of Return Of The Jedi.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#9 Filming the title sequence for The Empire Strikes Back.

Filming the title sequence for The Empire Strikes Back.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#10 The original concept art for C3PO and R2D2.

The original concept art for C3PO and R2D2.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#11 Kenny Baker, a 3 foot 8 inch actor, played R2D2 throughout the original Star Wars trilogy.

Kenny Baker, a 3 foot 8 inch actor, played R2D2 throughout the original Star Wars trilogy.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#12 George Lucas stands among the many miniature creations of the Star Wars universe.

George Lucas stands among the many miniature creations of the Star Wars universe.

2 Points
Upvote Downvote

#13 Cast members celebrate Alec Guinness’ birthday on the Tunisian set of A New Hope.

Cast members celebrate Alec Guinness' birthday on the Tunisian set of A New Hope.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#14 Carrie Fisher poses with a Gamorrean guard, one of Jabba the Hutt’s lackeys, on the set of Return Of The Jedi.

Carrie Fisher poses with a Gamorrean guard, one of Jabba the Hutt's lackeys, on the set of Return Of The Jedi.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#15 The actors behind Chewbacca and R2D2 take a break onset.

The actors behind Chewbacca and R2D2 take a break onset.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#16 Carrie Fisher and her body double get some sun in between shots.

Carrie Fisher and her body double get some sun in between shots.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#17 The Millennium Falcon, looking slightly less high-tech than usual.

The Millennium Falcon, looking slightly less high-tech than usual.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#18 Extras from A New Hope’s Mos Eisley Cantina scene pose for a photograph.

Extras from A New Hope's Mos Eisley Cantina scene pose for a photograph.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#19 A classic walk’n’talk shot, decades before The West Wing made it a cliche.

A classic walk'n'talk shot, decades before The West Wing made it a cliche.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#20 An intimate moment between director and star.

An intimate moment between director and star.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#21 “Excuse me Mr. Lucas, that was my turkey club.”

"Excuse me Mr. Lucas, that was my turkey club."

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#24 Carrie Fisher takes a break from all that running around.

Carrie Fisher takes a break from all that running around.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#25 Carrie Fisher hides behind Warwick Davis, who played the ewok Wicket W. Warrick in Return Of The Jedi.

Carrie Fisher hides behind Warwick Davis, who played the ewok Wicket W. Warrick in Return Of The Jedi.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#26 At least we have proof that Carrie Fisher shot first.

At least we have proof that Carrie Fisher shot first.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#28 Years later, this scene in which Han most definitely shot first would be subject to the most controversial re-edit in movie history. #49

Years later, this scene in which Han most definitely shot first would be subject to the most controversial re-edit in movie history. #49

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#29 A Bantha during filming of the original Star Wars. Instead of creating a CGI bantha, an elephant was dressed in a costume of fur and fake horns.

A Bantha during filming of the original Star Wars. Instead of creating a CGI bantha, an elephant was dressed in a costume of fur and fake horns.

1 Point
Upvote Downvote

#30 Behind the scenes of the iconic “I am your father” scene from The Empire Strikes Back.

Behind the scenes of the iconic "I am your father" scene from The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#31 The actors inside the R2D2 and C-3PO costumes—Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels—actually ended up as enemies in real life.

The actors inside the R2D2 and C-3PO costumes—Kenny Baker and Anthony Daniels—actually ended up as enemies in real life.

Baker said of Daniels in 2009, "He looked down his nose at me like I was a piece of shit."

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#32 Actor Anthony Daniels came to resent his role as C-3PO, telling People magazine in 1983 that he “would have liked to smash the costume up with a sledgehammer.”

Actor Anthony Daniels came to resent his role as C-3PO, telling People magazine in 1983 that he "would have liked to smash the costume up with a sledgehammer."

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#33 Inspired by Paraceratherium, the largest land mammal in history, AT-ATs were filmed using stop-motion animation that produced their mechanical gait.

Inspired by Paraceratherium, the largest land mammal in history, AT-ATs were filmed using stop-motion animation that produced their mechanical gait.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#34 Despite freezing temperatures during filming in Norway, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill enjoy a laugh.

Despite freezing temperatures during filming in Norway, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill enjoy a laugh.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#35 Prior to joining the cast of Star Wars, Alec Guinness was a renowned theater actor.

Prior to joining the cast of Star Wars, Alec Guinness was a renowned theater actor.

Though he referred to the script as "fairy tale rubbish," he would go on to call A New Hope a "staggering spectacle" after his first viewing of the film.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#36 Although Dagobah appears to be an Amazonian landscape, these scenes were captured entirely in a London studio.Although Dagobah appears to be an Amazonian landscape, these scenes were captured entirely in a London studio.

Although Dagobah appears to be an Amazonian landscape, these scenes were captured entirely in a London studio.Although Dagobah appears to be an Amazonian landscape, these scenes were captured entirely in a London studio.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#37 At 12 years old, Warwick Davis was the youngest cast member for Return Of The Jedi, where he played the Ewok Wicket.

At 12 years old, Warwick Davis was the youngest cast member for Return Of The Jedi, where he played the Ewok Wicket.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#38 Luke Skywalker’s epic fall was, in reality, broken by a pile of mattresses.

Luke Skywalker's epic fall was, in reality, broken by a pile of mattresses.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#39 Princess Leia fails to take her captors seriously.

Princess Leia fails to take her captors seriously.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#40 Carrie Fisher enjoys a nap during filming of The Empire Strikes Back.

Carrie Fisher enjoys a nap during filming of The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#41 A costume designer puts the finishing touches on Darth Vader’s outfit.

A costume designer puts the finishing touches on Darth Vader's outfit.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#42 A behind the scenes look at one of Return Of The Jedi’s climactic battles.

A behind the scenes look at one of Return Of The Jedi's climactic battles.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#43 Mark Hamill endures a less than comfortable position while filming the scene in which he is held captive by a Wampa, during the opening scenes of The Empire Strikes Back.

Mark Hamill endures a less than comfortable position while filming the scene in which he is held captive by a Wampa, during the opening scenes of The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#44 Director Irvin Kershner poses with some of the bad guys from The Empire Strikes Back.

Director Irvin Kershner poses with some of the bad guys from The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#45 Princess Leia’s gold bikini became a nerd fantasy staple following its appearance in Return Of The Jedi.

Princess Leia's gold bikini became a nerd fantasy staple following its appearance in Return Of The Jedi.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#46 An unoccupied shot of the carbonite freezing machine.

An unoccupied shot of the carbonite freezing machine.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#47 George Lucas gives some direction to Anthony Daniels.

George Lucas gives some direction to Anthony Daniels.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#48 George Lucas has a quick pow wow with his stars between takes on The Empire Strikes Back.

George Lucas has a quick pow wow with his stars between takes on The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#49 Behind the scenes of Luke’s first meeting with the droids.

Behind the scenes of Luke's first meeting with the droids.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#50 Anthony Daniels struggles to not be cooked in his suit by the unforgiving sun.

Anthony Daniels struggles to not be cooked in his suit by the unforgiving sun.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#51 Princess Leia, delighted to be rescued from the exploding sail barge.

Princess Leia, delighted to be rescued from the exploding sail barge.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#53 Another revealing shot of Luke and Vader’s epic battle in The Empire Strikes Back.

Another revealing shot of Luke and Vader's epic battle in The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#54 Yoda and Mark Hamill get a visit from the Muppets while shooting The Empire Strikes Back.

Yoda and Mark Hamill get a visit from the Muppets while shooting The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#55 The main cast of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope pose for a photo in the Millennium Falcon.

The main cast of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope pose for a photo in the Millennium Falcon.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#56 George Lucas reviews Ewoks before Return Of The Jedi.

George Lucas reviews Ewoks before Return Of The Jedi.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#57 A set manager meticulously plans a scene with AT-ATs for Return Of The Jedi.

A set manager meticulously plans a scene with AT-ATs for Return Of The Jedi.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#60 Anthony Daniels gets into his C-3PO costume.

Anthony Daniels gets into his C-3PO costume.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#61 George Lucas poses for a picture with R2D2 during filming of A New Hope.

George Lucas poses for a picture with R2D2 during filming of A New Hope.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#62 Chewbacca gets his hair brushed before filming of The Empire Strikes Back.

Chewbacca gets his hair brushed before filming of The Empire Strikes Back.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote

#64 Kenny Baker enjoys a sandwich while still in costume.

Kenny Baker enjoys a sandwich while still in costume.

0 Points
Upvote Downvote
Avatar of Benjamin Grayson

Written by Benjamin Grayson

Former Bouquet seller now making a go with blogging and graphic designing. I love creating & composing history articles and lists.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 Comments

    • No worries, that picture was from the Special Edition reshoot.
      The original Boba Fett actor did not look like that, this guy just had the same measurements as Jeremy Bulloch- so he was used as a stand in for the new scenes.

      Also, Jeremy was a really nice guy when you met him, and he loved being Boba Fett in the movies.

      0
      Reply