Key Takeaways:
– George Lucas was initially skeptical about the Yoda character in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.
– Darth Vader voice actor, James Earl Jones, was given free reign over his character's vocal style during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back.
– Lucas did not have a long-term plan when initially creating the Star Wars series.
– Both Yoda and Darth Vader's characters are recognized as icons of the Star Wars franchise.
George Lucas' Initial Doubts About Master Yoda
Master Yoda, an iconic character of Star Wars, didn't initially get a thumbs up from the franchise's creator, George Lucas. Yoda, a Jedi Master, debuted in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back as Luke Skywalker's new mentor after Obi-Wan Kenobi's death. In a recent interview, Lucas confessed that he had his doubts about Yoda during the shootings.
The Yoda puppet was something of a gamble; it had a great deal of potential to backfire, potentially leading to a failed movie. Lucas remarked, “If [the Yoda puppet] hadn't worked, obviously the movie would have been terrible. You don't really know until you actually show it to an audience, and they don't get up and storm out, saying: ‘This is stupid'.”
While shooting, Lucas relied heavily on Frank Oz, the puppeteer behind Yoda. Thankfully, when Lucas saw the completed shooting and final lighting, he realized that Yoda was indeed going to work. Despite the initial doubts, the end result pleased him.
James Earl Jones as Darth Vader
Darth Vader, another unforgettable Star Wars character, has James Earl Jones behind his fearsome voice. However, during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas confessed that he didn't fully comprehend how Earl Jones crafted the voice of Darth Vader. All the director recognized was that it was clicking with the audience.
Earl Jones recalled an instance during the filming of The Empire Strikes Back. Lucas, admitting his lack of a strategy, he said, “We don't know what we did right [on A New Hope], so let's just try what we did.”
Subsequently, Lucas trusted Earl Jones to continue without much guidance, and the experiment paid off brilliantly. Both Darth Vader's and Master Yoda's characters became widely loved, making an indelible mark on the Star Wars franchise.
The Impact of Yoda and Darth Vader on Star Wars
The popularity of both characters, Yoda and Darth Vader, proved vital for the continued success of the Star Wars series. Despite Lucas' initial doubts and lack of a long-term plan, fans globally received both characters with enormous enthusiasm. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back became a massive hit, scoring 8.7/10 on IMDB and an impressive 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.
In conclusion, the unpredictable magic of characters Yoda and Darth Vader significantly shaped the Star Wars franchise. Lucas' initial doubts and James Earl Jones's improvisations resulted in two of the most iconic characters in the cinematic universe. The iconic 1980 film is currently available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S, providing a chance for fans to relive the adventures.
