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2d ago

George Lucas Reflects on 'Empire Strikes Back' and Yoda's Speech at TCM Festival

During a 45th-anniversary screening, Lucas shared insights on creative risks, rights negotiations, and Yoda's unique dialogue as a narrative device.

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) with his Jedi Master Yoda in “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back.” At a 45th anniversary screening of “The Empire Strikes Back” that opened this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival, “Star Wars” creator George Lucas finally addressed one of the franchise’s most enduring mysteries: Why does Yoda talk the way he does?
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Yoda and Luke Skywalker in "The Star Wars Episode V - Empire Strikes Back" from 1980.

Overview

  • George Lucas attended the TCM Classic Film Festival to mark the 45th anniversary of 'The Empire Strikes Back,' offering rare commentary on the film's creation.
  • Lucas explained that Yoda's backwards speech was a deliberate choice to engage audiences, particularly younger viewers, in the character's philosophical dialogue.
  • He recounted his groundbreaking decision to negotiate sequel and merchandising rights for 'Star Wars,' which allowed him to maintain creative control and revolutionize film economics.
  • Lucas described self-financing 'The Empire Strikes Back,' risking financial ruin to preserve his autonomy, with 20th Century Fox serving only as distributor.
  • He credited his early collaboration with Ford Coppola and lessons learned at American Zoetrope as formative influences on his approach to storytelling and filmmaking.