By Archie Fenn
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Over the past 40 plus years, the Star Wars universe has played host to some phenomenal talent. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford kicked off the franchise with A New Hope way back in 1977. Since then, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac, Samuel L. Jackson, and many more have all traveled to a galaxy far, far away for one of the various installments in the ever-expanding franchise. However, one actor you might have completely forgotten appeared in Star Wars is John Lithgow. Not only did the Third Rock From the Sun star become part of the Star Wars universe, he played none other than Master Yoda.
During an interview with Collider, Lithgow recalled his brief time playing Yoda in Star Wars. For those that don't know, Lithgow voiced Yoda in the radio dramatizations of The Empire Strikes Back. "I was acting in a play on Broadway directed by John Madden, who very soon became a major film director, who directed, among other people, Geoffrey Rush in Shakespeare in Love," Lithgow began. "He was directing me in Beyond Therapy on Broadway, but in those days, he was a very successful radio director, and they'd hired him to do The Empire Strikes Back radio production."
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Frank Oz is most commonly associated with playing Yoda in the Star Wars universe. But, Oz had stipulations about voicing the character on the radio. "Frank Oz had chosen not to play Yoda because he was very doctrinaire about only using his voice when he used a puppet," Lithgow continued. Lithgow and Madden were sitting down for lunch when the latter brought up Oz not wanting to voice Yoda. Lithgow continued:
"So John was pissing and moaning over lunch one day during a rehearsal break that he couldn't find a Yoda, and I said, [Yoda imitation] 'Oh, impatient is he?' And I got the role like that! I'd been watching Sesame Street with my kids for years, with Grover, Frank Oz, running up to the camera, [Grover imitation] 'Now, I am getting closer. Now I am getting further.'"
So... What Is the Current State of 'Star Wars'?
It's pretty safe to say that the Star Wars franchise isn't quite at the same peak as it was when The Empire Strikes Back was released (and is still regarded by many as the best film in the franchise). Star Wars hasn't returned to theaters since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. Instead, the franchise has focused its attention on streaming, releasing shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ashoka, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew.
In Star Wars' future (or past, considering it's all set "A long time ago") there are several new movies in the works. Jon Favreau is bringing The Mandalorian to the big screen with the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu feature film. Additionally, Shawn Levy and James Mangold are also helming new Star Wars movies. Details about Levy's film starring Ryan Gosling remain tightly under wraps, but Mangold recently told MovieWeb some juicy details about his new movie.
Source: Collider
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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
PG
Adventure Action Science Fiction- Release Date
- May 20, 1980
- Runtime
- 124 minutes
- Director
- Irvin Kershner
Cast
-
Mark Hamill
Luke Skywalker
-
Harrison Ford
Han Solo
-
Carrie Fisher
Princess Leia
-
Billy Dee Williams
Lando Calrissian
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
RENT
BUY
- Writers
- Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett, George Lucas
- Producers
- Gary Kurtz, George Lucas, Howard G. Kazanjian
- Prequel(s)
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Sequel(s)
- Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
