AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: IN PERFECT HIBERNATION!

Lando inspects the carbon frozen form of Han Solo and announces that he has indeed survived the freezing process. Against his wishes in seeing Han taken by Boba Fett to Jabba the Hutt. Lando's other plans to keep Leia and Chewbacca under friendly house arrest at Cloud City are swiftly obliterated by Darth Vader, once more altering the deal, now planning to have them taken to his ship, with the news that his real prey, Luke Skywalker, has arrived. It soon proves a deal-breaker too far for the Baron Administrator...  

In the Marvel Comics Super Special adaptation of Empire, instead of having his prisoners transferred to his ship, Vader instead orders a Stormtrooper garrison to be stationed at Cloud City to keep watch over Leia and Chewbacca with Lando.

Kershner with Williams, whilst David Tomblin prepares for filming.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: SOLO'S NIGHTMARE FACE!

With the carbonite body frame previously sculpted from British supporting artist Alan Harris, Harrison Ford's face for the frozen visage of Han Solo would be separately moulded and attached to Harris's body by Stuart Freeborn at Elstree Studios at least a month prior to the studio filming at Elstree.

Graham and Stuart Freeborn apply some mucky business to Harrison Ford!

Back-up moulds later created by ILM.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: CARBON HELL!

Our shocked heroes are witness to the living death inflicted on Han Solo by Darth Vader, in this memorable specially created cover for one of the UK issues of The Empire Strikes Back Weekly comic, from famed classic comics artist Carmine Infantino, himself a regular artist on the US Marvel Comics Star Wars monthly colour comics for the previous two years.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: THE CARBON NIGHTMARE!

Later described as 'a big wide awake nothing' nightmare by Han Solo, the smuggler's carbon frozen form is finally revealed -  its grim visage making for an eerie and unnerving sight to Star Wars fans as actor Harrison Ford's future participation in future sequels now seemed uncertain...

CLASSIC IMAGE: A TIME FOR TRUTH...

Their dinner at the Varykino lake house on Naboo had been one of quiet delight, but now, retreated to a nearby fireside, Anakin Skywalker can hide his feelings for Padme Amidala no more, in this emotion-building and future consequences-filled scene from EPISODE II.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: OUR HEROES DEFEATED?

Their situation within Imperial captivity has never been grimmer for Chewbacca and Princess Leia Organa as they watch their loved one in Han Solo withdrawn from the Carbon Freezing pit within his new locked-in frozen visage now cruelly revealed.

Interestingly in an early draft, writer Lawrence Kasdan thought it would be an interesting idea if Chewbacca early-on showed some mild jealousy towards Leia for her building relationship with Solo. Ultimately, on screen, Chewbacca would become her devoted protector in many ways, a scenario enjoyed by actor Peter Mayhew by the film's final act.

Filming of the scene would prove quite intense for all the actors, especially Carrie Fisher who was unhappy with last minute script changes being made without her knowledge, and whom needed careful emotional handling in her direction from Irvin Kershner, with additional assistance from Gary Kurtz. No matter the problems offscreen, the onscreen results of Miss Fisher's dramatic work are outstanding.

Going through the dramatic scenes with Irvin Kershner whilst a mask-less Peter Mayhew and background stormtroopers take a break on set.

The carbon frozen Han block is moved into position on set.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: DARK WITNESS!

The near demise of the talented rogue smuggler Han Solo in his carbonite trap, and the emotional effects such a brutal act has on his rebel friends now prisoners, ultimately means nothing to Darth Vader, as his obsessive quest to finally capture Luke Skywalker nears completion.  To him, deep beneath the mask and the iron lung breathing methodically, and to the Dark Lord of the Sith's mind, Solo is a necessary means to an end, and that is all.

Dave Prowse in character posing for the on set photography.

A few superbly atmospheric images of Dave Prowse as Darth Vader on the Carbon Freeze Chamber set, taken during Summer, 1979.

A soon classic image used in many magazines publicising the movie during 1980.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE...

Han Solo is lowered to his gloomy fate in this great selection of scene specific images and behind the scenes...

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: A WAKING NIGHTMARE!

The time has come, of which darkness looks set to win against the powers of light, in this memorable moment for Harrison Ford's Han Solo, from the classic Carbon Freezing Chamber sequence filmed on or around the 21st July, 1979.

J.W. RINZLER - SAD NEWS AND A REQUEST FOR HELP...

Image: StarWarsNewsNet.

SWA is deeply, deeply saddened to hear the news that acclaimed author/film historian and all-round nice guy J.W. Rinzler's pancreatic cancer condition has become grave. His daughter Sarah recently went online to thank fans worldwide for their continued support and has opened up a GoFundMe account should anyone out there be able to kindly help with a donation towards his medical expenses...

https://www.gofundme.com/f/h2qw7z-jonathans-medical-expenses?member=12531375&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer