EPISODE VIII: A NEW ALLIANCE...

SPOILER ALERT! Their ideologies and strengths may be firmly rooted at different and divisive ends of the Force, but Rey and Kylo Ren soon have common ground against an enemy they must fight together, in a spectacular scene from The Last Jedi that maintains and builds on the epic lightsaber duels legacy of the past previously created by Peter Diamond, Bob Anderson, and Nick Gillard. Surely one of the jaw-dropping and spectacular stand-out sequences from VIII, which got much rousing audience applause from the packed cinema audiences I've so far seen the film with...

Great fan art by Ila Fox. Her Twitter page: https://twitter.com/ila_fox

'SOLO': END OF YEAR NEWS...

Leaked publicity art for the film?

With the first teaser imminent, here's a small amount of recent news for the next cinematic adventure of the Star Wars Story series:

boundingintocomics.com/2017/12/27/first-plot-details-plus-leaked-photos-han-solo-film-released/

http://variety.com/2017/film/news/john-williams-star-wars-composer-han-solo-movie-theme-1202650282/

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/star-wars/news/a843521/star-wars-han-solo-phil-lord-chris-miller-talk-being-fired/

http://collider.com/christian-bale-han-solo-movie-star-wars

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2018/01/13/solo-a-star-wars-story-phoebe-waller-bridge-says-ron-howard-will-make-a-beautiful-film

2017 filming of Lando in the Falcon, making the jump to lightspeed.

http://ew.com/movies/2017/08/09/star-wars-donald-glover-han-solo-ron-howard/

http://www.gamesradar.com/solo-a-star-wars-story-is-like-a-gangster-movie-says-new-recruit-paul-bettany/

http://www.slashfilm.com/donald-glover-lando/

http://rebelsreport.com/index.php/2018/01/15/where-is-the-publishing-support-for-solo-a-star-wars-story/

Ron Howard with a US cinema teaser poster for Solo.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! (2017)

Still the only icon droids of the Star Wars universe in our book, we join a very festive Threepio and Artoo in wishing all STAR WARS AFICIONADO readers...

Happy Christmas and a very prosperous New Year!

EPISODE VIII: TO LET THE PAST DIE...

He killed his father with requisite hatred, yet the Dark Side of the Force is still not strong enough within Kylo Ren to win the full favour of his master in Supreme Leader Snoke. Equally, Ren's fascination with the mysterious girl Rey clouds his mind yet also fuels his anger. All of these elements of emotion and anger satisfyingly combine in numerous memorable scenes during The Last Jedi, part of a layered film story that truly plays to Adam Driver's intense acting skills- still one of the very best characters/actors of this new and evolving saga.

EPISODE VIII: A TIME TO REFLECT...

In the darkened main deck of the Millennium Falcon on Ahch-To, the weary Luke Skywalker contemplates the loss of Han Solo and the tragedy of Kylo Ren. Thankfully, his old and trusty friend in Artoo Detoo is able to provide sprightly if somewhat ripe argumentative support and encouragement.

Lovely art from Brian Rood for a lovely moment from The Last Jedi.

New Mark Hamill online chat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juUXM5EnXOY

EPISODE VIII: CHRISTMAS NEWS WRAP UP (2017)

The last news and interesting features gathering for this year on The Last Jedi.

Video clips:

Kelly Marie Tran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFxZb-GHbrQ

Mark Hamill answers random questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqpmIzjkoUY

Hamill, Ridley, Boyega, Christie on The Graham Norton Show UK (contains some adult humour): 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaCjA_zynbg

Additional US premiere interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlhU5d-qMN4&feature=youtu.be

Hamill and company on the UK Graham Norton chat show.

Online news/articles:

Mark Kermode review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F24byGT3rlI

SPOILERS: Hamill talk: https://www.onenewspage.com/video/20171221/9436338/Hamill-Talks-About-Last-Jedi-Ending.htm

Cameo list: www.eonline.com/news/900441/star-wars-the-last-jedi-celebrity-cameo-guide

Deleted scenes for Blu-ray: http://www.slashfilm.com/star-wars-the-last-jedi-deleted-scenes/

Rian Johnson interview: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-star-wars-last-jedi-spoilers-20171218-htmlstory.html 

Rian Johnson BBC Radio talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuCcm3SUwU0

www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/film-news/star-wars--last-jedi-11742849

People TV article: http://people.com/peopletv/video/bs/00000160-126d-df90-a7e0-567d141d0000/star-wars-the-last-jedi/

Additional US premiere interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlhU5d-qMN4&feature=youtu.be

The Battle of Crait as portrayed in new IMAX US promo art for The Last Jedi cinema release. Art by Dan Mumford.

More on the enigmatic Snoke: ew.com/movies/2017/12/17/star-wars-last-jedi-spoilers-snoke-killed-theories/2/

Hamill talk: http://collider.com/george-lucas-star-wars-sequels-the-last-jedi/

Controversy with the new film: https://www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-the-last-jedi-was-upsetting-heres-why/

https://theplaylist.net/star-wars-lando-calrissian-absence-20171219/

Costume design: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/last-jedi-costume-designer-his-inspiration-1068776

Entertainment Weekly additional articles link: http://www.jedinews.co.uk/film-music-tv/articles/last-jedi-ew-snoke-finnphasma-battle-hamills-second-role/

EPISODE VIII: THE COLOUR OF RESISTANCE!

A striking and memorable female character beyond the colour of her hair and distinctive costuming, Laura Dern certainly made an impact onscreen as brave and considered Resistance leader Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, for the vital middle act of The Last Jedi.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: A LONDON CHRISTMAS PRESENT!

Audiences gather for the London cinematic arrival of Star Wars.

With the original theatrical release of Star Wars in 1977, it had felt as if the entire western world had seen the movie before the peoples of the UK, who didn't get to immerse themselves into its epic excitement in full release until early 1978, and then only after a special exclusive engagement in West End London venues (including the Leicester Square Theater and the Dominion Theater) that started on 27th December, 1977. Whilst the snobily elitist critics pretty much derided the film as well made but ultimately childish hokum that was beneath them, the general punter UK audiences were blown away by Star Wars, finding that it was truly worth the wait and had fully lived up to months of prior expectations, and via a building publicity machine that knew something big was on its transatlantic way back in the Summer.

Outside the Dominion Theater, Tottenham Court Road.

Star Wars had come to the UK. And it was here to stay...

This is AFICIONADO's final entry celebrating the original 1977 release of Star Wars in its Fortieth Anniversary. We hope you've enjoyed this highly informative journey of love and nostalgia...

EPISODE VIII: REY FIGHTS BACK!

Finally, a main Star Wars movie heroine gets to man one of the Millennium Falcon's quad gun turrets: Rey hitting back hard at attacking enemy forces on Crait, in a crowd-pleasing moment from the near-finale to The Last Jedi.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: FAMILIAR LITTLE PEOPLE!

Tiffany Kurtz and Jawa colleague inspect Anthony Daniels as Threepio, on location in Nefta for the original Star Wars.

To go on holiday with your parents and watch them working on a cinematic endeavour that will soon become legendary must have been exciting enough for Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz's two daughters Melissa and Tiffany, as well as mixing with old and new greats like Mark Hamill and Sir Alec Guinness, but then to actually appear in the film playing such iconic alien characters as the scruffy Jawas must have been a total blast for them back in March/April 1976, most notably during the shooting of the Jawa Sandcrawler sale start of filming at the Salt Flats of Nefta, and also as background extras in the streets of Mos Eisley (in reality, the small Tunisian Djerba fishing village) a sort time later.

Playing the Chief Jawa, Jack Purvis gives acting advice to Melissa and Tiffany Kurtz at the location.

Behind the scenes with mum Meredith Kurtz.

Gary Kurtz helps make an adjustment to one of his daughter's (presumably Tiffany) Jawa costumes, as Anthony Daniels is unmasked (background).

The sisters on location.

Tiffany with Mark Hamill and Sir Alec and Lady Merula Guinness in a filming break.

Youtube interview with Gary and Meredith Kurtz, with Tiffany in Jawa costume:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZAYE_ROc9o

CARRIE FISHER: REMEMBERING 'ROYALTY' - PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE...

To us, she will always be royalty. Art by Joe Corroney.

BEWARE: SPOILERS!

Next week (the 27th December, 2017) sees the first year of our Star Wars life without Carrie Fisher's incredible presence, and her tragic passing still feels like a raw and very open wound for all of us emotionally. Thankfully, we have her terrific performance as General Leia Organa in The Last Jedi to savour, and we can enjoy Leia/Fisher's legacy for years, decades, to come- their work not just to be enjoyed by the current generations of fans, but by the many more generations who will watch it on Blu-ray, HD, streaming, VR, or on TV screens- and be equally smitten, influenced and enthused by a character and actress so formidably fused together and integral to the franchise's success and legacy.

There are no plans to have a CGI version of Fisher/Leia with the upcoming EPISODE IX, despite the character's ultimately successful youthful CGI appearance pre-EP IV in Rogue One, a scenario approved of by Carrie Fisher, which happened amidst still continuing controversial debate about the use of CGI likenesses in Hollywood - especially those of film star icons no longer with us, of which Miss Fisher had only just passed away with Rogue's release- a tragic situation that then added further fuel to the fire in the war against CGI which Lucasfilm and ILM were caught up in. Yes, Leia can now be effectively written out of the saga with the way that writer/director Rian Johnson has forged the ending of The Last Jedi- indeed, she can be elsewhere when the final battle between the Resistance and the First Order plays out, but I think that it's unfair to fans of Leia, fans of Carrie, and fans of the Classic Trilogy in general, to end it that way full stop- that Leia will not have a part to play somewhere, even if briefly, in ending the First Order with the Resistance she so so vitally set-up to fight it.

I can't believe that the brilliant technicians at ILM can't find outtake filming footage from the past two Star Wars films and put her in IX somewhere (even if on a viewscreen to talk to the other Resistance heroes, for one last important moment and/or farewell scene). With so much recorded talk with Carrie over the years, the idea that sound design talents like Matthew Wood and his team can't get some dialogue together, alongside mild CGI lip movement superimposition, seems crazy in this kind of film-making technological age that George Lucas and STAR WARS helped revolutionize. The work done by Sony to put the late Paul Walker into the seventh The Fast and the Furious film proved nothing short of brilliant. I can't believe that Lucasfilm/Disney can't do the same for one final cameo appearance for Leia/Fisher.

STAR WARS AFICIONADO asks Disney, Kathleen Kennedy, and J.J. Abrams to reconsider their decision of not having Leia in the sequel trilogy finale, so as to give the character and Miss Fisher's contribution a more unique and special final send-off to fans. One that will end the Skywalker family plotline more efficiently whilst also being even more emotionally satisfying for 2019.

Gone, but never to be forgotten:

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2017-12-17/carrie-fisher-wrote-some-of-star-wars-the-last-jedis-best-lines/

www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-the-last-jedi-farewell-to-carrie-fisher-20171219-story.html

http://ew.com/movies/2017/12/16/the-last-jedi-spoiler-talk-carrie-fisher-force-powers-leia/2/

http://za.ign.com/carriefisher/114257/feature/how-star-wars-episode-9-should-handle-carrie-fisher-and-leia

The special memorial earlier this month to Carrie at the Chinese Theatre.

EPISODE VIII: A MISSION THAT MUST SUCCEED!

On their way to attack the newly arrived First Order fleet above D'Qar, the brave heroes of the Resistance bomber squadron, and their fighter support, are brutally attacked by TIE fighters and heavy enemy cannon fire, in this superb poster conceptual art by James Clyne for The Last Jedi, later used as part of a US exclusive limited run art collection for the US Toys 'R' Us chain.

Capturing the essence of STAR WARS legendary space battles as well as visual inspirations from the very real World War II era that George Lucas first transplanted into a galaxy far, far away back in 1977, this all-new conceptual art, featuring other superb pieces by James Clyne (and his distinguished colleagues), can be seen in all their lavish glorious within the newly released The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, a true celebration of dreams and creativity compiled with love, pride and informative awe by Phil Szostak, out now from ABRAMS.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Star-Wars-Last-Jedi/dp/1419727052/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515500480&sr=1-6&keywords=the+art+of+the+last+jedi

'STAR WARS' AT 40: PREPARING THE POD!

Out in Tunisia in late March 1976, the droids' escape pod (which looks very similar, if smaller, to one of the pod vehicles seen in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey) is positioned in one of the sand dunes by the original Star Wars primary UK practical special effects supervisor John Stears (bearded) and an unknown colleague, soon dirtied up with crash impact sand and other prop dressings, even if the end results are barely noticeable on screen during the finished film.

Find out more about John Stears involvement in the original film here:
https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/star-wars-at-35-remembering-uk-effects.html

EPISODE VIII: OUT NOW - 'THE LAST JEDI' DK BOOK COLLECTION

The Last Jedi - now playing in cinemas worldwide!

Anyone who's so far seen the spectacular visual feast that is The Last Jedi will know that there are still lots of questions and mysteries about the story, characters and its overall continuation from The Force Awakens that haven't yet been answered. Hopefully, those creative people at the Lucasfilm Story Group will be given extended reign to explore and reveal at least some of the missing pieces of this intriguing puzzle through the continuing officially licensed book ranges delving deep into the evolving STAR WARS legacy, especially for this Christmas, most notably with Pablo Hidalgo's Visual Dictionary book for the new movie, alongside a whole host of other terrific DK BOOK goodies successfully and strikingly closing out this year's satisfying merchandising aspect of the film with style, via their unique, across ages publishing program of four books.

Here's the details:

THE VISUAL DICTIONARY

Star Wars: The Last Jedi™ The Visual Dictionary is the definitive guide to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, revealing the characters, creatures, droids, locations, and technology from the new film. Packed with 100+ images and information as penned by Star Wars™ scribe Pablo Hidalgo, it's a must-have for all fans who want to go beyond the movie experience.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-JediTM-Visual-Dictionary/dp/0241281091/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513686508&sr=1-2&keywords=the+last+jedi+visual+guide

INCREDIBLE VISUAL DICTIONARY

This beautiful hardback book reveals the inner workings of 13 key vehicles from Episode VIII of the Star Wars™ saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi™. Each vehicle is shown as an intricately detailed, full-colour cross-section artwork, complete with callouts to the important features of each ship. Clear, comprehensive text makes this an indispensable reference guide for the new craft in the Star Wars galaxy.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-JediTM-Incredible-Cross-Sections/dp/0241281075/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513686508&sr=1-1&keywords=the+last+jedi+visual+guide

HEROES OF THE GALAXY (DK READER - LEVEL 2)

Follow the exciting adventures of Rey, Finn and Rose in the highly anticipated new film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi™! This 48-page book is aimed at helping young readers develop their reading skills, and will introduce them to brand new heroes, villains, vehicles and locations, as well as featuring children's much-loved favourite characters.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/JediTM-Heroes-Galaxy-Readers-Level/dp/0241281024/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513686738&sr=1-1&keywords=the+last+jedi+HEROES+OF+THE+GALAXY

ULTIMATE STICKER COLLECTION

This 72-page sticker book includes more than 1,000 stickers of main characters, locations, vehicles and props. Featuring all-new content from the highly anticipated film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi™!

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-JediTM-Ultimate-Sticker-Collection/dp/0241281083/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513686942&sr=1-1&keywords=the+last+jedi+ultimate+sticker+collection

'STAR WARS' AT 40: FRIENDS BEYOND THE FORCE!

To say the original Star Wars didn't have the greatest of starts during early filming in March and April 1976 would be a colossal understatement. There was all-changing weather conditions (from rain to snow to heat), flooding, ropey accommodation, poor food leading to dysentery at the Tunisian location, and the production itself had malfunctioning robot props alongside barely tested and complex costumes (notably for C-3PO), plus early disagreements between George Lucas and his second choice cinematographer Gil Taylor. Yet, despite all this, the presence of Sir Alec Guinness, intrigued by the film and assured by the quality of its director in the young and shy visionary Lucas, brought with him a welcome sense of relief and trust. Always down to earth and a veteran of many difficult location shoots, the wise actor, playing the wise Jedi of Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi, inspired people, especially his young co-star Mark Hamill, already in awe of the acting legend but nonetheless striking up a great friendship that ultimately lasted beyond the completion of the Classic Trilogy...

EPISODE VIII: A FRIEND IN NEED!

He may be the fastest and most skilled pilot of the Resistance, but even Poe Dameron needs the help of his trusty X-wing mechanic sidekick and loyal friend BB-8 to get him out of tight spots from time to time, as seen in the exciting opening to The Last Jedi.

BB-8 gets the classic saga line:
http://comicbook.com/starwars/2017/12/16/star-wars-the-last-jedi-bb8-i-have-a-bad-feeling-about-this/

'STAR WARS' AT 40: BACK TO THE CANTINA...

On a hastily built set within a downtown Los Angeles studio, George Lucas and fellow film-making chum Carroll Ballard (later director of the children's classic, The Black Stallion) as his director of photography, prepare to film a 24th January, 1977 shot of a Hammerhead creature for an aliens insert scene set in the Mos Eisley Cantina, for the original Star Wars.

EPISODE VIII: THE TIES THAT BIND...

Some more great artwork for The Last Jedi, several pieces of which were used for the American IMAX promotional tickets campaign...

EPISODE VII: A HAPPY PAIRING!

Certainly blessed with two of the nicest smiles you could ever see, it was a pleasure to watch Daisy Ridley and John Boyega being introduced to the STAR WARS saga, bonding as characters and friends on and off screen, with The Force Awakens, and now witnessing the actors developing as icons in their own right for The Last Jedi.

Happy UK release Anniversary today to The Force Awakens!

'STAR WARS' AT 40: A DIFFERENT VIEW OF THE BATTLE OF YAVIN!

The classic space fighter craft of the original STAR WARS, most notably Darth Vader's unique TIE fighter, are locked in fierce combat around the Death Star, as seen in this special composition work that was used for various promotional/poster items in 1977 going into 1978, especially for Coca-Cola and in the later Japanese marketing.

Having done much of the laser blasts/engine airbrushing to effects composite publicity shots at that time, we assume artist Ralph McQuarrie was involved in this great poster too...

EPISODE VIII: OUT NOW - 'THE ART OF STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI'

As darkness rises to meet the challenge of light within a galaxy far, far away, fans can discover the next phase of the STAR WARS saga's artistic genesis with the newly-released The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, out now in gorgeous hardback, courtesy of those luminous talents at Abrams Books.

From the shorelines of the ancient islands of Ahch-To, to the pursued Resistance forces out in deep space, then on to the wacky races Casino realms of Canto Bight, completed by the red salt world visitation of the remote Crait, home to one of the most spectacular good and evil confrontations ever, this book, written by Phil Szostak, is your lavish personal gateway to how writer/director Rian Johnson and his magnificent ensemble artists brought us such a wondrous and epic new chapter of the franchise, playing in cinemas worldwide as you read this...

Book blurb:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens shattered box-office records as one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and its eagerly awaited sequel, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, is sure to do the same. Written and directed by Rian Johnson (Looper, The Brothers Bloom, Brick) and production designed by Rick Heinrichs (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Captain America: The First Avenger), this chapter, like every chapter before it, owes its visual language and fully imagined cinematic landscape to an incomparable art department: the Lucasfilm visualists. The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi explores their vision and illuminates their creative process in stunning detail. Featuring concept art and costume sketches, storyboards, and blueprints, fans will take a deep dive into the development of the fantastic worlds, characters, and creatures both old and new of The Last Jedi. Featuring unforgettable art and exclusive interviews with the filmmakers, this visual archive highlights moviemaking magic at its finest.


Get the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Star-Wars-Last-Jedi/dp/1419727052/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1513443102&sr=8-4&keywords=the+art+of+the+last+jedi

'STAR WARS' AT 40: BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THE FIRST TIME...

Original TV Guide advert for The Making of Star Wars.

With the incredible production design, special effects, monsters and droids on display which caught the imagination of the world, it wasn't long before audiences wanted to know more about the smash-hit movie and how such cinematic magic came to be made. Knowing a ratings winner when they saw one, ABC Television were quick to have a special 'Making of' documentary, airing September 16th, 1977, that went behind the (Panavision) camera of the landmark epic, specially interviewing George Lucas, Gary Kurtz, and the three main youthful leads, as well as featuring lively all-new linking material/interplay featuring Anthony Daniels as C-3PO alongside the three-legged remote controlled Artoo. One of the many other pluses for the show was seeing deleted scene footage for the first time, like Biggs and Luke together on Tatooine.

ROGUE ONE: THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY!

The Stormtrooper body count is always going to be high with freedom fighter Jyn Erso about, as this image from the now legendary Battle of Scarif shows (linked to an ultimately deleted sequence). Great art, from Brian Rood, which would be used for all kind of 2016 merchandising.

Happy UK First Anniversary to that opening anthology film success that is Rogue One: A Star Wars Story!

EPISODE VIII: 'THE LAST JEDI' ARRIVES AT US CINEMAS!

The two-year wait is over for US fans. Enjoy The Last Jedi!

Movie preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v-nld9nlu4

Interviews various:

Hamill interviews: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve6BHUGikHY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLE3Axu5l2M

Ridley interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HwylTrT4LU

Driver interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhO2pF5vCo

Domnhall and Serkis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y76ulH49gH8

Johnson interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl1ZuOmXVns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id76RguminE

Johnson, Isaac and Dern interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_Y9oTZJG0c

Christie and Daniels on Alan Carr chat show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tH7i8Ri7A8

Marie Tran talks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8CshkZuzDk

Cast talk deleted scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3g2dWNBqU4

UK Graham Norton show preview: 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5182323/Daisy-Ridley-goes-braless-plunging-sequinned-dress.html

EPISODE VIII: OFFICIAL CAST SOUNDBITES

Lucasfilm press interview soundbite clips with the cast of The Last Jedi:

Johnson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFjkJ1YYX4

Hamill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXejMeLCxFI

Fisher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2uI-1RZUZ0

Ridley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQkkdBZcAJM

Boyega: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDFjkJ1YYX4

Driver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f8GJr3YQ9c

Dern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnMSbNv9IkM

Gleeson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbTzPZfxhA0

Suotamo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsKtAuNdiIc

Christie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rkr1nU6vH3Y

Tran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcuRnGd265I

Del Toro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dxVttIv7lI

Daniels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-n24EIX3Ghc

'STAR WARS' AT 40: BANTHA MAKE-OVER!

Based at the Marine World Africa Zoo in California, the adaptable Mardji the Elephant gets a makeover she surely never expected, costume decorated to become a horned Bantha creature for Sandpeople-related extra scenes needed for post production insertion in the original Star Wars- circa January 1977, filmed at Death Valley, and a small unit by George Lucas. The director would enjoy watching the playful Mardi loving the outdoor environment during the filming.

As Mardji appeared in the film- a still linked to the film's international release.