CLASSIC IMAGE: TO PREVENT A TRAP!

A Wookiee's belly never stops being hungry, resulting in Chewbacca, and the leaders of the Rebels' small  band of heroes newly arrived on on Endor, into an archaic but nonetheless totally effective trap, despite a too late warning from Luke Skywalker, during a fun moment from Return of the Jedi.

BEHIND THE SCENES: 'STAR WARS' BEGINS!

Lucas coordinates with John Stears on the little Astro Droids.

A momentous day in the past and for the future, as March 22nd, 1976 saw the commencement of filming of a certain quirky, so-called low-budget space fantasy adventure called The Star Wars at the out there Salt Flats of Nefta, Tunisia, in which a small group of actors mingled with droids and small Jawas (and a relatively unenthused British crew) to bring writer/director/visionary George Lucas's very special enduring fantasy saga to life.

And the rest is history...

Star Wars: A New Hope Began Filming 50 Years Ago Today | StarWars.com

A sci-fi/fantasy universe like no other begins filming at Nefta.

Conferring with George Lucas on a busy. difficult first day for the film-maker.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: DROID TALK!

The oh-so endearing BB-8 may be the new droid on the franchise block, but let's not forget the original robotic duo who started it all, the mis-matched but delightful friends on screen that are C-3PO (Anthony Daniels, long past icon status and needing a new word to represent his long-time contributions to Star Wars) and R2-D2, reunited at the Resistance base as the clues to the location of the missing Luke Skywalker are soon put together...

The new Threepio costume, with the none-too subtle red arm that annoyed Daniels during filming.

Old and new legends meet.

The droids whom we'll never forget.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 45: THE KISS, AND THE SECOND ONE TOO...

She has seemingly resisted his charms with biting come backs and an aggressive air, but now, seeking refuge inside a massive asteroid whilst repairing the damaged Millennium Falcon, Princess Leia Organs can't help but start falling in love with that charming scoundrel Han Solo... 

The Scoundrel and the Princess...

The scene in rehearsal. Note Anthony Daniels only in the required top half of his costume for one take/angle.

"It's like in the 1930's films with Fred and Ginger fighting up to the last reel. It's Bogart and Bacall, Tracey and Hepburn. It's two independent people, quarrelling and fighting, and then they neck. That's what it is. It's romance in celluloid. Seriously though, I believe both characters are far more dimensional in The Empire Strikes Back..."

Carrie Fisher on Han Solo and Princess Leia - interviewed by Alan Arnold, Unit Publicist - 1979

BEHIND THE SCENES: DUNE SEA DROID!

Wednesday 24th March, 1976. Part of a busy day of location principal photography linked to the Dune Sea sequences, filming begins in La Grande Dunes west of the film’s production base, at Nefta, in the eerie yet stunning desert area for the scene where Threepio shuffles by an extinct alien creature's remains - a fiberglass skeleton copy of a Sauropod creature that had originally been constructed for use in the ELSTREE STUDIOS filmed 1975 UK Walt Disney film One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing. A large prop, found deep in the Elstree warehouse by set decorator Roger Christian and colleagues, the remains would, ultimately, be abandoned to the desert due to transport practicality problems once filming in Tunisia is completed. Also shot that day is the harried droid's sighting of a far distant Jawa Sandcrawler (achieved via a small matte painting of the horizon obscure vehicle handled by ILM in late 1976).

Unfortunately, as location photography progresses, so too do the worsening weather conditions, as fierce sandstorms soon arrive to hit the area, and specially made goggles are supplied to shield everyone from the terrifying, strapping high velocity winds. Natural elements such as sand would also play a part in the chaos, clogging the film cameras and ruining other important equipment. A planned location site to have incorporated a matte painting, handled by the second unit, would ultimately be abandoned by 5.57 PM due to bad light.

This image is presented here in the original way it was shot, as Threepio waves and cries out to the possible transport atop a distant sand dune.

Norman Reynolds and colleague make adjustments to Threepio's suit as the weather worsens on location.

The original Dinosaur bones on the Elstree parking area, before transport to Tunisia.

The small matte of the Jawa Sandcrawler, we assume by Ralph McQuarrie.

EPISODE VIII: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE LENS OF RIAN JOHNSON!

A tease of the main title for The Last Jedi. All images: Rian Johnson.

Six years on from his work on the love it or hate it The Last Jedi, uber-talented writer/director Rian Johnson is busier than ever in his career, making films large and small to suit his tastes. As we all know, Johnson is also a talented photographer, as seen with his many released images linked to the behind the scenes filming of EPISODE VIII. With a hoped-for book of his work on the film unlikely to be on the publishing horizon anytime soon, we can at least saviour what he has released online, of which Aficionado has pulled together as many as possible for your perusal and enjoyment.

Daisy Ridley and Mark Hamill at a Pinewood villa go through the script and the relationship between Rey and Luke that needs to be developed for the screen.

Out from the shadows, the older and more vulnerable Luke as played by Mark Hamill.

Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega receive vital information on their acquired ship from Canto Bight.

Getting close-up with Maz Kanata and a test performer.

Cleaning a Resistance fighter cockpit window.

Wiping a set panel for a First Order technician ready to wrought chaos and destruction.

Rian Johnson relaxes in his tram om the way to the studio!

Ready for war! Rian Johnson and Veronica Ngo in the Resistance bomber interior.

A Mon Calamari extra gets some welcome air pumped into his mask on the Resistance cruiser bridge set.

Anthony Daniels on the cruiser bridge prior to suiting up as Threepio.

Getting ready to film the Jedi Temple apocalypse with Hamill and a remote controlled Artoo.

Preparing to film Luke in his cave on Ahch-To.

Animated series veteran Dave Filoni comes to the UK to see the filming of sequences that may be relevant to his own future SW productions.

The immense studio lights inside one of the Pinewood studio cave sets.

Amanda Lawrence and Billie Lourd in between drama filming.

An atmospheric shot of an unmasked Anthony Daniels on the Crait base set.

Atop the Millennium Falcon cockpit scaffold.

Fighter battling is thirsty work for Oscar Isaac.

The full size Falcon prop on the Pinewood backlot.

Filming with the newly built Yoda puppet in exterior filming at Pinewood.

Daisy Ridley prepares to film the rainy duel with Luke.

Frank Oz reunited with Yoda and Mark Hamill.

Resistance clowning on the Crait cavern set at Pinewood.

Resistance pilots assemble.

First Order Stormtroopers gather.

John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran pose with young newcomer Temirlan Blaev at the Canto Bight stables set. 

Busy in and out of the Resistance transport shuttle.

Noted cinematographer Steve Yedlin inside the Falcon gun tunnel.

Carrie Fisher enjoys the rehearsals around her.

A tender moment between Carrie Fisher and her beloved health support dog, Gary, on the cruiser bridge.

Brian Herring co-puppeteers a lively Porg inside the Falcon cockpit.

On the striking 'Red Room' set.

Happy times for Snoke and Andy Serkis. But not for long...

Daisy Ridley witnesses the carnage of the dead Snoke.

Cleaning up the mess after the Snoke massacre.

Andy Serkis clearly misses Snoke!

Gwendoline Christie and John Boyega hang around on the First Order set.

Capturing the distinct Phasma helmet!

Cleaning up the hangar massacre.

Preparing to film the fateful duel between Finn and Phasma.

Directing evil with Adam Driver.

The Forces of light and dark in showdown.

Stalwart icons Artoo and Threepio reunited in the Falcon hold.

UPDATE 1/2024: It looks like the photo book is on the cards now, after all, for release in late 2025.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Director's Album: Amazon.co.uk: Johnson, Rian: 9781419756542: Books