'OBI-WAN KENOBI': PARENTAL PROTECTION!

The time that Owen and Beru Lars have dreaded for so long has finally come to realisation, as the dark forces of the Empire arrive at their homestead, ready to take the young orphan Luke Skywalker from their love and protection, during a tense moment from the Obi-Wan Kenobi mini-series final episode. 

With this kind of courage shown in the mini-series, it would be nice to think that Owen and Beru didn't go down without a fight with the later arrival of the Stormtroopers in A New Hope.

A NEW HORIZON, A NEW HOPE...

A new hope to save the galaxy from the Galactic Empire has been safely delivered by his Jedi protector into the loving arms of the Lars family, at their faraway desert homestead on Tatooine. And now the long wait for the prophesied Balance of the Force begins. The subtly moving finale to EPISODE III, beautifully enhanced by the always-brilliance of composer John Williams.

A worthy final entry honoring the more respected in recent years Prequel Trilogy, and concluding the diverse entries comprising the Twentieth Anniversary celebrations for Star Wars Aficionado during 2023.

DELETED SCENE: CATCHING A GLIMPSE...

Carrying out the daily chores needed for survival within the desert wastelands of Tatooine, young Beru Lars looks to the early morning horizon and witnesses the fast approaching form of Anakin Skywalker on a speeder bike, in a deleted scene moment from EPISODE II.

BEHIND THE SCENES: INTRODUCING LUKE SKYWALKER?

A classic publicity still, which may be from a deleted scene.

At the redressed interior sinkhole of the Sidi Driss Hotel in Matmata during March 1976, Mark Hamill climbs the steps of the Lars Homestead in this publicity image as Luke Skywalker. Though this scene could be from the moment where he leaves the dinner scene to finish cleaning the droids, many fans have speculated this this photo may actually have been part of the character's original introduction scene, climbing the steps to join Uncle Owen in a deleted moment set just as the Sandcrawler has arrived at the homestead. Regardless, Luke's being inside the location was certainly filmed by the cameramen above the hotel- a still frame showing him walking out of the top right alcove being partially used in post production for an establishing shot by the film editors that would lead into the later scene where Lars is shouting out for Luke- this image has been amusingly referred to by die-hard fans as "Luke's Ghost"...

"Luke's Ghost", as seen in the top right alcove.

Here are a selection of images from the above angle filming of scenes set within the homestead courtyard:

Getting ready for filming.

A Power Droid is positioned. Note the "Xmas Tree" vaporators with blue and orange lightbulb tips. Red lights would also be on apparatus, as indicated in Ann Skinner's notes. Image via Chris Baker. 

Shelagh Fraser watches the droid being positioned for the scene. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

At the top of the Sidi Driss, Mark Hamill films his looking down towards Beru. Image: KURTZ/JOINER ARCHIVE.

The Tunisian locations of STAR WARS continue to resonate in the hearts and minds of fans. Check out filmmakers Matt Ford and Tara Todras-Whitehill's fascinating and rewarding 30 minute interactive look at the sets and their legacy on the people and traditions of Tunisia, where you can click around and thoroughly explore them, and which also includes an interview with George Lucas's driver from the original movie. Plus the efforts to save and preserve them for the future.

Verse | A Second Life for Star Wars Sets

THE 'SITH' AT TEN: CUSTODIANS TO 'HOPE'

Comes the dawn, comes A New Hope to the universe, in this genuinely emotional and beautiful final scene to the Prequel Trilogy with EPISODE III, as Owen Lars and Beru, cradling the newly arrived baby Luke Skywalker, look towards a bright new future as a family, accompanied by John Williams stirring classic themes.

The sunrise backdrop was real footage filmed in Tahiti by concept artist Erik Tiemens, when he was on his honeymoon.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Ending - HD 1080p - YouTube

CLASSIC IMAGE: THE HOMESTEAD VISITOR...

Newly arrived on Tatooine, the self-exiled Obi-Wan Kenobi visits the Lars Homestead with a gift of life and love for Owen and Beru Lars, in the emotionally satisfying conclusion of EPISODE III.

To find out what happens next with our venerable and isolated hero, check out John Jackson Miller's UK hardback release of KENOBI, out later this month from CENTURY PUBLISHING. AFICIONADO's review will be posted shortly...

Kenobi: Star Wars: Amazon.co.uk: John Jackson Miller: Books

With thanks to Chris Baker for the above top image.

BEHIND THE SCENES: TO MOURN A MOTHER...

A sad time for the Skywalker family as they gather together for the funeral of their beloved Shmi. The beginning of the end for Anakin Skywalker is further cemented with this scene filmed in Tunisia, from EPISODE II.

STAR WARS AT 35: KITCHEN-SINK DRAMA

In her version of a Habitat kitchen within the Lars Homestead (designed by John Barry), Aunt Beru (played with quiet but warm dignity by the late Shelagh Fraser), gets a milky brew ready for her husband Owen and their adopted son Luke in this brief deleted scene from the original STAR WARS filmed in April 1976. The set would be re-built with almost exact authenticity for Beru's later, well...earlier, appearance in EPISODE II.


With thanks to Chris Baker for the above image.

Below is a close-up look at the Beru Kitchen set at Elstree Studios in April 1976, courtesy of Continuity Polaroids from the original film's Script Supervisor, Ann Skinner, which were showcased as part of a special exhibition at London's BFI in late 2014.

One image not seen in the exhibition, but held in the BFI's Special Collection, shows the actual dining table for the Sidi Driss location used for the Lars dining area sequence, bearing a circular food dish holding a brown pizza or casserole-like substance and several smaller dishes, plastic Tupperware, blue milk cups and a container.

Skinner's hand written costume notes for Beru reveal that she wears a wedding ring, and that her outfit is "blue sachet with pink collar". In Skinner's early 1976 character notes based from a pre-shooting script, she describes her as a "Warm, motherly woman. Luke's Aunt."

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI.

SCENES WE WANT ON BLU-RAY 8: BERU'S KITCHEN CONVERSATION

With homely Beru Lars appearance in EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES cut down so savagely during the film's later post production editing (she has just one line in the finished film: "Hello"!) and followed by later re-shoots of material on Anakin and Padme, it would be nice if the upcoming Blu-rays could have Luke Skywalker's adopted mum to be's deleted scene with Padme, where, in the famous Homestead kitchen (painstakingly recreated by the films production designers to match the original environment conceived in 1976 by John Barry), she briefly talks about life on and outside of Tatooine...

"Would you like some blue milk?"

The Blu-ray Prequel deleted scenes for the new release total around 45 minutes, so that's probably 15 minutes for each film. A shame it all couldn't be longer, really, as there's at least 30 minutes of deleted scenes footage alone from ATTACK OF THE CLONES that is yet to be seen, with much of the final third of the film having been changed/re-worked/re-filmed in the post-production process.

CLASSIC IMAGE: DEATH OF INNOCENCE!

Watched in sadness by his extended family and lover-to-be, Anakin Skywalker returns to the Lars Homestead with the body of his dead mother, Shmi, in this fateful scene from EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, filmed at the restored Nefta salt flats location previously used in 1976 for STAR WARS.