REBELS IN PERIL!

Within the control centre/briefing room area of one of the Yavin IV temples being used by the Rebel Alliance, a concerned Princess Leia with General Dodonna (Alex McCrindle) and a key Rebel technician (Burnell Tucker) will soon monitor their Gold and Red Squadrons' flight to the Death Star, in a memorable photo from Star Wars.

I was sorry to hear the news that accomplished British/Canadian actor Burnell Tucker passed away earlier in the year at the age of 91. Tucker was a mainstay of all the mid-seventies blockbusters made in the UK whenever a supporting player was needed for an American role, including such greats as Rollerball, The Omen, Superman the Movie (plus Superman II), Flash Gordon, and, of course, returning as a Rebel for The Empire Strikes Back. Sadly, I'm not aware of the late Mister Tucker ever doing any signings, appearances or interviews for some unknown reason. Regardless, R.I.P., and thank you for your contributions to both Star Wars and movie history.

AN 'EMPIRE' AT 40: IMPERIAL ACTIVITY!

Han Solo's communication regarding the destroyed intruder means only one thing to Princess Leia Organa and her senior Rebel officers- that the Imperials have found them and will soon be on their way! The next few days will prove critical to the survival of this resistance cell, their uncomfortable stay on Hoth having proved a short one as evacuation plans are swiftly initiated.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: WARTIME AIDES!

The communications of the Rebel pilots and their movements are tracked in the Rebel command centre on Yavin IV, by a team of technicians, bringing aid and assistance to the space heroes where possible, the overall actions overseen and watched by the main Rebel leaders, including Jan Dodonna and a concerned Princess Leia.

Generic shot of background technicians, filmed at Shepperton Studios.

One of the main liaison officers is played by veteran film and TV actor Burnell Tucker, appearing in other blockbusters around the late seventies and eighties like SUPERMAN THE MOVIE and FLASH GORDON, and whom would return to duty as a Rebel on Hoth for The Empire Strikes Back (though there his voice would be dubbed by another actor). Here he warns the Rebel pilots that enemy ships are incoming.

Burnell Tucker as a Rebel technician, warning the pilots of the approaching TIEs.

ROGUE ONE: DODONNA RETURNS!

A classic posed image of our Rebel heroes on Yavin IV.

He gets a mention in the opening episode of STAR WARS REBELS Season Three, now Yavin Base Rebel cell leader General Jan Dodonna (originally played back in 1976 by the late Alex McCrindle) will put in a cameo appearance in the upcoming ROGUE ONE, as seen in the film's teaser trailer and in the image below (in left background). I think it unlikely the character will have any dialogue or major scene, but Dodonna's presence there is nonetheless welcome on the continuity front.

Watch out for several more character surprises to come this December.

From the ROGUE ONE teaser trailer.

CLASSIC IMAGE: IN HIDING NO MORE...

Flanked by her top Rebel officers, General Rieekan (Bruce Boa) and Del Goren (Burnell Tucker), Princess Leia hears the bad news from Han Solo that the Imperials have located their new base of operations on the ice planet Hoth, in a classic scene from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Actor Burnell Tucker was one of a large number of UK background actors/extras to have appeared in EMPIRE that we've identified and listed in a special PDF feature: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRbk1qd2JsbDd4YXc/edit?usp=sharing

Note: to see the PDF in it's best quality, its best to download the file on to your desktop.