THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: THE NEW/OLD YODA!

Fans were thrilled with the news back in 1997 that Frank Oz would be returning to voice and operate Yoda for EPISODE I. But what would the revered Jedi Master look like with the new film? And how much younger would his physical appearance/abilities be in comparison to his appearances in the Classic Trilogy? This great above concept sketch, in which Yoda was considered to wear black Jedi robes (an idea then tying in with earlier Jedi designs by Doug Chiang) would give fans a general visual clue.

Made from silicon rather than the original foam - so as to apparently look more realistic on screen, Nick Dudman and his UK creature team created the new younger Yoda for Frank Oz and his small team of puppeteering assistants to operate (comprising Kathy Smee, Don Austen and David Greenaway, the latter of whom had helped operate Yoda on Return of the Jedi back in 1982). This new Yoda would also be designed for greater freedom of movement, in conjunction with Oz. Additional updates were made to Yoda's facial features with radio controlled operation off camera.

Working out the new mouth mechanics on an early test version of Yoda at Leavesden.

A selection of Yoda's in preparation or testing

"The hardest (creature) was probably Yoda, in terms of responsibility, because you're trying not to uet anyone. We did make certain changes: the character is younger and in his prime as Chief Jedi, not some kind of refugee on a bog planet. So we felt we were entitled to strengthen him and make his skin our of silicon instead of latex, it just looks healthier. Butt we felt we had to try and preserve the idiosyncrasies as much as possible."

Nick Dudman - Empire magazine  - 1999

Adding extra layers of make-up detail to the filming Yoda.

Stuart Freeborn and an old friend!

The unbeaten master of Star Wars creature making, Stuart Freeborn, would be invited to the EPISODE I set by his former protege Dudman and see the old and new background creatures at work. As charming and inquisitive as ever, Freeborn was also presented with a special Yoda bust for his work on the series.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: REPORTING TO THE JEDI COUNCIL!

His meeting with Valorum over, Qui-Gon, with Obi-Wan, now reports to his superiors at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant about the mysterious warrior intent on capturing Queen Amidala- whose identity might be related to the return of the Sith (a scenario the Jedi find incredulous to believe), and the potential vergence in the force located around a mysterious boy...

1997 quasi-religious design concept for the Jedi Council area, by Ed Natividad.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: HEADING TO THE JEDI TEMPLE!

Like a watchful beacon over the comings and goings of the cityscape to which it is centralised, the millennia-aged Jedi Temple building is a striking and formidable looking part of Coruscant, during our first view of it in EPISODE I.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: ENTER, SENATOR PALPATINE!

Seemingly concerned for the well-being of his Queen and her people with the situation on the cut-off, blockaded Naboo, and one seemingly hopeless in resolution - part of a Republic whose politics is mired in corruption and the inability to pursue justice, Senator Palpatine's manipulative presence in the events of EPISODE I is skilfully written and played. If anyone knew better, we'd think that the senator himself might have had a hand in the crisis now playing out. Heaven forbid!

Back in the saga fifteen years on from filming his memorable scenes as the diabolically evil Emperor in Return of the Jedi, Scottish actor Ian McDiarmid, always a favourite of George Lucas, gets a chance to flex his Shakespearean-esque acting muscles as the deceitful puppet master Palpatine, at a time before the character became the legendary disfigured baddie of the Classic Trilogy.

"The great thing about playing him is that it's clear in EPISODEs I and II that he's a hypocrite, a hypocritical politician, so that's what you play."

Ian McDiarmid - Empire Magazine - 2005

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/star-wars-archive-ian-mcdiarmid-interview/

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: UPDATING THE CHANCELLOR

Newly arrived on Coruscant, described as ' a giant city in space' by pilot Ric Olie, the Jedi and the Royal party disembark on a floating landing platform, flanked by arrived Royal Guards in the presence of a concerned Chancellor Valorum and Naboo representative Senator Palpatine. As Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan report to Valorum on what happened with their secret dispatch to Naboo, Queen Amidala and her retinue, including an at first unsure where to go Anakin Skywalker, enter a transport that will take them to Palpatine's spacious political office/apartment block.

"The situation has become much more complicated."

Specially requested to appear in EPISODE I by George Lucas, respected British actor Terence Stamp, best known to sci-fi/fantasy fans for playing the malignant General Zod in the early Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve, flew in to Leavesden Studios from Australia for four days work, barely knowing what his small role was about, and, apart from this one scene, of which practically the film's entire cast were assembled (on 2nd July, 1997), did most of his remaining work against blue screen for later senate chamber scenes, a scenario that Stamp ultimately found boring to do, especially as Natalie Portman, whom the actor was impressed with in The Professional, was having a well-deserved day off!

For the scene where the Jedi confer with Valorum, note the sly use by John Williams of several bars of his theme for Stamp's General Zod from the 1977 Superman film!

Stamp on set with Lucas and producer Rick McCallum in the background.

"(Valorum) is the President of the Universe. Lucas said, "Well, he's a good man, but he's beleaguered- a bit like Bill Clinton."

"He (George Lucas) loves movies, and the child in him is unselfconsciously present, but he's very charming-he's just a guy doing what he loves to do and having a ball. I liked him."

Terence Stamp - Empire magazine interview - 1999

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: ARRIVED AT A MORE CIVILISED REALM!

Entering the busy and vibrant atmosphere of Coruscant, the Naboo Cruiser now touches down on one of the many sky platforms littered across the vast and unending city landscape, in this great 1996/7 Production Art by Doug Chiang that clearly has a lot of visual tribute referencing to the comic imaginings of Flash Gordon, and, most importantly, Fritz Lang's landmark 1927 sci-fi epic, Metropolis. The imagery would also build on earlier designs/ideas conceived by Ralph McQuarrie for Imperial City back during 1981 conceptual work for Return of the Jedi.

"I opted for a sleek, modern vision, incorporating more steel, glass, and weird plastic materials. The forms also became a little cleaner and more streamlined."

Doug Chiang - The Making of EPISODE I book - 1999

EPISODE VIII: GETTING AN EYEFUL!

The classic The Last Jedi lightsaber battle involving Rey and Ren against the late Supreme Leader Snoke's brutal Praetorian Guards was choc-a-block full of great moments that got worldwide audiences cheering, but the end of the duel, with Rey's quick-thinking leading to Ren uniquely lightsaber stabbing his last combatant, was surely one of the most spectacular and brutal incidents seen in the film series so far...

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: JEWEL OF THE REPUBLIC!

Having prior tested the newly installed hyperdrive (a filmed but deleted moment -our heroes worried about a technical hitch reprisal from Watto), the Queen's Naboo Cruiser has finally arrived at the heart of the Republic on the bright lights city world of Coruscant, seemingly safe from the pursuits of their enemies as Amidala prepares to make her case for the protection of Naboo to the Galactic Senate.

THE 'PHANTOM' AT TWENTY: A GIFT FOR PADME

The decision to leave his mother on Tatooine has suddenly, emotionally weighed heavy on young Anakin, feeling early isolation en route to Coruscant. Luckily, his affection for Padme has grown, even finding time to carve a supposedly good fortune Japor Snippet for his new friend.

EPISODE VII: FLIGHT AND FIGHT!

Surface skimming one of the lakes of Takodana, Poe Dameron's brave men and women in their Resistance X-wing fighters prepare to face up to the bullies of the First Order, in this terrific shot from The Force Awakens which only appeared in an early trailer.