6 facts you didn't know about Star Wars

I'm handing over my blog today to Jeremy Hawkins. He has four new art/design books out which are all heavily influenced by movies. "It's a mishmash of things that I had seen in my head... and some are future designs that will become shirts. Places I wanted to go artistically as you travel from where I was to where I am now," Jeremy says. "Titles came from the idea of time: 12:34, 35, 36 and 37. That's when my best ideas came to me... day or night. It's funny I never considered myself a 'writer' just a man who likes to paint a canvas through words or art/design."

I wanted to thank Vanessa for letting me take over her site for the day as I try to use my “Jedi Mind Trick” to sway you into getting my books. I thought I would share a little thing I would like to call “THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE FILMS.”

Yes, I did yell that to bring the drama in. If you don’t know what a “Jedi Mind Trick” is, I have already lost you. But the good news I am going to talk about Star Wars. See how I did that? I got you either way, so… on with the show…

01. Star Wars

Greedo was a woman. At least in some scenes. The costume for Greedo, the alien bounty hunter who gets shot by Han Solo, was worn by two different actors — depending on the country where the filming was done. In the U.K. scenes, Greedo is Paul Blake. In the U.S. scenes, Greedo is Canadian actress Maria de Aragon.

02. The Empire Strikes Back

You can see Boba Fett's face without the helmet in The Empire Strikes Back. Jeremy Bulloch, who plays Boba Fett, also plays another role in ESB: Imperial Lieutenant Sheckil, who captures Princess Leia during her attempted escape on Bespin. Bulloch is standing in for the original actor, who was unavailable at the last minute.

03. Return of the Jedi

Warwick Davis, then 11, made his debut as Ewok guide Wicket, after his grandmother learned of an open casting call for dwarfs in London. Davis was initially cast as an extra. Wicket was initially a role for Kenny Baker, who already had an established role as R2-D2 (he would inhabit the little droid in all six Star Wars features to date), but Baker fell ill, and Lucas gave his part to Davis. Baker ended up playing another Ewok in addition to R2-D2.

04. Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Well everyone hated Jar Jar Binks…

05. Episode II - Attack Of The Clones

Sounds for the Geonosian language invented by sound director Matthew Wood (aka voice actor for General Grievous, Revenge of the Sith, Episode III). Wood rose early to record the penguins coming into Phillip Island near Melbourne and managed to record what he thought were "mating calls".

06. Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith

George Lucas initially said that no characters from the original movies would appear in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith apart from a baby Luke and Leia. However, the final movie also has Yoda, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, Palpatine, Chewbacca, Grand Moff Tarkin, Mon Mothma, R2-D2, C-3PO, Owen Lars, and Beru Whitesun/Lars, all of whom had appearances.

Click the titles below to find Jeremy Hawkins' books on Amazon:

Twelve-thirty-four * Twelve-thirty-five * Twelve-thirty-six * Twelve-thirty-seven