There are numerous dates and weekends devoted to celebrating Star Wars, from May the 4th be with you to TBS marathons, but May 25 is probably the most special, as 40 years ago on that day Star Wars: A New Hope was released into theaters. Not only did the Sci-Fi epic launch the careers of actors Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher – and of course creator and director George Lucas – and redefined the entertainment industry, it changed the world.
Science Fiction and fantasy is all the rage in mainstream currently, with superhero movies and new Star Wars films ruling the box office, but Star Wars was the first franchise to really captivate an audience of all ages. In a time without DVD, even avid fans would stand in line at the box office to see the space opera while dressed up in their favorite characters, until they saw it so many times they ran out of money.
On paper Luke, Leia, Han and the gang shouldn’t have resonated with fans the way the did, considering none of the actors playing them were big names and the premise surround their characters sounded pretty goofy, but the Star Wars films managed to make fans love them. The simple story of good vs evil, again, on paper doesn’t seem like anything revolutionary either, but everyone remembers “No. I am your father,” even if they misquote it.
Star Wars is one of the first franchises that can really be attributed with finding massive success not only with sequels – another practice the movie industry uses as much as possible to make money – but in other mediums as well. With several successful book series – which have since been retconned and revamped – and just as many hit video games, it’s amazing to see just how it has touched the entire entertainment industry.
Alongside all of its past success, four decades later we also celebrate its upcoming plans as well, including the impending release of their next film Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Fan’s are brimming with buzz and speculation over the next installment in the third trilogy, as Luke has stated that “The Jedi must end.”
Vanity Fair has also recently released four exclusive images for the upcoming movie, included in the article below.
We’ve also been treated to other stories in the Star Wars series since it’s acquisition by Disney, including a television show and spin-off movies. If Rouge One was any indication, the upcoming spinoff surrounding Han Solo should be just as fun!
The franchise is even getting two of its own amusement park after being acquired by Disney a few years ago. One is being built in Florida and the other in California, as each attraction hopes to be opened by 2019, and is filled with 14 acres of all of your favorite Star Wars goodies.
It’s certainly an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan, with plenty of movies, shows, video games and even an entire “world” to explore in the coming years with the planned amusement parks. For all of your Star War updates, as well as all of your other Nerdy News, be sure to check back frequently.
