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After 45 Years, Cast Breaks Silence on ‘Star Wars’ Scandal

starwars image with shocked face on the left
Credit: Lucasfilm

A long time ago, in the year 1978, fans of the galaxy far, far away were introduced to a Star Wars event that would forever change the franchise’s lore. It was a creative decision so earth-shattering that many of those involved vowed never to speak of it again… until now.

alec guinness as obi-wan kenobi

Credit: Lucasfilm

Tales of racist alien caricatures, phallic droids, and  “no underwear in space” have circulated the fanbase for years, but that has only added to the charm and appeal of the Star Wars story. However, one incident in the sci-fi masterpiece has been a secret sin for years.

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Star Wars has long been saturated in legend and lore, both on and off the set. That’s to be expected for a series as iconic or successful as George Lucas’ incredible space opera, but one dark mark on the franchise has lived in infamy and mystery for decades.

The Star Wars Holiday Special Reveals Its Secrets

star wars holiday special

Credit: Lucasfilm

The Star Wars Holiday Special is comical and campy at best and embarrassing at worst, but it has been something of a secret sin that cast members like Harrison Ford (Han Solo) , Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and the late Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) “weren’t allowed to mention,” according to the archival footage. For a celebration of “Life Day,” it certainly sounds like something like this would be an absolute career killer.

Related: Lucasfilm Found Harrison Ford’s Replacement for Han Solo

The special was far from the end-all of the Star Wars legacy, but it was incredibly out-of-pocket for the series, and yet it was so incredibly a product of its time. After nearly half a century buried in an ocean of media consisting of Jedi Knights, Sith Lords, Lightsabers, the Death Star, X-Wings, and TIE-Fighters, it’s time to uncover what made this movie so scandalous.

A Disturbance in the Force (2023) is an upcoming documentary from producer Adam Goldberg and directors Jeremy Coons and Steve Kozak that pulls back the curtain on the infamous Christmas special that aired on TV in 1978, one year after the premier of the original Star Wars film. While the special introduced fans to an animated Boba Fett and featured a sci-fi performance from Starship, it was still a grand and glorious train wreck of late ’70s kitsch.

Related: After Losing James Earl Jones, ‘Star Wars’ Reveals New Look at Darth Vader

Variety describes the upcoming film with the following,

“’A Disturbance in the Force’ chronicles the making of the bizarre “Star Wars Holiday Special” that aired 45 years ago and never surfaced again. For some context: “Star Wars” was released in theaters in 1977 and became a cultural phenomenon. A year later, filmmaker George Lucas was talked into cashing in on the craze by producing a holiday-themed variety special. Plenty of people (approximately 13 million) tuned in when CBS aired “Star Wars Holiday Special” during the week of Thanksgiving. The only problem? It became a famously terrible two hours of television, never to be shown again.”

The new Star Wars movie is scheduled to release on home media and play in select theaters on December 5, 2023, and it’s shaping up to be a “tea-spilling” event. While this writer has a soft spot for the infamous special, this will undoubtedly be a treasure trove for fans of all levels.

Did you know about this scandalous event?

This post is originally appeared on Inside the Magic.

About Zach Gass

Zach Gass is a writer from East Tennessee with a passion for all things under the Disney name. From Disney history to the careers of Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, Zach tries to keep his finger on the pulse of the mouse. While he would certainly love to see the parks around the globe, his home park will always be the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. When he's not rubbing elbows with Mickey, Zach enjoys reading fantasy novels, retro video games, theatre, puppetry, and the films of Tim Burton.

One comment

  1. I was 11 and watched it live. I think my brother and I enjoyed it, but we already had a like of, and respect for campy cinema and comedy.

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