A space for announcements, updates to the above post, or any additional categories etc; if needed in the future…
This originally started off as a 25 bullet-point thread - originating from in here. Each category was quite brief - with only a source / citation / quote or two - and only every other category had a single image with it! It has grown and been updated quite a bit since…
(Click on the ‘Expand’ button below to see the ‘List of Updates’ made to the Opening Post of this thread over time)
An update to Category Number 9 - Jabba… : an image of two differing script exerts from Star Wars; one is from the script Lucas retrospectively altered to insert a mention of Jabba now being a “slug-like creature”, and the other is from the original real script - where there is no mention of this “slug-like creature” at all.
An update to Category Number 10 - David Prowse… : more information added as to his ostracisation from official Lucasfilm & Star Wars events, and apparently events where Lucasfilm are present. Plus, information added as to his health in recent years. Credit to Rodney-2187 for suggesting additional content.
An update to Category Number 8 - Leia not being Luke’s twin sister : images added from the first draft of the Empire Strikes Back script - with Nellith being stated as the name of Luke’s sister (and also Darth Vader not being Anakin Skywalker; they were two separate characters). Highlighting different ages of the two characters - and Lucas’ own quotes on them having a romance in Empire Strikes Back.
An update to Category Number 28 - What do people who worked on the unaltered Original Trilogy films think of the various Special Editions? : added screenshot image (and linked article) of an interview with Ben Burtt (sound designer, and film editor for AOTC & ROTS).
An update to Category Number 16 - The 1997 Special Editions - George Lucas’ ‘vision’ - was a paid-for experiment and practice for the coming CGI-heavy Prequel Trilogy; as admitted by the man himself : found by, and all credit to, doubleofive : added screenshot image of a 1999 interview with George Lucas stating in his own words… “so yes, the Special Editions were a means of researching and testing what I was going to try and do on this film [The Phantom Menace]”
An update to Category Number 2 - The Changing Number of Episodes in the Star Wars Saga… : An interview in 2004 with George Lucas, where he is quoted as saying there was only six episodes of Star Wars (and earlier that there was only three episodes)… GL - “There is no VII, VIII, IX. There never has been”. Credit to Mocata for leading us where to find this quote.
Another update to Category Number 2 - adding the AFI youtube video interview with George Lucas where commenting on how and why he made the Prequels: “…this backstory. Which I never really intended to do. And wasn’t written as a movie.”
An update to Category Number 39 - Who made the Original Trilogy films…? : An interview in 1999 with George Lucas, where he is quoted as saying “Everybody signs on to bring forth the director’s vision - that’s part of the way movies have been made and always have been. The real issue is whether a corporation that buys the movie 10 years later has the right to change it. My response continues to be no.” (in the category covering Lucas making numerous changes to the two OT films he did not direct.)
An update to Category Number 1 - The origins and influences for Star Wars… : Multiple sources of information and quotes from George Lucas on the category subject have now been added, as well as a few insightful links covering homages to / inspirations from other films, tv & media.
An update to Category Number 21 - The 2006 DVD ‘bonus disk’ release… : added article link and image screenshot from May 2006; re Lucasfilm referencing the OriginalTrilogy•com website, the passion of the fans here, and why the theatrical versions of the Original Trilogy were finally being released (on DVD).
An update to Category Number 20 - “The Lucasfilm claim that… ‘The negatives of the movies were permanently altered for the creation of the Special Editions’” : added article link and image screenshot of Star Wars producer Rick McCallum from a 1997 interview talking about the restoration process of the original theatrical version of Star Wars… stating that “if you could see the print that stuck of the original negative that we have done - it’s perfect.” - seemingly contradicting claims the O-neg of was in poor condition - and also the 2006 Lucasfilm statement that “the existing prints of the first versions are in poor condition” and also that “The 1993 Laserdisc Masters represented the best source for providing the original versions as DVD material.”
A new category: Number 46 - “Where are all the film prints for the theatrical versions of the Original Trilogy films?” : highlighting the Lucas / Lucasfilm ‘seize and destroy’ order when encountering prints of the theatrical versions of the Original Trilogy films - and the relative rarity of surviving prints.
A new category: Number 12 - “The Importance Of
ToneToys In Film-making…” : highlighting the shift around the ESB/ROTJ era of the growing influence of merchandising upon the film (and stories therein) themselves.An update to category Number 2 - “The Changing Number of Episodes in the Star Wars Saga…” : evidence added from official licenced source publicly advertising in 1979 that there plans for 13 episodes in total for Star Wars.
A new category: Number 49 - “The removal of previous Star Wars releases from ‘Canon’ - no widely longer acknowledged / referenced - or available on a modern digital format…” : highlighting the current ‘unavailability’ of previous officially released Star Wars films and series…
^ plus a further update acknowledging the release of many of the featured content up on the Disney+ streaming platform on 2nd April, 2021.
Updates to Category 3 & Category 39 - editing some of the text describing the featured links and articles; hopefully to better illuminate the points made in each category.
Update to Category 24 - now includes information on the changes made to the 2019 SE version of the Original Trilogy.
Update to Category 25 - now includes information querying why no official ‘Change List’ information is available for the 2011 SE and 2019 SE versions of the OT films - and why no official announcement was / has been made for the 2019 SE version of the films at all.
Update to Category 26 - ‘Why no 1997 Special Edition release on a modern digital format?’ - more articles and info added.
Update to Category 2 - ‘The Changing Number of Episodes in the Star Wars Saga…’ - added a Wired article from 1999.
Update to Category 29 - ‘Lucasfilm removing people who worked on / contributed to the Original Trilogy films from history…’ - added information from the 2022 documentary ‘Icons Unearthed: Star Wars’… on Marcia Lucas being written out of Star Wars history - in her own words.
^ Also added information on “Under The Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett” - a 2021 official documentary on the ‘history of the legendary bounty hunter’… completely omitting the contributions of Jason Wingreen to Boba Fett, and in essence, re-writing Star Wars history (again).
Update to Category 7 - ‘Who is the main character in the Star Wars Saga?’ - added a Vanity Fair article from 2005.
Update to Category 35 - ‘The contradictions / discrepancies / plot holes between the Prequel and Original Trilogies…’ - added the Original Trilogy vs The Prequels: inconsistencies, retcons, plot holes and discrepancies… ‘50+ issues’ thread to the Category.
Update to Category 3 - ‘How Star Wars ‘Was Saved In The Edit…’ - added 13las’ quality and insightful “Star Wars: The Lost Cut” Explained youtube video - to demonstrate the power, importance, and creativity of film editing (especially for 1977’s Star Wars).
Update to Category 28 - ‘What do people who worked on the unaltered Original Trilogy films think of them not being available - and of the various Special Editions?’ - added a John Williams article with quotes (credit to doubleofive).
Update to Category 5 - ‘Vader: ‘Luke, originally I was NOT your father’ (Anakin & Vader were two entirely separate characters; until 1978’s ESB 2nd draft)’ - added links to the draft scripts for Star Wars, at the ‘Starkiller: Jedi Bendu Script Site’ site (StarWarz•com).
If you have any suggestions for topics or subjects to be included here - or spot any mistakes, please let us know - thank you.
Last Category Update: 25th March, 2023. (Category No. 5)
These two mini-indexes of OT•com discussion threads covering ‘Han vs Greedo’ & ‘Anakin’s force ghost’ may be of some interest:-
Plus this much-debated topic of much discussion over the years - especially from the point of view of Original Trilogy fans…
Plot Holes, Inconsistencies, Contradictions, Disconnects, Mental Gymnastics, Stretches etc - between the Original Trilogy and other Star Wars releases…
Discussion Threads which highlight and discuss plot holes, discrepancies & contradictions etc - between the OT and later GFFA content.
A collection of various OriginalTrilogy•com discussion threads from over the years on this subject can be found in the…
‘Plot holes, inconsistencies, contradictions, disconnects, mental gymnastics, stretches etc (Original Trilogy vs later Star Wars)’
…section of the An Index & Help Thread for General Star Wars Discussion
Original Trilogy vs The Prequels: inconsistencies, retcons, plot holes and discrepancies… ‘50+ issues’ list may also be of interest.
A post-OT topic that still has some relevance to this thread - and that may also resonate with members on here…
• Retcons to the EU; Legends & Canon: The 2008 Clone Wars messes up continuity or how Lucas is still destroying Star Wars
^ Some retcons and alterations in 2008’s The Clone Wars - compared to previously established EU content and onscreen Star Wars history. It also contains links to articles on retcons & alterations made by Dave Filoni projects to other creatives’ work in the GFFA; the EU, Legends, Canon, Prequel Trilogy, 2003 Clone Wars, Rebels, Bad Batch, Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, Tales of the Jedi, & Ahsoka.
• Lucasfilm’s claims on canon debunked: The 2008 Clone Wars messes up continuity or how Lucas is still destroying Star Wars
^ An info post chronicling George Lucas’ involvement & contributions with several EU projects (some considered part of his main saga story). This, despite Lucasfilm’s recent baffling attempts trying to downplay or even deny George’s input and contributions in the EU.
• George Lucas & the EU: evidence highlighting GL’s contributions to several EU projects - by xezene, on reddit/StarWarsEU
^ A collection of infographs and posts - with quotes and citations - chronicling George Lucas’ involvement in the Expanded Universe. As well as featuring an impressive array of intriguing and insightful information on the EU in general - by the actual creative talents.
• Lucasfilm clarifies the future of the EU (a 2014 thread; re the 25th April Lucasfilm announcement about the EU; Legends & Canon)
• The Star Wars Expanded Universe: Past, Present, & Future (2014 official Star Wars ‘Legends/Canon’ announcement video)
^ “It feels real when everything is in line. And I think that is the challenge for all of us going forward with Star Wars. How are we responsible with what was? And how do we still move forward even if things become very different? I think the EU will be a legacy that is mined forever.” - Dave Filoni
and also from the official Star Wars announcement video on the ‘EU; Past, Present & Future’, linked above…
“We now have a story department that so that there truly can be one consistent narrative - and that’s always been the dream. I think the idea of aligning the content is really fantastic and exciting opportunity that no other fictional universe could even support. We’re going to be able to bring fans a unified vision in a way that we’ve never done before. And I think it’s a also sacred trust to be invited to be telling stories inside this universe because it’s so precious to people, and I understand because it’s precious to me.” - Lucasfilm VIPs.
Further discussions on canon can be found in the ‘Canon’ section of An Index for General Star Wars Discussion.
Further discussions on ‘EU: Legends & Canon’ can be found in the ‘Literature’ section of An Index for The Expanded Universe.
Some threads highlighting Star Wars lore & history - before the Prequel films altered it / introduced new lore…
‘The Star Wars Universe: OT & EU - Life & Lore before the Prequels (the PT ushering in George’s ‘nu-SW rules’ and more retcons)’
…category, in An Index Thread for General Star Wars Discussion, may also be of interest for more information and discussion.
As is this insightful ‘pre-PT era lore’ info thread (on the many retcons the PT films made to the EU), by Sideburns of BoShek:-
Pre-PT era lore | an OT & EU scrapbook resource | additional info & sources welcome - in General Star Wars Discussion