George Lucas was inspired by classic mythology, westerns, and samurai films when creating Star Wars, particularly the works of Akira Kurosawa.
The original title for 'Star Wars: A New Hope' was simply 'The Star Wars,' and it was later changed to include the episode number and subtitle when the sequels were planned.
Harrison Ford was not initially cast as Han Solo; he was brought in to help other actors with their lines during auditions, and Lucas realized he was perfect for the role.
The character of Yoda was originally going to be played by a monkey carrying a cane and wearing a mask, but the idea was scrapped in favor of a puppet designed by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
The lightsaber sound was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who combined the hum of an old film projector with the buzz of a TV set to create the iconic weapon's audio signature.
James Earl Jones provided the voice of Darth Vader, but his contribution was uncredited in the original 'Star Wars' trilogy because Jones felt that his role was minimal.
In 'The Empire Strikes Back,' the reveal that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father was kept a secret from most of the cast and crew. Mark Hamill was told just moments before filming the scene.
The character of Chewbacca was inspired by George Lucas's Alaskan Malamute dog, Indiana, who would sit in the passenger seat of Lucas's car like a co-pilot.
The Ewoks in 'Return of the Jedi' were originally going to be Wookiees, but the idea was changed to feature a smaller, cuter species that could represent the primitive overcoming the technologically advanced.
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill had to undergo extensive training to learn how to wield lightsabers, and many of their fight scenes involved hours of choreography.
The Millennium Falcon's design was inspired by a hamburger with an olive on the side, leading to its distinctive shape and appearance.
R2-D2 and C-3PO were inspired by the two peasants from Akira Kurosawa's film 'The Hidden Fortress,' who are caught up in a larger story much like the droids in 'Star Wars.'
The phrase 'I have a bad feeling about this' is a running gag in the Star Wars series, appearing in almost every film as a nod to the original trilogy.
In 'The Force Awakens,' Daisy Ridley, who played Rey, was nearly overwhelmed by the pressure of the role, but director J.J. Abrams helped her build confidence during filming.
John Williams composed the iconic Star Wars score, which became one of the most recognizable and influential film scores in history, earning him an Academy Award for Best Original Score for 'A New Hope.'
