The Battle of Yavin takes place in the fictional universe of Star Wars . It pits the Galactic Empire against the Rebel Alliance around the gas giant planet Yavin and its fourth moon .
125-454: Chewbacca ( / tʃ uː ˈ b ɑː k ə / choo- BAH -kə ), nicknamed " Chewie ", is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a Wookiee —a tall, hairy, highly intelligent species originating from the planet Kashyyyk . He is 7.5 feet (2.3 m) tall, and typically wears only a bandolier and a tool pouch. He carries a bowcaster, a traditional Wookiee weapon, and he speaks
250-434: A 10-episode adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back debuted in 1983. Billy Dee Williams joined the other two stars, reprising his role as Lando Calrissian. In 1983, Buena Vista Records released an original, 30-minute Star Wars audio drama titled Rebel Mission to Ord Mantell , written by Daley. In the 1990s, Time Warner Audio Publishing adapted several Star Wars series from Dark Horse Comics into audio dramas:
375-453: A bonding experience. Towards this end, Chewbacca rescues C-3PO and later repairs him with the help of R2-D2. At the beginning of Return of the Jedi (1983), Chewbacca infiltrates Jabba's palace by pretending to be the prisoner of a bounty hunter, who is actually Leia in disguise. Chewbacca and his companions manage to rescue Han and escape. Later, Chewbacca joins the others on a mission to destroy
500-747: A debt to Jabba the Hutt , but are drawn back into the war when the Empire assaults the Rebel base. Chewbacca, Han and Leia seek refuge in Cloud City with Han's friend Lando Calrissian , unaware that Lando has betrayed them to the Empire. C-3PO is blasted into pieces by an Imperial stormtrooper , and Chewbacca saves him from being melted down. Before Han is frozen in carbonite and delivered to Jabba, he asks Chewbacca to look after Leia for him. Chewbacca, Leia and Lando escape from Vader in
625-430: A master and their apprentice. The franchise is set against a backdrop of galactic conflict involving republics and empires, such as the evil Galactic Empire . The Jedi and Sith prefer the use of a weapon called the lightsaber , a blade of plasma that can cut through virtually any surface and deflect energy bolts. The rest of the population, as well as renegades and soldiers, use plasma-powered blaster firearms . In
750-746: A member of the "Red Squadron". The Battle of Yavin serves as the reference point for the Star Wars timeline. Events are dated in relation to it using 365-day years. For example, the Battle of Geonosis , which marks the start of the Clone Wars , takes place in 22 BBY, while the Battle of Endor, which marks the end of the Galactic Civil War, takes place in 4 ABY. The book Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Guide , released in 2019, uses another reference point:
875-465: A mixed reception from critics and audiences. Several Star Wars films have been produced separately from the Skywalker Saga. In 2008, Lucasfilm released the animated film The Clone Wars , which is set during the prequel trilogy and serves as the theatrical pilot of the television series of the same name . Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, an "anthology" film series set between
1000-443: A secret level allowing them to participate in the Battle of Yavin. This mission is also the first in its sequel, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II - Rogue Leader , released in 2002. In 2009, the mobile game Star Wars: Trench Run was released. Players take on the role of a pilot during combat in the trench of the space station. The arcade game Star Wars , released in 1983, includes several space combat sequences, including one on
1125-563: A series of murders of Jedi Masters. The Star Wars canon fictional universe spans multiple eras, of which three are focused around each of the film trilogies. The following eras were defined in January 2021, and further refined and expanded in April 2023: The Expanded Universe of spin-off media depicts different levels of continuity, which were deemed non-canonical and rebranded as Legends on April 25, 2014, to make most subsequent works align to
1250-414: A space pilot and not be able to communicate in any meaningful way? Does Han Solo really understand Chew's monotonous noises? Do they have long chats sometimes?" In spite of Ebert's critique, Chewbacca received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards . Chewbacca was introduced in Star Wars (1977), and is portrayed by Peter Mayhew in all three films of the original film trilogy. Mayhew
1375-442: A theme for Obi-Wan Kenobi for the miniseries and Han Solo's theme for Solo: A Star Wars Story . Williams also created the main theme for Galaxy's Edge . Several other composers worked on other soundtracks, including John Powell ( Obi-Wan Kenobi ), Michael Giacchino ( Rogue One ), and Ludwig Göransson ( The Mandalorian ). The first Star Wars audio work is The Story of Star Wars , an LP using audio samples from
SECTION 10
#17328761557961500-466: A tractor beam and forced to land. They manage to disguise themselves as stormtroopers and infiltrate the station. They free Princess Leia but must face a powerful enemy: Sith Lord Darth Vader. Obi-Wan Kenobi engages him in combat while the others board the Millennium Falcon . The Jedi allows himself to be killed by his former apprentice, allowing the others to escape. They go to Yavin 4 , where
1625-757: Is a playable character in a variety of video games, including Masters of Teräs Käsi , Star Wars Battlefront II , Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron , Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron , and the 2017 version of Star Wars Battlefront II . The Wookiee is also playable in the Lego Star Wars games Lego Star Wars: The Video Game , Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy , Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars , Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga . The 1978 television program Star Wars Holiday Special introduces Chewbacca's family, including his wife Mallatobuck, his son Lumpawarrump, and his father Attichitcuk, who
1750-477: Is a victory. However, the rebels are forced to flee to settle elsewhere. Indeed, Darth Vader, who was not aboard the Death Star when it exploded, continues to hunt them down. The Battle of Yavin is depicted in the film A New Hope . It is largely created using practical special effects . It serves as a reference point in the Star Wars chronology . In addition to the film, it is represented in novelizations of
1875-514: Is common due to lightspeed hyperspace technology. The planets range from wealthy, planet-wide cities to deserts scarcely populated by primitive tribes. Virtually any Earth biome , along with many fictional ones, has its counterpart as a Star Wars planet which, in most cases, teem with sentient and non-sentient alien life. The franchise also makes use of other astronomical objects such as asteroid fields and nebulae . Spacecraft range from small starfighters to large capital ships, such as
2000-742: Is impossible for the Force. These superpowers are wielded by two major knightly orders at conflict with each other: the Jedi , peacekeepers of the Galactic Republic who act on the light side of the Force through non-attachment and arbitration , and the Sith , who use the dark side by manipulating fear and aggression. While Jedi Knights can be numerous, the Dark Lords of the Sith (or 'Darths') are intended to be limited to two:
2125-609: Is invaded by the Separatist Alliance. They also help the Jedi Master Yoda escape from clone troopers who were ordered to kill him. In The Force Awakens , Mayhew shares the Chewbacca role with his body double, Joonas Suotamo. In the film, which is set thirty years after Return of the Jedi , Chewbacca and Han find the Millennium Falcon , which had been stolen from them. They help the rogue First Order stormtrooper Finn ,
2250-461: Is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. The original 1977 film, retroactively subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope , was followed by the sequels Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), forming the original Star Wars trilogy . Lucas later returned to the series to write and direct a prequel trilogy , consisting of Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999), Episode II: Attack of
2375-469: Is ordered to skin the Wookiee, but rescues him instead. Upon regaining consciousness, Chewbacca swears a "life-debt" to Han, and the two become business partners and friends. In Vector Prime , Chewbacca sacrifices his life to save Han's son Anakin from a collision between the planet Sernpidal and one of its moons. Two of the Wookiee's family members offer to assume Chewbacca's life debt to Han. Vector Prime
2500-527: Is set just after Revenge of the Sith . When the Empire enslaves most of Kashyyyk's population to build the Death Star, Chewbacca escapes with a group of smugglers who are friendly to the Jedi. The Hutt Gambit —the second novel in The Han Solo Trilogy —explains how Chewbacca and Han first meet. While serving as a lieutenant in the Imperial Navy, Han finds Chewbacca unconscious aboard a slave ship. Han
2625-519: Is strong in this one ," referencing Darth Vader's line, " The Force is strong in this one ," from the trench run scene. Additionally, a reference to the battle appears in comic book number 45 released in October 1999. The family's dog, Santa's Little Helper, appears in a commercial for the Krusty Burger chain wearing Biggs Darklighter's X-wing helmet, who was a childhood friend of Luke Skywalker and
SECTION 20
#17328761557962750-587: Is the chief of the Kaapauku Tribe. The program features a story in which Chewbacca and Han travel to Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day, while trying to prevent Darth Vader from spoiling the holiday. The special is not part of the Star Wars story canon. Following the acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, most of the licensed Star Wars novels and comics produced between 1977 and 2014 were rebranded as Star Wars Legends and declared non-canon to
2875-528: The Jedi Academy trilogy (1994) by Kevin J. Anderson , the 14-book Young Jedi Knights series (1995–1998) by Anderson and Rebecca Moesta , and the X-wing series (1996–2012) by Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston . Del Rey took over Star Wars book publishing in 1999, releasing what would become a 19-installment novel series called The New Jedi Order (1999–2003). Written by multiple authors,
3000-608: The Millennium Falcon , a YT-1300 light freighter piloted by smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca . When the Death Star arrives at Yavin, it is not properly positioned to fire on the fourth moon. This allows the rebels to launch an attack to destroy the battle station. Its weakness has been clearly identified: a proton torpedo must be fired into the exhaust port to trigger a chain reaction that will destroy it. For this mission, two squadrons of Y-wing and X-wing interceptors take off. Luke Skywalker , designated as "Red 5," pilots one of
3125-471: The Millennium Falcon , while McQuarrie produced illustrations of key scenes from the film, one of which depicted a group of Y-wing interceptors attacking the Death Star . Only one full-scale X-wing interceptor model was built, which was visible in the scene preceding the battle in the Rebel hangar on Yavin 4 . The space battles were entirely created using mechanical special effects. Only one cockpit
3250-442: The 2008 series of the same name . Following Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, all animated series released prior to 2014, apart from the 2008 series, were discarded from the franchise's canon . Subsequent animated series include Rebels , released in 2014; Resistance , released in 2018; and The Bad Batch , released in 2021. Several micro-series and shorts have also been released by Lucasfilm since Disney's acquisition, with
3375-539: The Falcon . When Leia hears Luke's cry for help, she orders Chewbacca to turn the ship around to rescue him. In the film's final scene, Chewbacca joins the others in preparing to rescue Han from Jabba. Lucas wanted to create audience sympathy for C-3PO in The Empire Strikes Back by having him get dismantled. Because both C-3PO and Chewbacca were likeable characters—and disliked one another—Lucas wanted them to have
3500-555: The Millenium Falcon from Lando. Chewbacca and Han then set off on more adventures in the Falcon . In the season 3 finale of the television series The Clone Wars , Chewbacca is captured by Trandoshan hunters, but is freed by Ahsoka Tano and agrees to help her and two younglings escape. He and Ahsoka attack the Trandoshan fortress before they are found and assisted by Tarfful and other Wookiees. Chewbacca appears in both seasons of
3625-457: The New Republic era, serving as the climax of the various live-action television series that began with The Mandalorian in 2019. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy will direct a third film about a new Jedi Order, set fifteen years after the sequel trilogy. In January 2024, it was announced that Jon Favreau would direct a new Star Wars film, titled The Mandalorian & Grogu . In February of
3750-618: The Outer Rim . The Second Death Star is eventually destroyed by the Rebels as well . Before the production of the film A New Hope even began, George Lucas created sketches of the various spacecraft that would participate in the Battle of Yavin. In November 1974, he hired model maker Colin Cantwell and illustrator Ralph McQuarrie . Cantwell created the initial designs for the Y-wing interceptor and
3875-514: The Rebel base on Yavin 4 . In the film's climactic battle scene , Chewbacca and Han save Luke from being killed by Darth Vader , which allows Luke to destroy the Death Star. After the battle, Leia acknowledges Chewbacca for his achievements alongside Luke and Han. The Empire Strikes Back (1980) takes place three years after Star Wars . Chewbacca and Han are planning to leave the Rebellion to pay off
Chewbacca - Misplaced Pages Continue
4000-461: The Republic , the return of Luke as a Jedi Master (a role similar to that of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original trilogy), Luke's sister (not yet determined to be Leia), Han, Leia, R2-D2 and C-3PO . However, after beginning work on the prequel trilogy, Lucas insisted that Star Wars was meant to be a six-part series and that there would be no sequel trilogy. Lucas decided to leave the franchise in
4125-468: The Sith . Although no longer canon, the story is paralleled in The Force Awakens with Han and Leia's son Ben Solo , who becomes the evil Kylo Ren. Three series set in the prequel era were published by Scholastic for younger audiences: the 18-book Jedi Apprentice (1999–2002) chronicles the adventures of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master Qui-Gon Jinn in the years before The Phantom Menace ;
4250-473: The Star Destroyers , as well as space stations such as the moon-sized Death Stars . Telecommunication includes two-way audio and audiovisual screens, holographic projections, and hyperspace transmission. The universe of Star Wars is generally similar to the real universe but its laws of physics are less strict allowing for more imaginative stories. One result of that is a mystical power known as
4375-561: The Thrawn trilogy, Leia considers an advantageous political marriage to Prince Isolder of the planet Hapes, but she and Han ultimately marry. Steve Perry 's Shadows of the Empire (1996), set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi , was part of a multimedia campaign that included a comic book series and video game. The novel introduced the crime lord Prince Xizor , another popular character who would appear in multiple other works. Other notable series from Bantam include
4500-557: The University of Southern California , licensed the Star Wars radio rights to KUSC-FM for US$ 1 . The production used John Williams's original film score, along with Ben Burtt 's sound effects. The first was written by science-fiction author Brian Daley and directed by John Madden . It was broadcast on National Public Radio in 1981, adapting the original 1977 film into 13 episodes. Mark Hamill and Anthony Daniels reprised their film roles. The overwhelming success, led to
4625-546: The Yavin 4 figurine released in 2012 as set number 9677, titled " X-wing Starfighter & Yavin 4." It comes with a figurine of Luke Skywalker and the X-wing interceptor he pilots during the battle. A segment of the Star Tours attraction is inspired by the Battle of Yavin. Visitors board a Starspeeder 3000, an intergalactic transport ship bound for the moon of Endor . At one point,
4750-481: The "Red Squadron" to enter the trench as well. They are vulnerable there and are each destroyed or damaged in turn. At the end, only Luke Skywalker remains to accomplish the mission. A group of TIE fighters led by Vader pursues him, preparing to fire. He is saved at the last moment by Han Solo and Chewbacca aboard the Millennium Falcon , who shoot down one TIE fighter, causing a second one to panic and collide with Vader's ship, sending it spinning out of control away from
4875-519: The 11-book Jedi Quest (2001–2004) follows Obi-Wan and his own apprentice, Anakin Skywalker in between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones ; and the 10-book The Last of the Jedi (2005–2008), set almost immediately after Revenge of the Sith , features Obi-Wan and the last few surviving Jedi. In 2019, a new prequel era novel, starring Qui-Gon and the young Obi-Wan, was published by Del Rey under
5000-403: The Battle of Yavin in third place in its list of the best battles from the original Star Wars trilogy . The site finds that "everything about this battle is superb," particularly praising the mechanical special effects and the scene where Han Solo saves Luke Skywalker . In its ranking of the entire saga, the same website places it in the first position, explaining that it is the sequence with
5125-480: The Clones (2002), and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). In 2012, Lucas sold his production company to Disney , relinquishing his ownership of the franchise. This led to a sequel trilogy , consisting of Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015), Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (2017), and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). All nine films, collectively referred to as the " Skywalker Saga ", were nominated for Academy Awards , with wins going to
Chewbacca - Misplaced Pages Continue
5250-486: The Death Star plans to the droid R2-D2 , who escapes aboard an escape pod accompanied by C-3PO . On the desert planet, the two droids are captured by Jawas who sell them to the farmer Owen Lars . He hands them over to his nephew Luke Skywalker , who discovers a message hidden by Leia Organa for the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi . She asks him to aid the rebellion . R2-D2 leaves without warning to search for
5375-464: The Death Star's superlaser is under construction, a group of rebel spies manages to steal the plans for the battle station. They transmit them to the Tantive IV , which is orbiting the planet. However, it is pursued by Darth Vader's Star Destroyer , forcing it to flee. The Tantive IV is intercepted by Darth Vader's Star Destroyer above Tatooine . Before being captured, Princess Leia Organa entrusts
5500-579: The Death Star. Following the advice of Obi-Wan Kenobi , whose voice he hears, Luke Skywalker deactivates the targeting system of the ship, and using the Force , he fires a proton torpedo that enters the port and destroys the Death Star before it can open fire on Yavin. The Battle of Yavin is a victory for the Rebel Alliance . They manage to defeat the forces of the Galactic Empire . Practically all Imperial personnel are killed, and almost all of
5625-524: The EU material until April 25, 2014, when the company announced all of the EU works would cease production. Existing works would no longer be considered canon to the franchise and subsequent reprints would be rebranded under the Star Wars Legends label, with downloadable content for the massively multiplayer online game The Old Republic the only Legends material to still be produced. The Star Wars canon
5750-414: The Empire's equipment, including the Death Star , is destroyed. The only survivor is Darth Vader, who participated in the battle; his TIE Advanced X1 fighter was damaged by Han Solo . On the rebel side, the losses are heavy. In addition to the Millennium Falcon , only three ships from the "Red" and "Gold" squadrons return, including those piloted by Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles . However,
5875-503: The First Order. During a Resistance mission, Han is killed by his son Kylo Ren , which prompts an enraged Chewbacca to shoot Kylo in the side. The Wookiee then sets off explosives that allow Poe Dameron and other X-wing pilots to destroy Starkiller Base , the First Order's superweapon. Before the base explodes, Chewbacca rescues Rey and Finn from the wilderness, where they had been fighting with Kylo. Later, Chewbacca helps Rey find Luke on
6000-408: The Force which is described in the original film as "an energy field created by all living things ... [that] binds the galaxy together". The field is depicted as a kind of pantheistic god. Through training and meditation, those whom "the Force is strong with" exhibit various superpowers (such as telekinesis , precognition , telepathy , and manipulation of physical energy); it is believed nothing
6125-644: The Force, a beneficial and defensive power, to maintain peace in the galaxy. The Sith, on the other hand, harness the dark side, a harmful and destructive power, for their personal use and to dominate the galaxy. Since the acquisition of Lucasfilm by the Walt Disney Company , there are two Star Wars universes: "Legends" and "Canon." They share the six original films and the television series The Clone Wars . The Legends universe additionally incorporates complementary stories presented in books, comics, TV movies, or games released before 2014. The Canon universe, on
6250-525: The Jedi. He is caught up by Luke and C-3PO, but they fall into an ambush by Tusken Raiders. They are saved at the last moment by Kenobi, who takes them to his home. Darth Vader brings Leia Organa back to the Death Star, where she is imprisoned. Since the Imperial Senate was dissolved shortly before by the Emperor , she no longer enjoys the protection afforded to senators. Grand Moff Tarkin interrogates
6375-476: The Lars farm, they find a massacre; Imperial troops have murdered Luke's uncle and aunt. Consequently, he decides to accompany Kenobi and the two droids to Alderaan. In Mos Eisley , they meet Han Solo and Chewbacca , owners of the Millennium Falcon . The smugglers are hired to discreetly take them to their destination. However, they are found by stormtroopers , forcing them to leave the planet in haste. On board
SECTION 50
#17328761557966500-488: The Marvel magazine Pizzazz between 1977 and 1979. The 1977 installments were the first original Star Wars stories not directly adapted from the films to appear in print form, as they preceded those of the Star Wars comic series. From 1985 to 1987, the animated children's series Ewoks and Droids inspired comic series from Marvel's Star Comics line. According to Marvel Comics former Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter ,
6625-454: The Rebel assault. The Simpsons animated series has parodied the Battle of Yavin on several occasions. In the episode " My Sister, My Sitter " from Season 8, Bart hears his dance teacher's voice in his head advising him to use dance in the same way Obi-Wan Kenobi advises Luke Skywalker to use the Force before destroying the Death Star. Similarly, in the episode " Pygmoelian " from Season 11, Patty says to Selma , " The bitterness
6750-439: The Sith and A New Hope , players can control either the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance . At one point, they find themselves replaying the battle around Yavin while controlling one of these two factions. In Star Wars: X-Wing , released in 1993, players embody Luke Skywalker and must destroy the Death Star. In Star Wars: Rogue Squadron , released in 1998, players take on the role of Luke Skywalker and can unlock
6875-538: The TIE Advanced X1, which is faster, more powerful, and tailored to the dimensions of the Sith Lord's armor. The Rebel forces consist of two squadrons. The "Gold Squadron", commanded by Jon "Dutch" Vander, consists of eight Y-wing interceptors, which are used primarily for bombing missions. It is accompanied by the "Red Squadron", led by Garven Dreis and composed of eight X-wing interceptors . They are supported by
7000-643: The Wookiee language Shyriiwook. He first appears in the original Star Wars film as the loyal friend of the smuggler Han Solo . He is also the co-pilot of Han's starship, the Millennium Falcon . Chewbacca is portrayed by Peter Mayhew in the original film trilogy , the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), and Revenge of the Sith (2005). Mayhew shares the Chewbacca role with his body double, Joonas Suotamo , in The Force Awakens (2015). Following Mayhew's retirement in 2017, Suotamo took over
7125-510: The X-wings accompanied by R2-D2 . As they approach the Death Star, a group of TIE fighters intercepts them. The "Red Squadron" engages in combat with them, allowing the Y-wings of the "Gold Squadron" to enter the trench toward the exhaust port. However, they are destroyed by Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1 fighter. The Sith Lord participates in the battle to protect the station, forcing the X-wings of
7250-709: The announcement. Since the new canon has been introduced, there has been a multitude of pieces of Expanded Universe continuity that have become a part of canon. Star Wars in print predates the release of the first film, with the November 1976 novelization of Star Wars , initially subtitled " From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker ". Credited to Lucas, it was ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster . The first "Expanded Universe" story appeared in Marvel Comics ' Star Wars #7 in January 1978 (the first six issues being an adaptation of
7375-455: The commanders of these two squadrons were shot down during the fighting. Following the loss of the battle station, the Empire initiates the construction of a second Death Star . This one is under construction around the forest moon of Endor and is more than twice the size of the first. With the rebel headquarters discovered on Yavin 4 , they are forced to relocate to another planet. They decide to settle on Hoth, an icy planet located in
7500-453: The construction of the battle station until its completion nearly twenty years later. It is intended to quell any dissent against the Empire. From the Empire's inception, small groups rebel against its authority, including Saw Gerrera and his team, as well as the crew of the Ghost . Over time, some of these cells unite to form the Rebel Alliance . Engineer Galen Erso , who participates in
7625-542: The crew of the thief Tobias Beckett , and make several attempts to steal coaxium for the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate. On Kessel, Chewbacca frees several other Wookiees from slavery. During the Kessel Run—in which Han flies the Falcon through a cloudy maelstrom—Chewbacca reveals his skill as a pilot. Near the end of the film, Beckett turns traitor and captures Chewbacca. After Han saves his friend and kills Beckett, he wins
SECTION 60
#17328761557967750-575: The design of the Death Star, embeds a flaw that can destroy the entire station. He manages to contact the rebel Saw Gerrera so that his daughter, Jyn Erso , can retrieve the station's plans and destroy it. With the help of the Rebel Alliance, Jyn and her team, named Rogue One, infiltrate the Scarif base where the Imperial archives are located. A fierce battle ensues on the surface between the assault group and
7875-414: The destruction of the battle station was embellished with a circular shockwave. In addition to its official appearances in novels , novelizations , films , and television series , the Battle of Yavin appears in various other Star Wars universe derivative products. The Battle of Yavin is featured in numerous video games. In Star Wars: Empire at War , released in 2006 and set between Revenge of
8000-416: The earlier animated series falling under Disney's "Vintage" collection of Star Wars content. The Star Wars franchise includes several live-action series. The first series, The Mandalorian , was released in 2019 for the streaming service Disney+ and is set between the original and sequel trilogies of the Skywalker Saga. Due to its success, the series spawned multiple live-action spin-offs set during
8125-592: The end of the film, Chewbacca receives a medal from Maz. Suotamo portrays Chewbacca in the 2018 standalone film Solo: A Star Wars Story , which details the Wookiee's first meeting with Han. He was captured by Imperials on the planet Mimban, and is being held captive in a small pit. Han, considered a "troublemaker" by the Imperials, is thrown into the pit to be eaten by Chewbacca. The Wookiee attacks Han, but stops when Han reveals he can speak Shyriiwook. Chewbacca and Han form an instant bond and escape their captors. They join
8250-399: The episodic films, The Clone Wars film , and television series . From 1976 to 2014, the term Expanded Universe (EU) was an umbrella term for all officially licensed Star Wars storytelling material set outside the events depicted within the theatrical films, including novels, comics, and video games. Lucasfilm maintained internal continuity between the films and television content and
8375-495: The evil Sith lord Palpatine (Darth Sidious). The original trilogy depicts the heroic development of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi and his fight against Palpatine's Galactic Empire alongside his sister, Leia . The prequels tell the tragic backstory of their father, Anakin , who is corrupted by Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader . The sequels follow the conflict between Leia's son, Ben Solo , and Luke and Leia's protegé, Rey , and their eventual alliance against Palpatine after
8500-457: The fall of the Empire. In 1971, George Lucas wanted to film an adaptation of the Flash Gordon serial , but could not obtain the rights, so he began developing his own space opera . After directing American Graffiti (1973), he wrote a two-page synopsis, which 20th Century Fox decided to invest in. By 1974, he had expanded the story into the first draft of a screenplay. Fox expected
8625-401: The film in which it appears, as well as in several novels , video games , and comics . The Star Wars universe unfolds in a galaxy inhabited by humans and numerous extraterrestrial species. It is the stage for conflicts between Jedi knights and Sith lords , individuals sensitive to the Force , a mysterious energy field that grants them psychic abilities. The Jedi master the light side of
8750-474: The film would be of limited financial success, and so it was given a relatively low budget, with production being moved to Elstree Studios in England to help save on cost. Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977, and first subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in the 1979 book The Art of Star Wars . The film's success led Lucas to make it the basis of an elaborate film serial . With the backstory he created for
8875-646: The film), followed by Foster's sequel novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye the following month. After penning the novelization of the original film, Foster followed it with the sequel Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1978). The novelizations of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) by Donald F. Glut and Return of the Jedi (1983) by James Kahn followed, as well as The Han Solo Adventures trilogy (1979–1980) by Brian Daley , and The Adventures of Lando Calrissian trilogy (1983) by L. Neil Smith . Timothy Zahn 's bestselling Thrawn trilogy (1991–1993) reignited interest in
9000-609: The first two releases. Together with the theatrical live action "anthology" films Rogue One (2016) and Solo (2018), the combined box office revenue of the films equate to over US$ 10 billion, making Star Wars the third-highest-grossing film franchise of all time. The Star Wars franchise depicts the adventures of characters "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" across multiple fictional eras , in which humans and many species of aliens (often humanoid ) co-exist with droids , which may be programmed for personal assistance or battle. Space travel between planets
9125-463: The forces on-site, and in space between the rebel fleet and the Imperial reinforcements led by the Sith Darth Vader . Jyn Erso succeeds in transmitting the Death Star plans to the orbiting ships, but the battle station fires its superlaser on the planet's surface, leaving no survivors. The Tantive IV commanded by Princess Leia Organa receives the plans and escapes. On Toprawa , where
9250-521: The franchise and introduced the popular characters Grand Admiral Thrawn , Mara Jade , Talon Karrde , and Gilad Pellaeon . The first novel, Heir to the Empire , reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list , and the series finds Luke, Leia, and Han facing off against tactical genius Thrawn, who is plotting to retake the galaxy for the Empire. In The Courtship of Princess Leia (1994) by Dave Wolverton , set immediately before
9375-404: The franchise as "the tragedy of Darth Vader". Prior to releasing the original 1977 film, and made possible by its success, Lucas planned "three trilogies of nine films". However, he announced to Time in 1978 that he planned "10 sequels". He confirmed that he had outlined the prequels and sequels in 1981. At various stages of development, the sequel trilogy was to focus on the rebuilding of
9500-406: The franchise. The Legends works comprise a separate narrative universe. Chewbacca appears in the novel trilogies The Han Solo Adventures (1979–1980), The Black Fleet Crisis (1996–1997) and The Han Solo Trilogy (1997–1998), as well as the novels Heirs of the Force (1995), Vector Prime (1999), and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (2005). Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
9625-621: The gap between the High Republic publishing initiative and the events of The Acolyte . Titled Star Wars: The Acolyte – Kelnacca , the one-shot was written by High Republic writer Cavan Scott with art by Marika Cresta. It focuses on Kelnacca, the Wookiee Jedi introduced in The Acolyte . John Williams composed the soundtracks for the nine episodic films. He stated he would retire from the franchise with The Rise of Skywalker , but he composed
9750-474: The hands of other filmmakers, announcing in January 2012 that he would make no more Star Wars films. That October, the Walt Disney Company agreed to buy Lucasfilm and announced that Episode VII would be released in 2015. The co-chairman of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy , became president and served as executive producer of new Star Wars feature films. Lucas provided Kennedy his story treatments for
9875-418: The late 1980s and early 1990s, including the ability to create computer-generated imagery (CGI), inspired Lucas to consider that it might be possible to revisit his saga. In 1989, Lucas stated that the prequels would be "unbelievably expensive". In 1992, he acknowledged that he had plans to create the prequel trilogy. A theatrical rerelease of the original trilogy in 1997 " updated " the 20-year-old films with
10000-549: The main episodes of the Skywalker Saga entered development in parallel with the production of the sequel trilogy, described by Disney chief financial officer Jay Rasulo as origin stories . The first film released was 2016's Rogue One , which tells the story of the rebels who steal the plans for the Death Star , the Galactic Empire 's superweapon, just before the events of the original Star Wars film. A second film, 2018's Solo , tells Han Solo's backstory, set 10 years prior to A New Hope . The series Obi-Wan Kenobi
10125-535: The mannerisms of animals he observed in public zoos. In his 1997 review of the Special Edition re-release of The Empire Strikes Back , the film critic Roger Ebert declared that of all the characters, Chewbacca gave the worst performance. He wrote: "This character was thrown into the first film as window dressing, was never thought through, and as a result has been saddled with one facial expression and one mournful yelp. Much more could have been done. How can you be
10250-468: The most tension. Similarly, the website PubSquare Media also ranks the Battle of Yavin in the first position. However, the website Looper only ranks it in fifth place, as it considers it to be a small battle between two Rebel squadrons and a few Imperial fighters. Several fans have attempted to calculate the number of casualties resulting from the explosion of the Death Star at the end of the Battle of Yavin. The figures vary as sources do not always provide
10375-485: The movie material, while others rely heavily on the non-canonical Expanded Universe (rebranded as Star Wars Legends and removed from the canon in 2014). Star Wars games have gone through three significant development eras, marked by a change in leadership among the developers: the early licensed games, those developed after the creation of LucasArts, and those created after the closure of the Lucasfilm division by Disney and
10500-502: The nine films of which are collectively referred to as the " Skywalker Saga ". The saga was produced non-chronologically, beginning in media res with the release of the original trilogy between 1977 and 1983. This was followed by the prequel trilogy, released between 1999 and 2005, and the sequel trilogy, released between 2015 and 2019. Each trilogy focuses on a generation of the Force -sensitive Skywalker family and their struggle against
10625-451: The nine-film series plotted, but due to the stress of producing the original trilogy, he had decided to cancel further sequels by 1981. In 1983, Lucas explained that "There was never a script completed that had the entire story as it exists now ... As the stories unfolded, I would take certain ideas and save them ... I kept taking out all the good parts, and I just kept telling myself I would make other movies someday." Technical advances in
10750-428: The orbit of the gas giant planet Yavin , near one of its natural satellites , Yavin 4 . It also unfolds around the Death Star , extending into one of its trenches. The Imperial forces consist of the Death Star , a mobile battle station capable of destroying entire planets, equipped with numerous TIE fighters , the Empire's primary combat vessel and a symbol of its power. Darth Vader pilots an upgraded version,
10875-466: The original film and a new narration to retell the story, released in 1977. Most later printed novels were adapted into audio novels, usually released on cassette tape and re-released on CD. As of 2019, audio-only novels have been released not directly based on printed media. Radio adaptations of the films were also produced. Lucas, a fan of the NPR-affiliated campus radio station of his alma mater
11000-461: The other hand, encompasses the stories from the films and other materials released since 2014. Several years before the Clone Wars , the Confederacy of Independent Systems begins developing a weapon capable of destroying entire planets: the Death Star . Following the war in 19 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), the Galactic Republic is reformed into an Empire , and Grand Moff Tarkin oversees
11125-493: The outer reaches of the galaxy, crime syndicates such as the Hutt cartel are dominant. Bounty hunters are often employed by both gangsters and governments, while illicit activities include smuggling and slavery . The combination of science fiction and fantasy elements makes Star Wars a very universal franchise, capable of telling stories of various genres. The Star Wars film series centers around three sets of trilogies,
11250-541: The passenger seat of his car while he was driving, and he referred to her as his "co-pilot". Chewbacca's name was derived from the Russian word sobaka ( собака ), which means "dog". In France, his name was changed in the original French-language release of Star Wars . He was called Chiktabba , and his nickname was Chico . The Chewbacca costume used in the original trilogy and the Star Wars Holiday Special
11375-633: The planet Ahch-To . Suotamo portrays Chewbacca in The Last Jedi (2017), which takes place immediately after The Force Awakens . While Rey attempts to convince Luke to train her, Chewbacca develops a relationship with some seabirds known as Porgs. Later on, Chewbacca and Rey help the Resistance by using the Falcon to distract First Order TIE fighters. Chewbacca returns in The Rise of Skywalker (2019), again played by Suotamo. He and his companions travel to
11500-466: The planet Passana, where they search for a clue to the location of a Sith wayfinder. With the help of Lando, they locate the clue, but are quickly found by the First Order. While Rey confronts Kylo, Chewbacca is captured and taken aboard a transport. Rey uses the Force to arrest the flight of the transport she mistakenly believes Chewbacca is on. She accidentally destroys the ship with Force lightning , and believes she has killed Chewbacca, who in reality
11625-405: The princess, wanting to know the Rebel Alliance's headquarters location. He threatens to open fire on Alderaan , where Leia Organa grew up. She tells him that the Rebel base is on Dantooine . Despite this, Tarkin orders the planet's destruction before her eyes. On Tatooine, Luke learns that his father was a Jedi Knight; Obi-Wan gives him his former apprentice's lightsaber . When they return to
11750-595: The rebel base is located, to deliver the Death Star plans contained within R2-D2. They are analyzed by the Alliance engineers, and the vulnerability is discovered. However, the Empire had placed a tracking beacon on the Falcon when it was still aboard the station. This allows Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader to know the exact position of the rebel headquarters and therefore to send the Death Star to destroy it. The battle takes place in
11875-429: The rebels have discovered. When it is in orbit around Yavin, they send all their ships in a desperate attack to destroy it. This leads to battles with Imperial fighters commanded by Darth Vader . Using the Force , Luke Skywalker manages to reach the vulnerability and destroy the battle station without leaving any survivors, although Darth Vader flees and lives to fight another day. For the Rebel Alliance, this battle
12000-442: The role, appearing in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Suotamo also plays Chewbacca in the standalone film Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018). Chewbacca also appears in animated series, novels, comics, and video games. George Lucas invented many fictional characters while writing the original 1977 Star Wars film. Chewbacca was inspired by his dog, an Alaskan Malamute named Indiana. She would sit in
12125-431: The same fictional era, including The Book of Boba Fett , released in 2021; Ahsoka , released in 2023; and the upcoming Skeleton Crew . These series follow the plight of the New Republic and its allies against the remnants of the fallen Galactic Empire . A story focused on Obi-Wan Kenobi was planned as a film before becoming a live-action series after the box office failure of Solo in 2018. The series
12250-425: The same number of people on board. Estimates suggest it to be around one million. On YouTube , a channel imagined what the Death Star's laser light would look like if it existed in reality. In the video, the laser light is not green but transparent, making it invisible. It is also depicted as capable of quickly changing targets, rendering it more dangerous than in the fictional universe. Another channel recreated
12375-496: The same year, Bob Iger announced that the film would be the first release of the next slate of Star Wars movies. The Mandalorian & Grogu is scheduled for release on May 22, 2026. Lucasfilm has a number of Star Wars films in various stages of development, including: The first two animated series, Droids and Ewoks , were produced in the 1980s. They were followed by the Clone Wars animated micro-series in 2003 and
12500-451: The scavenger Rey and the droid BB-8 escape from a gang of mercenaries, then fly to the castle of Maz Kanata so she can help them deliver BB-8 to the Resistance . While they are at Maz's castle, the First Order arrives and captures Rey. Chewbacca and the others fly to a Resistance base, where Chewbacca and Han reunite with Leia and C-3PO . They also soon reunite with Rey, who escaped from
12625-419: The second Death Star's shield generator, which is located on Endor . During a battle, Chewbacca commandeers an AT-ST walker , which contributes to the mission's success. At the end of the film, Chewbacca and the other Rebels celebrate the destruction of the Death Star and the fall of the Empire. In Revenge of the Sith (2005), Chewbacca and his fellow Wookiee Tarfful fight in the Clone Wars when Kashyyyk
12750-460: The sequel, Lucas decided that the series would be a trilogy of trilogies. Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21, 1980, also achieving wide financial and critical success. The final film in the trilogy, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi , was released on May 25, 1983. According to producer Gary Kurtz, loose plans for a prequel trilogy were developed during the outlining of the original two films. In 1980, Lucas confirmed that he had
12875-735: The sequels during the 2012 sale, but in 2015 it was revealed Lucas's sequel outline had been discarded. The sequel trilogy also meant the end of the Star Wars Expanded Universe stories, which were discarded from canon to give "maximum creative freedom to the filmmakers and also preserve an element of surprise and discovery for the audience." Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released on December 16, 2015, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi on December 13, 2017, and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker on December 18, 2019, in many countries. The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi were both critical and box office successes. Episode IX received
13000-461: The series was set 25 to 30 years after the original films and introduced the Yuuzhan Vong, a powerful alien race attempting to invade and conquer the entire galaxy. The bestselling multi-author series Legacy of the Force (2006–2008) chronicles the crossover of Han and Leia's son Jacen Solo to the dark side of the Force; among his evil deeds, he kills Luke's wife Mara Jade as a sacrifice to join
13125-440: The space station, Grand Moff Tarkin learns that there is only an abandoned old base on Dantooine. He tortures the princess to make her confess the truth. At the same time, the Millennium Falcon exits hyperspace into an asteroid field. The crew realizes that the planet has been destroyed. They follow TIE fighters heading towards a moon. When they realize it's not a moon but the Death Star, it's already too late; they are caught in
13250-443: The strong sales of Star Wars comics saved Marvel financially in 1977 and 1978. Marvel's Star Wars series was one of the industry's top selling titles in 1979 and 1980. The only downside for Marvel was that the 100,000 copy sales quota was surpassed quickly, allowing Lippincott to renegotiate the royalty arrangements from a position of strength. In the late 1980s, Marvel dropped a new Star Wars comic it had in development, which
13375-417: The style of CGI envisioned for the new trilogy. Episode I: The Phantom Menace was released on May 19, 1999, Episode II: Attack of the Clones on May 16, 2002, and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith on May 19, 2005. The first two films were met with mixed reviews, with the third being received somewhat more positively. Together with the original trilogy, Lucas has referred to the first six episodic films of
13500-458: The surface of the Death Star. Many action figures depict characters from the Battle of Yavin. For instance, in 2012, Hasbro released action figures featuring certain pilots from the "Red Squadron" and the Empire. In 2004 and 2005, action figures depicting Wedge Antilles , General Jan Dodonna , and Dutch Vander , the leader of the "Gold Squadron," were also released. Lego has produced spherical figurines of various planets and moons, with
13625-451: The three-part Dark Empire saga, Tales of the Jedi , Dark Lords of the Sith , the Dark Forces trilogy, and Crimson Empire (1998). Return of the Jedi was adapted into 6-episodes in 1996, featuring Daniels. The Star Wars franchise has spawned over one hundred computer, video, and board games, dating back to some of the earliest home consoles . Some are based directly on
13750-486: The title Star Wars: Master and Apprentice . Although Thrawn had been designated a Legends character in 2014, he was reintroduced into the canon in 2016 for the third season of the Rebels animated series, with Zahn returning to write more novels based on the character and set in the new canon. Marvel Comics published a Star Wars comic book series from 1977 to 1986. Original Star Wars comics were serialized in
13875-454: The transfer of the license to Electronic Arts . Battle of Yavin In a previous battle, the rebels managed to steal the plans for the Death Star , a gigantic Imperial battle station equipped with a laser capable of destroying planets. However, the Empire has discovered the location of the rebel base on Yavin 4 and intends to destroy it using its new weapon. The Death Star has a vulnerability that
14000-656: The transport joins a group of Rebel fighters and takes part in the assault against the third Death Star . This attraction, no longer in existence, was replaced by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue . It was present in Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort in the United States until 2010, at Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan until 2012, and at Disneyland Paris in France until 2016. The website Screen Rant ranks
14125-464: The trench run scene using animated Lego figurines. The creators took some liberties, including the presence of ships that would not normally be there. In a spoof of 9/11 conspiracy theories , some fans have made tongue-in-cheek speculations that the Death Star's destruction was actually deliberately caused, or at least allowed to happen, by the Galactic Empire itself, rather than as the result of
14250-457: The web series Forces of Destiny (2017–2018). He is featured in episodes 5 and 10 of season 1, and in episodes 6 and 12 of season 2. Chewbacca is featured in the novels Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo and Chewbacca Adventure (2015) and The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear (2018). He appears in the comics Chewbacca (2015), Life Day (2021) and Han Solo and Chewbacca (2022–2023). Chewbacca
14375-522: Was announced in January 2014 that in 2015 the Star Wars comics license would return to Marvel Comics, whose parent company, Marvel Entertainment , Disney had purchased in 2009. Launched in 2015, the first three publications were titled Star Wars , Darth Vader , and the miniseries Princess Leia . First announced as Project Luminous at Star Wars Celebration in April 2019, the Star Wars: The High Republic publishing initiative
14500-413: Was cast primarily for his height of 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). In Star Wars , Chewbacca and Han Solo are smugglers who accept a charter to transport Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi to the planet Alderaan aboard their ship, the Millennium Falcon . When they find the planet obliterated by the Death Star , Chewbacca and Han help their passengers rescue Princess Leia and take her to
14625-420: Was constructed, and the actors portraying the pilots took turns sitting in it while the droid behind them was replaced. Some scenes of the battle were enhanced with digital special effects in the 1997 and 2004 re-releases of the film. For example, the number of rebel ships approaching the Death Star was increased, and the space battle sequences were refined, with the explosions being reworked. The scene depicting
14750-725: Was followed by the comic series Star Wars: Chewbacca , in which C-3PO and R2-D2 travel the galaxy collecting stories of beings who knew or met the Wookiee. Chewbacca in the StarWars .com Databank Star Wars Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas , which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media , including television series , video games , novels , comic books , theme park attractions , and themed areas , comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe . Star Wars
14875-451: Was made from yak hair, rabbit hair and mohair . For The Force Awakens , multiple Chewbacca suits were crafted from yak hair, Lycra and a small amount of mohair. Chewbacca's voice was created by Ben Burtt , the sound designer for the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy. He generated the Wookiee's vocalizations by mixing together recordings of four bears, a badger, a lion, a seal, and a walrus. Mayhew modeled his performance of Chewbacca on
15000-477: Was on a different transport. Deeply shaken by the apparent death of the Wookiee, Rey and the others pledge to continue the mission in his memory. Later on, Chewbacca's friends realize he is alive, and manage to rescue him. When they return to the Resistance base, they learn of Leia's death, and Chewbacca is distraught. He then helps Lando recruit citizens from across the galaxy to defeat the Sith Eternal forces. Near
15125-411: Was originally planned as a film, but changed to a miniseries due to Solo underperforming at the box office. In April 2023, three new Star Wars films were announced to be set within different eras of the franchise. An untitled film written and directed by James Mangold will be set during the "dawn of the Jedi". Dave Filoni will direct a film set between the original and sequel trilogies during
15250-528: Was picked up by Dark Horse Comics and published as the popular Dark Empire series (1991–1995). Dark Horse subsequently launched dozens of series set after the original film trilogy, including Tales of the Jedi (1993–1998), X-wing Rogue Squadron (1995–1998), Star Wars: Republic (1998–2006), Star Wars Tales (1999–2005), Star Wars: Empire (2002–2006), and Knights of the Old Republic (2006–2010). After Disney's acquisition of Lucasfilm, it
15375-528: Was released on Disney+ in 2022 and is set between the prequel and original trilogy films. It was followed by the live-action series Andor in the same year; both series follow their titular characters during the reign of the Empire. The Acolyte is a series created by Leslye Headland set at the end of the High Republic era before the events of the Skywalker Saga , and follows an investigation into
15500-473: Was revealed in a press conference in February 2020. Involving the majority of the then current officially licensed publishers, a new era set 200 years before the Skywalker Saga was explored in various books and comics. Including ongoing titles by Marvel and IDW Publishing, written by Cavan Scott and Daniel José Older respectively. Marvel Comics will publish a one-shot comic book on September 4, 2024, that bridges
15625-503: Was subsequently restructured to only include the existing six feature films, the animated film The Clone Wars (2008), and its companion animated series. All future projects and creative developments across all types of media would be overseen and coordinated by the story group, announced as a division of Lucasfilm created to maintain continuity and a cohesive vision on the storytelling of the franchise. Multiple comics series from Marvel and novels published by Del Rey were produced after
#795204