A nod to one of the most famous science fiction films of all time
It is clear that Star Wars – Episode I: The Phantom Menace It is not the best film in the galactic franchise created by George Lucas in the late 70s, but there does not seem to be any doubt that the film, the first of the prequel trilogy released between 1999 and 2005, hides the best cameo of the entire saga. However, it is very possible that you have never seen it.
The film, led among others by Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Queen Amidala respectively, arrived amid great expectations in 1999, 16 years after the premiere of Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and again under the direction of George Lucas. And although neither the film nor the prequel trilogy achieved the unanimous acclaim of their predecessors, they did. It turned out to be a real commercial success – 1 billion dollars – and a dream come true for the creator of the most famous galactic franchise of all time. As it is well known, Lucas always had a clear vision of what he wanted to do and that is why he waited the years it took to have the right technology. that allowed him to carry out the first episodes of the saga.
First episode of the saga and first film of the second trilogy, often known as the prequel trilogy, The Phantom Menace It narrated the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith, as well as the beginning of the story of Anakin Skywalker, whom we knew when he was just a child.
Lucas did not hesitate to introduce some ‘easter eggs’ in your beloved movie and one of them is related to a famous science fiction character but who had nothing to do with Star Wars although now his species is canon in the franchise: the main character of Steven Spielberg’s film ET the alienwhose race appears in one of the film’s scenes.
The alien species to which the protagonist of ET belonged takes place during the meeting of the Galactic Senate of the Republic, in which Padmé (Portman) asks for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum (Terence Stamp), which paves the way for Sheev Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) ends up becoming Chancellor of the Republic.
The species, known in Star Wars canon as Asogianoscan be intercepted at the exact minute 1 hour 29 minutes and 11 secondsbottom left of the screen.
And a closer look:
Why did Lucas introduce Spielberg’s race into his franchise? Although there is no direct relationship between the director and the famous 1982 film, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are great friends and collaborators and belong to the same generation of directors that in the late 70s and 80s provided some of the films that would change the industry and that would become a great influence on what would come later.
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg carried out the franchise together Indiana Jones and, it seems, Lucas was always interested in his friend directing Star Wars at some point. Finally it was a little like that in the Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, since Spielberg was invited to make some suggestions and supervise some scenes. In addition, ET the alien It also hides some nods to George Lucas’ star franchise.
