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9 things you probably didn't know about Star Wars

How many of the Star Wars films were made in the UK?

Published 14th Dec 2015

It's not long until the seventh Star Wars film is released, but do you know how many of the films have been made here in the UK?

We can reveal the answer to this and eight other facts that you probably didn't know about the fantastic franchise.

  1. All seven Star Wars films have been made in the UK: A New Hope - Elstree & Shepperton Studios The Empire Strikes Back - Elstree Studios Return of the Jedi - Elstree Studios The Phantom Menace - Leavesden Studios Attack of the Clones - Ealing & Elstree Studios Revenge of the Sith - Elstree & Shepperton Studios The Force Awakens - Pinewood Studios 2. Darth Vader’s helmet was crafted by British sculptor, Brian Muir, becoming one of the most iconic costume pieces in movie history. 3. The lightsaber was made by Briton Roger Christian for less than £10 out of assorted spare parts. Christian went on to win the Oscar for Best Art Direction – Set Decoration for the original Star Wars: A New Hope in 1978. 4. The only full-scale model of the Millennium Falcon was built in an airplane hangar in Welsh military town Pembroke Dock in 1979 for The Empire Strikes Back; the team was sworn to secrecy, and the project was code-named Magic Roundabout. 5. The interiors of the original Millennium Falcon were decorated by Roger Christian in Britain, using old aeroplane parts. 6. John Williams’ Oscar-winning original score for Star Wars was recorded at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios by the London Symphony Orchestra. 7. Ewan McGregor followed in his uncle’s footsteps when taking the role of a young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Denis Lawson played Wedge Antilles in the original trilogy. 8. The original R2-D2 was built by British special effects experts John Stears and John Barry for the original Star Wars. 9. Two British Star Wars fans, Lee Towersey and Oliver Steeples, who were inspired to build their own Star Wars droids, became so skilled that they were employed by the filmmakers to build R2-D2 for The Force Awakens.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released in the UK on the 17th December.