Everything Everywhere Daily

Episode: Star Wars
Host: Gary Arndt
Date: September 15, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Gary Arndt explores the revolutionary impact of Star Wars on filmmaking and the film industry. He delves into the origins of the saga, the creative inspirations and challenges faced by George Lucas, and how Star Wars redefined technical, narrative, and business aspects of Hollywood. The episode also highlights the film's unprecedented merchandising success and its ongoing influence on global pop culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of Star Wars (06:12–10:40)

• George Lucas’s Early Career

  • Lucas graduated from USC's School of Cinematic Arts; made experimental shorts like Electronic Labyrinth, THX 1138 4EB.
  • First studio feature, THX 1138, wasn’t a box office hit.
  • Success came with American Graffiti (1973), a coming-of-age film that established Lucas in Hollywood.

• Inspiration and the Hero’s Journey

  • Lucas was inspired by:
    • Joseph Campbell’s idea of “the hero’s journey”
    • Akira Kurosawa’s samurai films (The Hidden Fortress)
    • Classic Westerns and WWII dogfight movies
    • 1930s-40s adventure serials (like Flash Gordon)
  • His goal: “A new myth for modern audiences, particularly younger viewers who he felt lacked a shared mythology.” (09:12)

• Script Evolution

  • Early drafts featured “Luke Starkiller” and other markedly different characters.
  • Through rewrites, the story became a classic good vs. evil tale, centered on Luke Skywalker.
  • By 1975, core characters and the trilogy-focused story were in place.

2. Groundbreaking Deals & Production (10:41–21:16)

• Studio Negotiations

  • Lucas accepted a significantly lower director’s salary ($150,000 vs. $500,000) to retain sequel control and all merchandising rights.
  • “[Merchandising] was one of the greatest contract negotiations in the history of the movie industry.” (23:57)

• Casting Choices

  • Sought mostly unknown actors:
    • Luke Skywalker: Cast Mark Hamill after considering William Catt, Kurt Russell.
    • Han Solo: Harrison Ford was only supposed to read lines; won the part.
    • Leia: Carrie Fisher chosen for her chemistry and right age.
    • Obi-Wan Kenobi: Alec Guinness, initially skeptical (“fairy tale rubbish”), accepted the role in exchange for a percentage of the gross, earning up to $70M from the film. (15:26)
    • Darth Vader: David Prowse (body), James Earl Jones (voice); Orson Welles was considered but deemed “too recognizable.” (17:11)

• Technical Innovations

  • Lucas founded Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) to create new special effects.
  • New camera systems for spaceship miniatures.
  • Ben Burtt’s sound design: iconic sound effects like lightsaber hum, Chewbacca’s roar, Vader’s breathing.
  • Filming was plagued with problems, including desert storms in Tunisia and effects delays.

3. Release, Impact, and Cultural Revolution (21:17–29:11)

• Immediate Success

  • Released May 25, 1977: “It was an immediate cultural phenomenon. Audiences had never seen anything like it.” (22:06)
  • Quickly became the highest-grossing film of its time, earning 10 Oscar nominations and 6 wins (including Best Visual Effects, Score, Editing).

• Merchandising Boom

  • Kenner’s toy licensing deal led to the famous “early bird certificate package” for Christmas 1977 due to overwhelming demand.
  • Star Wars toys have generated over $20 billion in sales. “This…is what made George Lucas fantastically wealthy.” (24:26)

• Independence & Sequels

  • Lucas self-financed The Empire Strikes Back using merchandising profits—a risky leap that gave him full creative control.
  • “If the movie had failed, Lucas could have lost everything.” (26:02)
  • The original film was re-released as “Episode IV: A New Hope” in 1981—just the first of many changes made to the films over the years.

4. Ongoing Evolution and Legacy (29:12–33:48)

• Editing and Special Editions

  • Lucas’s view: “Films are never truly finished, but only abandoned.” (30:30)
  • Numerous revisions to the original trilogy: Special Editions (1997), DVD, Blu-ray, streaming.
  • Changes ranged from color correction to controversial edits (e.g., “Han shot first”).

• Expanding the Universe

  • Lucas focused on expanding the saga through novels, comics, and games (the Expanded Universe).
  • By the late 1990s, with advanced CGI, he directed the prequel trilogy:
    • The Phantom Menace (1999): Huge anticipation, advanced digital effects.
    • Attack of the Clones (2002): Pioneered digital cinematography, explored the Republic’s decline.
    • Revenge of the Sith (2005): Anakin’s fall and Empire’s rise.

• Disney Acquisition and Modern Era

  • In 2012, Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $4.05 billion.
  • Disney produced new sequels, spinoffs, and series, taking the franchise to new generations.

5. How Star Wars Changed Hollywood Forever (33:49–38:12)

• Blockbuster Model

  • Though Jaws (1975) is credited as the first blockbuster, Star Wars “cemented the model.”
  • Became a template for blockbuster releases—summer timing, event status, extended runs.

• Franchise and Merchandising Revolution

  • Created a self-sustaining storytelling and merchandising model:
    • “[Before Star Wars,] sequels were often considered cheap cash-ins and film merchandising was almost an afterthought. Lucas flipped this…” (36:47)
  • Paved the way for franchises like Batman, Harry Potter, Marvel Cinematic Universe.

• Technical Innovations

  • ILM set new industry standards for visual effects, pioneering CGI.
  • Compared to contemporaries (e.g., 1976’s Logan’s Run), Star Wars made previous effects look “almost amateurish.” (35:23)

• Enduring Cultural Impact

  • To date, Star Wars has earned over $10 billion in box office, with far greater totals from merchandise and expanded materials.
  • “It revolutionized the art, science and business of filmmaking in ways that can still be felt in cinema today.” (37:56)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “George Lucas wanted to create a new myth for modern audiences, particularly younger viewers who he felt lacked a shared mythology.” (09:12)
• “Alec Guinness was initially skeptical of the script—which he called ‘fairy tale rubbish’—but his contract earned him up to $70 million, far more than any of his other roles.” (15:26)
• “The original idea was to have Darth Vader be voiced by Orson Welles, but Lucas felt he was too recognizable.” (17:11)
• “It was one of the greatest contract negotiations in the history of the movie industry.” (23:57)
• “If the movie had failed, Lucas could have lost everything. But this independence gave him total creative control...” (26:02)
• “Films are never truly finished, but only abandoned.” (30:30)
• “Before Star Wars, sequels were often considered cheap cash-ins and film merchandising was almost an afterthought. Lucas flipped this…” (36:47)
• “It can be argued that Star Wars is the most important film in the history of the motion picture industry because it wasn’t just a cultural phenomenon that made a lot of money. It revolutionized the art, science and business of filmmaking in ways that can still be felt in cinema today.” (37:56)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 06:12 — Lucas’s early career and inspirations
• 09:12 — Creation of a modern myth, script evolution
• 10:41 — Studio negotiations, casting, and Alec Guinness’s contract
• 15:26 — Unique deals for actors and voice casting
• 17:11 — Technical innovations: ILM, sound effects, filming challenges
• 21:17 — Star Wars release, Oscar success, immediate cultural impact
• 23:57 — Merchandising deals and explosion
• 26:02 — Financing and creative control for The Empire Strikes Back
• 30:30 — The philosophy of ongoing edits and Special Editions
• 33:49 — Star Wars as the blockbuster/franchise model
• 36:47 — Franchise merchandising as a new standard
• 37:56 — Star Wars’ legacy as the most important film in motion picture history

Final Thoughts

Gary Arndt’s episode on Star Wars provides a concise, informative journey through the saga’s creation, its creative and business revolutions, and its seismic impact upon global culture and Hollywood itself. From Lucas’s inspirations and struggles to the lasting industry changes, this story highlights Star Wars as a singular cinematic phenomenon—one whose echoes are still felt across the entertainment world.