Star Wars: The Ultimate Franchise Far, Far Away

Since it first burst onto the silver screen in 1977, the Star Wars universe has captured the imaginations of people around the world.

In a galaxy far, far away, droids, wookies, jedi and the force came together to create world that drew in fans both young old.

Now, many years after the original films were brought to life, May the 4th is still celebrated in every way imaginable. No matter how many years pass by or how many films are made, the love for Star Wars simply continues to grow.

Not only is Star Wars loved in film form, it’s grown to become the ultimate franchise with new mediums in every format on offer.

The Films

Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) was the movie which launched a thousand fandoms. More than just another “space movie”, it created a fire in fans that refuses to burn out.

Technically the fourth film in the franchise, it’s described as an epic space opera. Written and directed by George Lucas, the film features Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.

Next up in the original trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) continued the story of our heroes after (spoiler alert) the Death Star has been destroyed. The battle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance rages on.

The last instalment of the original films, Return of the Jedi (1983) sends Luke Skywalker on a mission to rescue Han Solo. We all love the handsome smuggler which makes this film one of the popular.

The prequel trilogy reignited the Star Wars universe after a 16-year break when The Phantom Menace (1999) was finally released. It told of an evil that returns to seek revenge while Anakin Walker shows off his strong bond with the Force.

While not the most popular films, as many still prefer the originals, Attack of the Clones (2002) was still a hit release. Featuring Jedi Knights and the beautiful Padmé Amidala, the film kept viewers wanting more.

Revenge of the Sith (2005) finished off the prequel trilogy and it’s here that we see the rise of Darth Vader. The inevitable downfall of Anakin Skywalker is a sad tale as he chooses the Dark Side.

From here on out, we blast through the final chapters of the Skywalker Saga with The Force Awakens, where we meet a new band of rogue heroes. Their tale continues in The Last Jedi where Rey finds the legendary Luke Skywalker and trains in the ways of the Force.

Finally, closing the story, we have The Rise of Skywalker. Not only do we see the new face of the Jedi take on the Dark Side, but we also say goodbye as she plays her final role as General Leia Organa before passing away.

The ultimate legacy, Carrie Fisher played the role of our favourite princess and general is her many years as Leia. She will always be remembered for her gold bikini, her feisty personality, and her love for the Star Wars universe.

Other films included standalone stories including Rogue One and Solo.

Books and Comics

If you’re looking to immerse yourself even further into the Star Wars universe, then you’re in luck.

There are literally hundreds of books for adults and children alike that tell an even deeper story of Star Wars and its many inhabitants and tales.

For those who have the urge to do so, you can learn everything there is to know about the world and its lore. Read the novelisations of the films, delve into a Shakespearean retelling of the stories we already know and love, or uncover the history of the Young Jedi Knights.

We can’t stress enough just how much information is out there to consume. Take a look at this Star Wars Wikipedia page listing every book available.

Read them all and we’re pretty sure you’ll be one with the Force in no time at all.

Joining Forces with Disney

In October 2012, Disney bought Lucasfilm for a whopping $4.05 billion! It was after this collision of worlds that lead to a number of new series and films.

While there were already several animated Star Wars series available, including Droids, Ewoks, and Clone Wars (Legends), the purchase by Disney helped launched other popular animated cartoons.

A new wave of series launched in the wake of the purchase and quickly became firm favourites amongst fans. Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars Resistance were all released after 2012 and can be found on Disney+.

Other popular (and awesome) developments that came from joining forces with Disney was the creation of The Mandalorian!

The Child, affectionately known as Baby Yoda, took the internet by storm and stole the hearts of millions. The bounty hunter and The Child set off on their own adventure throughout the series, with The Mandalorian quickly becoming one of the most popular Star Wars productions to date.

And, as if Baby Yoda couldn’t possibly get any cuter, he even has his own Build-a-Bear…

Star Wars Day

If there’s one thing fandoms know how to do best, it’s celebrate the things they love!

Star Wars Day, taking place on the 4th of May – or May the 4th – is the perfect day for Star Wars fans to show off their love for the Force and the Light Side (or the Dark Side, we don’t judge) in every way possible.

From dressing up in brilliant costumes, to settling in for the ultimate watch party, or even making pancakes that look like Yoda, it’s all acceptable on Star Wars Day. And every other day if that’s how you choose to live. We wouldn’t blame you.

Star Wars is such a blast, and so very popular around the world, that you can find the official Stars Wars Day page filled with great ideas, activity kits, and fun ways to celebrate.

Not sure if the Light Side is for you? Celebrate the 5th of May with the Revenge of the Fifth – a play on the Revenge of the Sith, of course! An ancient religious order filled with Force-wielding bad guys who are driven by hate, anger, and greed, they may not be the best role models around but we all have our bad side, right?

Whether you’re a Star Wars fan, or you’re just discovering this franchise for yourself, we have only one wish – May the Force be with you! ＜=(⬤‿⬤)=＞

All images sourced from the official Stars Wars website and Twitter account.