Celebrating 40 Years: ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Legacy
Releasing The Empire Strikes Back helped pave the way for the future of the Star Wars trilogy and brought new ideas to the table.
The Empire Strikes Back was released into theaters on May 21, 1980. The movie introduced the famous one line “I am your father” said by villain Darth Vader, who would become the pivotal character in the story. The movie also enhances the lightsabor battle to become even more well-known in the series.
Everyone say thank you to Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back for giving us the most iconic scene of all time pic.twitter.com/h9DmjEiVcN
— Ajay (@SWBFExpress) May 21, 2020
Another highlight from the movie is the addition of the character Yoda, the tiny Jedi master. The character would capture the hearts of many fans and later helped shape the baby Yoda character well-known today. Yoda was created by George Lucas and performed by Frank Oz.
Lando Calrissian played by Billy Dee Williams would be the first African American actor with a major role in the series. J. J. Abrams, who directed the ninth installment film in 2019 with Williams, told Esquire “Lando was always written as a complex, contradictory, nuanced character. And Billy Dee played him to suave perfection… it wasn’t just that people of color were seeing themselves represented; they were seeing themselves represented in a rich, wonderful, intriguing way.”
The full Star Wars series can now be streamed on Disney+. Next time you are searching for something to binge-watch, Stars Wars will be there for you.
Hi! I am Hannah Forton pursuing a double major in Communications and Music Industry. I love traveling, sports, cooking, music, Broadway, movies, DIY, make-up, clothes, and tutorials. Some of my favorite work experiences includes an internship at a recording studio and working at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Helping and educating others is important to me, and I’ve enjoyed being able to do so through volunteering for numerous non-profits since middle school. I like the big city vibes, but small towns will always hold a special place in my heart. Living near Detroit allows me to achieve the best of both worlds.
