The Star Wars galaxy is a vast and brilliant work of the human imagination. However, even George Lucas and his team needed to find sources of inspiration in the real world. Some of the most iconic locations in the story were created based on physical places on Earth that you can visit and admire for their beauty.
In this article, I will explore a handful of those places and their Star Wars correspondents.
Tatooine: The Desert Planet
One of the best-known planets in the Star Wars Universe is Tatooine. It serves as the backdrop for Luke’s Skywalker’s humble beginnings and has captivated audiences from the start with its arid landscapes and twin suns. The entire planet and its setting evoke a sense of resilience and isolation.
The real-world inspiration for Tatooine were the deserts of Tunisia. That’s where a large portion of the original filming took place. The town of Matmata, with its underground dwellings, provided an excellent setting for the Lars family homestead.
The practical and unassuming lifestyle of Tatooine’s residents resembles that of the inhabitants of this Tunisian location.
Another place that served as inspiration for Tatooine was the rugged terrain of Death Valley in California. Key features of these two locations were combined to create the believable but otherworldly environment of Tatooine.
Canto Bight: The Luxurious Casino City
Canto Bight was introduced in The Last Jedi as a glamorous casino city that provides exquisite games to the galaxy’s elite. The planet it’s located on is called Cantonica.
This location stands in stark contrast to the war-torn environments we get to see throughout most of the story. The contrast was used to convey the difference between the haves and have nots.
Canto Bight’s design was inspired by real-world luxury destinations such as Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, and Dubai. The sophisticated architecture, which only makes sense if money is not a concern at all, is used to make a statement.
Art Deco was another source of inspiration for the production team. Its modernist styles, polished interiors, and fancy costumes are both memorable and convey a sense of sophistication that cannot be attained without large sums of money.
Hoth
Hoth is a frozen planet in the Star Wars Universe. Introduced in The Empire Strikes Back, it features an environment that contrasts to that of Tatooine. Visually, it is an absolutely stunning place and one of the reasons why Star Wars is so memorable.
Hoth’s inspiration was Finse, a remote village located in Norway. To create the iconic scenes in the movie, the production team had to brave low temperatures and snowstorms. A more recent movie whose production team had to endure a similar environment was The Revenant.
Endor: The Forest Moon
In Star Wars, Endor is the home of the adorable Ewoks and is characterized by its lush greenery and majestic trees. The dense forests of this moon offered the ideal environment for the epic battle in Return of the Jedi, in which nature triumphs over technology.
Endor’s primary inspiration was the redwood forests of Northern California. Locations like Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park were used to depict forested terrain. The backdrop created by the towering trees conveyed a sense of timelessness in the movie.
Naboo: An Idyllic Paradise
Naboo is one of the most visually captivating planets in the Star Wars galaxy. Its ambiance and culture make it a fitting home for Queen Amidala. The inspiration for this place comes from Italian cities such as Venice and Florence, which played a key role in the Renaissance.
The palace scenes in the Star Wars movies were filmed at the Royal Palace of Caserta in Italy. The grand halls and ornate décor captured Naboo’s regal aesthetic beautifully. Furthermore, the lush gardens and still lakes added to the planet’s charm.
This was a place that screamed royalty at the audience, but in a very unique way. To better convey the message, the production team did not attempt to create something completely new. Rather, they took advantage of the fact that very few people are familiar with certain real-world locations whose architecture and atmosphere makes them perfect sources of inspiration.
Conclusion
Despite being a fictional world, Star Wars nevertheless draws inspiration from the real world. The more you’ve traveled, the more you realize that George Lucas has likely visited quite a few countries and historical cities as well.