In its limited release May 25th of 1977, “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope” made $1.5 million in theaters, a number “that was unheard of at the time,” highlights Insider. While the film went on to make more than an impressive $775 million worldwide and catapulted a fandom of its own kind, many who have seen the Star Wars films may not realize how the franchise came to be. From literature to real life events, here’s what inspired Star Wars creator George Lucas, and how his creation went on to inspire others, particularly in regard to other famous films.
Concepts rooted in history
When it comes to the inspiration behind the creation of Star Wars, politics and history played an integral role in coming up with the concept. “I love history, so while the psychological basis of Star Wars is mythological, the political and social bases are historical,” said Lucas in a 2005 interview with the Boston Globe. For example, CBR.com notes that the Empire resembles the Nazi Party during World War II, though it’s also mentioned that inspiration came from the Vietnam War as well.
For clarification, the Empire was also meant to resemble America, according to Lucas’ conversation with director James Cameron in 2018. Cameron noted that the Rebels are a small group using ‘asymmetric warfare’ against the organized Empire, and today would be called terrorists. “When I did it,” said Lucas, “they were Viet Cong.” “In other words, Lucas viewed the Vietnamese as the rebels and America as the invading villains,” states the CBR post. The post further goes on to point out additional sources of inspiration that Lucas drew upon from real life in regards to the Empire, such as the Nixon Administration, thus underlining the role that history plays in the creation of the Star Wars we know and love today.
Finding inspiration through literature
Lucas also credited author Joseph Campbell for inspiration for Star Wars. Among Joseph Campbell’s inspiring works includes the book titled The Hero With a Thousand Faces, which is noted to have helped inspire the Star Wars films. According to one CBC article, the “hero’s journey” storytelling structure found major success in Star Wars, though the concept was introduced in Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces. “The book argued that all ancient mythology tells one core story: the human psyche’s development from child to adult, and ultimately to fully realized individual,” explains the article. That said, the hero’s journey theory can be found in the form of Luke Skywalker, as he sets off on a quest, undergoes a series of trials, rescues Princess Leia, destroys the Death Star, and returns home to a ‘hero’s welcome.’
A look at the influence of Star Wars
While George Lucas gained inspiration for the creation of Star Wars in various different ways, it’s important to recognize that the series itself has influenced many — particularly when it comes to the sci-fi genre and pop culture in general. Regarding the films that have been influenced by the iconic series, CBR.com lists a variety worth noting that have been influenced by Star Wars in one way or another. From Guardians of the Galaxy to Star Trek, Inspiration from the Star Wars series can even be found in seemingly unlikely films, such as Toy Story, in which many aspects of Buzz Lightyear’s backstory were influenced by the lore. Buzz Lightyears’ arch nemesis, Evil Emperor Zurg, for instance, resembled Darth Vader in both appearance and voice, notes CBR, while the two “also shared a parody scene of a pretty dramatic, near word-for-word scene of The Empire Strikes Back,” when Zurg tells Buzz that he is his father.
The Star Wars films hold an iconic spot in film history, and have heavily influenced the science fiction genre and pop culture in more ways than one. However, when it comes to the creativity behind the films, George Lucas drew inspiration from a variety of interesting sources — from novels to historical events.