It takes a lot for a movie to be transformed from a simple screening time to the longest movie franchise in history. When George Lucas created the first Star Wars movie in 1977, he never imagined it would grow this big. Star Wars has spurned whole generations of super fans who follow it like a religion.
Four decades the franchise is still going strong with spin-offs coming out every year. There is no end in sight for it, and there is a good reason for it. Over the years, Star Wars has created characters that have come to be idolized by people. The following are some of the most iconic Star Wars characters of all time.
Han Solo
It is a given, Han Solo is the most widely known Star Wars character. The character made his first appearance in the first installment in 1977, a role that was played by Harison Ford. Han Solo is the captain of the Millenium Falcon, who joins forces with rebels in a war against the Galactic Empire. Han Solo is ranked the 14th best film hero by the American Film Institute. His cockiness and swagger have made this character a darling of female fans.
Darth Vader
The iconic mask that is known by virtually everyone who watches movies, fans, and others alike. Darth Vader is the antagonist of the Star Wars movie, who started as a slave called Anakin Skywalker. He is the Jedi who had been prophesied to bring order and balance to the Force. However, he got sidetracked and lured to the dark side by Palpatine. Darth Vader masks always feature in all cosplay events around the world.
Boba Fett
Boba Fett is the relentless intergalactic bounty hunter who chases down his targets to the ends of other galaxies. He makes an appearance while chasing down Han Solo on behalf of Jabba the Hutt. Boba is best admired for his amazing gear. He wears an iconic suit that comes with his signature rocket launcher.
Yoda
Yoda made his first appearance as the all-knowing sage in the 1980 installment; The Empire Strikes Back. It has been an upward trajectory in his popularity since then. He is the master who trained Obi-Wan Kenobi as well as Luke Sky Walker. The 900-year-old being is among the most iconic characters of the franchise. He is literally the face of Star Wars.
Princess Leia
Hans Solo’s object of affection. The stunningly beautiful Leia made her first appearance in the first Star Wars movie in 1977. She is the princess of the Alderaan planet and, at the same time, a member of the Rebel Alliance. She is part of many successful missions like defeating Darth Vader’s plan to destroy the universe. It is during one of her commanding missions that she meets Hans Solo and immediately falls in love with the bandit.
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is the franchise’s main protagonist, one with a strange twist to his plot armor. The role of Luke Skywalker has been portrayed fervently by Mark Hamil over the years, making him one of the most recognized film faces. Luke made his first appearance in the first movie in 1977 and has been making reprisal roles over the years. The most recent one was 2019’s Rise of the Skywalker.
Luke is the son of the main antagonist, Darth Vader. He was raised by his uncle and aunt, who were later killed, leaving him destitute. It is the tragedies in his life that later define his character later on.
Rey
Star Wars is never short of strong female characters, Rey is another addition to its long list of heroines. The character made its first appearance as recently as 2015 in The Force Awakens. Rey is a scavenger who hails from a planet called Jakku, where she had been abandoned as a child. She gets to train under Luke Skywalker and General Leia, becoming a very powerful adversary. Her main enemies include Kylo Ren and Snoke.
The role has been played by Daisy Ridley and has appeared in two more films: The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
R2-D2
The R2-D2 is a non-human robotic character that has appeared in 11 of the 12 Star Wars movies to date. The adorable character with its metallic appendages that resemble EVS robotic arms has always provided the much needed comic relief in the Star Wars movies over the years. Together with its sidekick C-3PO, they most times come to the rescue of Skywalker and his gang when they are in sticky situations.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Bi is a Jedi master that is supporting the protagonist alongside other main characters trying to fight evil. Obi-Wan Kenobi is the one that trained Skywalker and introduced him to the ways of the Jedi. He guides him in his campaign against the Galactic Empire. He eventually sacrifices himself in a duel against Darth Vader to save Luke.
Lando Calrissian
Lando Calrissian makes his first appearance in 1980 with The Empire Strikes Back. He is introduced as an old friend to Han Solo and even dresses the part. He is a con artist and a playboy with a knack for everything mechanical. He was the original owner of the Millenium Falcon ship, which he lost to Han Solo in a bet.
Among the many standout roles he has played, the one that stood out was where he had to betray Han Solo to Darth. He has acted as the leader of the Rebel Alliance at one point.
Conclusion
The Star Wars franchise is a movement that has been growing throughout the decades. It has made careers for lots of A-List actors in Hollywood, the likes of Mark Hamil and Harrison Ford. It continues to get new blood as the years go by. This is a movie franchise that is going to last another half a century.