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Star Wars

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Star Wars is an expansive American media franchise created by George Lucas.

Star wars2
Star wars2

It is categorized as a space opera, a genre of grand adventure set in space. The franchise includes films, television series, video games, novels, and comic books. It has also expanded into theme park attractions and themed areas. This collection of stories creates an all-encompassing fictional universe. Today, it stands as one of the highest-grossing media franchises in history.

George Lucas cropped 2009
George Lucas cropped 2009

The stories take place in a fictional galaxy in the distant past. This universe features humans living alongside many different alien species. These aliens are often humanoid, meaning they have human-like shapes. Droids, which are robots, also exist in this galaxy. Some droids are programmed for personal assistance, while others are built for battle. Travel between planets is common because of lightspeed hyperspace technology. The settings range from wealthy, planet-wide cities to empty deserts. Planets can mirror any Earth biome or feature entirely fictional environments.

10.12.12TimothyZahnByLuigiNovi3
10.12.12TimothyZahnByLuigiNovi3

A central element of this universe is a mystical power called the Force. It is described as an energy field created by all living things. This field is said to bind the entire galaxy together. People who are sensitive to the Force can exhibit various superpowers. These include telekinesis, which is moving objects with the mind. They may also use precognition to see the future or telepathy to communicate. Two knightly orders fight over how to use this power. The Jedi are peacekeepers who use the light side of the Force. The Sith use the dark side by manipulating anger and fear. Jedi act through arbitration and non-attachment. In contrast, Sith Lords are often limited to a master and an apprentice. These warriors often use lightsabers, which are retractable blades of plasma. Most other people use plasma-powered blaster firearms.

The core narrative is known as the Skywalker Saga. This saga consists of nine main films divided into three trilogies. The original trilogy includes Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. These films were released between 1977 and 1983. The prequel trilogy follows, consisting of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. These were released between 1999 and 2005. The final part is the sequel trilogy. It includes Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. These were released between 2015 and 2019.

George Lucas began developing his own space opera in 1974. He originally wanted to adapt a serial called Flash Gordon but could not get the rights. After writing a screenplay, 20th Century Fox agreed to finance the project. Because Fox expected limited success, the first film had a relatively low budget. Production moved to Elstree Studios in England to help lower costs. The first film was released on May 25, 1977. Lucas later planned a series of three trilogies. In 2012, Lucas sold his production company, Lucasfilm, to the Walt Disney Company. This sale meant he relinquished ownership of the franchise. Disney then moved forward with the sequel trilogy. Kathleen Kennedy became the president of Lucasfilm and executive producer of the new films.

The Skywalker Saga focuses on the generations of the Skywalker family. The prequels tell the backstory of Anakin Skywalker. He is seduced by the Sith lord Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader. The original trilogy follows Luke Skywalker and his sister, Leia. They fight against the Galactic Empire and Palpatine. The sequel trilogy follows the conflict between Ben Solo and characters named Rey and Luke. These stories are set against a backdrop of galactic conflict. This includes rebellions, republics, and empires. The franchise also features crime syndicates like the Hutt cartel. Bounty hunters and smugglers also operate in the outer reaches of the galaxy.

Star Wars has achieved massive commercial and critical success. All nine films in the Skywalker Saga received Academy Award nominations. The first three films specifically won Oscars. The combined box office revenue for the live-action theatrical films exceeds one billion dollars. This makes Star Wars the third-highest-grossing film franchise in cinematic history. The franchise's blend of science fiction and fantasy allows it to tell many different types of stories. This makes the universe feel universal to many different people. It remains a major part of global pop culture.

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File:George Lucas cropped 2009.jpg
George Lucas cropped 2009.jpg
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