35 Rare ‘Star Wars’ Behind-the-Scenes Photos from the Skywalker Saga
Unseen moments from the 'Star Wars' sets, featuring cast, creatures and scenes in the making.
For nearly 50 years, the Star Wars saga has transported audiences to distant worlds, introduced us to unforgettable heroes and villains and redefined what moviemaking could be. But as much as we’ve thrilled to lightsaber battles and space chases, there’s a whole other story happening just out of frame—one of actors in costume checking their marks, directors giving notes, puppeteers coaxing life from rubber and wires and green screen stages awaiting digital transformation.
These behind-the-scenes photos provide a deeper exploration into the making of the Star Wars films, following the saga from the original trilogy through the prequels and sequels. You’ll catch Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher having a bit of fun between takes in 1977; George Lucas working with Greedo to set up his blaster, Frank Oz preparing to bring Yoda to life and more recent cast members Daisy Ridley and John Boyega practicing their choreography and receiving direction from the final trilogy’s J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan who knows the difference between a T-65B and a T-70 X-wing, or someone who just wants to see how the movie magic gets made, these images remind us that Star Wars has always been a human story at its core. One crafted by dedicated artists, technicians, performers, and dreamers who have kept it all alive for so many years.
‘Episode I: The Phantom Menace’ (1999)
1. A day at Jedi bootcamp
Ewan McGregor, Ray Park, and Liam Neeson gear up for the galaxy’s most intense laser sword workout, aka The Phantom Menace’s iconic “Duel of the Fates” lightsaber battle. Park, a trained martial artist, brought genuine acrobatics to Darth Maul—leaving the Jedi scrambling to keep up. Add blue screens and some serious prequel-era ponytails, and you’ve got movie magic in the making.
2. ‘Meesa wearing what now?’
Before Jar Jar Binks became one of the saga’s most polarizing characters (and you’d be hard-pressed to find another), actor Ahmed Best was out in the swamps of Naboo (actually a forest in England) rocking this wild motion-capture getup. The headpiece allowed animators to match Jar Jar’s eye line and movements, while his full-body suit was an early step in blending live-action with CGI.
3. The look of galactic diplomacy
Natalie Portman gets the finishing touches being made up as Queen Amidala in The Phantom Menace—because ruling Naboo requires flawless makeup and a gravity-defying hairdo. The elaborate costume and signature face paint blended sci-fi royalty with Japanese and Mongolian influences.
‘Episode II: Attack of the Clones’ (2002)
4. From wireframes to whoop-ass: Yoda levels up!
In Attack of the Clones, audiences finally saw Yoda drop the cane and throw down—thanks to cutting-edge CGI. This behind-the-scenes progression shows how the legendary Jedi Master transformed from a wireframe model (left), to a textured 3D render (center) and a fully detailed digital warrior (right). Frank Oz still provided the voice, but the acrobatics? Pure Industrial Light & Magic.
5. The maestro and the creator
Composer John Williams and Star Wars creator George Lucas sit side-by-side in the scoring studio during Attack of the Clones. Williams, who gave the franchise its musical identity, has been there for all nine films.
6. Padmé unchained
Natalie Portman flashes a smile between takes while filming the Geonosis battle sequence in Attack of the Clones. Chained up and mid-escape, this was the scene that turned Padmé from galactic senator to full-blown action star. The now-famous costume—shredded mid-fight—was equal parts homage to classic sci-fi and a nod to Leia’s daring spirit.
7. Count Dooku and Obi-Wan… between rounds
Sir Christopher Lee and Ewan McGregor take a breather on the set of Attack of the Clones, lightsaber hilts in hand and blue screens standing by. Lee, a real-life fencing expert and horror icon, brought old-school gravitas to Count Dooku—while McGregor leaned fully into Jedi swagger.
‘Episode III: Revenge of the Sith’ (2005)
8. This director is strong with the force
George Lucas maps out the mayhem on set while Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu) waits patiently in Jedi mode. Filming Revenge of the Sith meant coordinating massive action, emotional turns and a whole lot of blue screen—and Lucas handled it all with calm, dad-sweater authority.
9. How to turn a Jedi to the dark side
George Lucas gives Hayden Christensen a crash course in Sith smolder on the set of Revenge of the Sith. Clad in black and brooding hard, Anakin Skywalker is deep into his transformation—and Lucas is right there guiding the emotional descent.
10. Before the galaxy falls apart…
Hayden Christensen, producer Rick McCallum, George Lucas, Natalie Portman and Ewan McGregor share a rare moment of downtime on the set of Revenge of the Sith. It’s all smiles and hoodies here, but in just a few scenes, friendships will fracture, empires will rise, and lava will definitely be involved.
11. Practice makes perfect, accompanied by heartbreak
Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen rehearse the climactic Obi-Wan vs. Anakin duel for Revenge of the Sith—aka the lava-scorched, emotion-packed, lightsaber showdown to end all lightsaber showdowns. With stunt coordinators on hand and taped floor grids for precision, every swing and spin was choreographed to Jedi perfection.
‘Episode IV: A New Hope’ (1977)
12. Han may have shot first, but George Lucas shot the scene
On the set of A New Hope, George Lucas works closely with Paul Blake—aka Greedo—while the Rodian bounty hunter casually holds a cigarette in his alien snout. This cantina moment would spark decades of fan debate, but back in 1976, it was just another imaginative day in a galaxy still under construction.
13. Blasters, buns and banter
Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher hang out on set during A New Hope, somewhere between dodging stormtroopers and saving the galaxy. While Luke and Han chat, Leia’s iconic cinnamon bun hairdo gets a quick touch-up—because even rebel leaders need maintenance.
14. Desert heat and Jedi wisdom
On location in Tunisia for A New Hope, George Lucas (seated with coffee in hand) oversees a scene in the harsh Tatooine sun while Sir Alec Guinness, fully robed as Obi-Wan Kenobi, waits calmly beside a very horizontal Mark Hamill.
15. ‘Chewie, we’re gonna need more make-up!’
Peter Mayhew and Harrison Ford sit in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon during A New Hope, with Mayhew in a partial Chewbacca getup minus full Wookiee mask—giving us a glimpse of the man behind the growl.
‘Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back’ (1980)
16. Calling all bad guys
A rare behind-the-scenes shot from The Empire Strikes Back featuring Darth Vader, IG-88, and Boba Fett—plus director Irvin Kershner popping in. This lineup of bounty hunters became instant fan favorites despite their limited screentime, thanks to a combination of killer design and maximum mystery.
17. The princess and the protocol droid (unplugged)
Carrie Fisher and Anthony Daniels (the one actor to appear in all nine “episodes”) share a quiet moment on the set of The Empire Strikes Back, with Daniels halfway suited up as C-3PO—helmet off. Fisher’s Leia looks regal, while Daniels’ expression reads somewhere between “ready for action” and “please let me sit down soon.”
18. Size matters not, but puppeteering does!
Frank Oz sits quietly beside his most legendary creation on the Empire Strikes Back Dagobah set—bringing Yoda to life with astonishing detail, depth, and wisdom (and let’s not forget those expressive ears). Surrounded by fog machines, swamp slime, and practical magic, this little green Jedi Master became the soul of the saga—thanks to a Muppet genius.
19. Father and son bonding—with lightsabers
Mark Hamill and David Prowse rehearse their epic duel as Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader on the Empire set—before the drama, the revelations and the missing hand. Prowse, the towering presence inside the Vader suit, handled the physical side of the role while the real saber work was choreographed down to the finest swing.
‘Episode VI: Return of the Jedi’ (1983)
20. Return to Dagobah
Alec Guinness, Mark Hamill, and director Richard Marquand rehearse one of Return of the Jedi’s most emotional scenes: the quiet conversation between Luke Skywalker and the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Dagobah.
21. ‘Let the rehearsal flow through you!’
George Lucas, Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor), Mark Hamill and director Richard Marquand block out the throne room showdown aboard the second Death Star. With no Force lightning flying and no Vader yet in frame, it’s a quiet moment of setup for one of the trilogy’s most powerful scenes.
22. Beauty and the beastmaster
ILM wizard Phil Tippett adds the finishing touches to the stop-motion model of the Rancor for Return of the Jedi, turning a snarling rubber beast into one of the most memorable movie monsters of the ‘80s. Though the final version used a full-scale puppet and compositing tricks, Tippett’s work brought the creature to life.
23. The Ewoks are ready for their closeups
Two Ewoks steal the spotlight—and the clapperboard—on the forest moon of Endor during filming for Return of the Jedi. Note the production title “Blue Harvest,” the famously fake name used to keep Star Wars fans and press at bay.
‘Episode VII: The Force Awakens’ (2015)
24. Welcome to the Resistance (and lots of green screen)
John Boyega and Daisy Ridley—aka Finn and Rey—go deep in discussion while Chewbacca stands by in full majestic fuzz during filming for The Force Awakens. Behind them? A green screen, a partially built Millennium Falcon, and (if you spotted him) none other than Prince Harry, making an unannounced set visit.
25. From dots to darkness
Andy Serkis sits in a sea of cameras and sensors, fully rigged in a motion-capture suit to bring Supreme Leader Snoke to life in The Force Awakens. With facial tracking dots glowing under studio lights and a digital throne waiting in post-production, Serkis once again redefined what it means to act in pixels.
26. Luke gets his moment (but that’s about it)
Director J.J. Abrams talks through the climactic final shot of The Force Awakens with Mark Hamill, perched on the windswept cliffs of Ireland’s Skellig Michael. After years away from the franchise, Hamill returned for just one silent, hooded look—and somehow made it one of the most talked-about endings in Star Wars history.
27. Back in the Millennium Falcon
Sitting in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon are John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and Harrison Ford. With Han Solo back at the controls, a new generation was proving itself ready to soar.
‘Episode VIII: The Last Jedi’ (2017)
28. ‘Use the Force, but hit your mark!’
On the breathtaking cliffs of Ahch-To (aka Skellig Michael), director Rian Johnson and crew film Daisy Ridley as Rey during her Jedi training sequence in The Last Jedi.
29. General Organa takes command … with everyone watching!
Director Rian Johnson confers with the late, great Carrie Fisher on set during filming for The Last Jedi. As General Leia Organa, Fisher brought grace, gravitas and a sharp wit to the Resistance’s leadership—on and off screen.
30. Caffeine and courage
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron takes a brief moment between takes—coffee in hand, BB-8 at his back, and Resistance grit on full display. Even starfighter aces need a recharge.
31. Passing the legacy
The passing of a very different kind of torch between Daisy Ridley’s Rey and Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi.
‘Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker’ (2019)
32. Finn in focus
This image nicely captures John Boyega’s evolution as the character of Finn, who started things out as a Stormtrooper but evolved to one of the key players in the Resistance against the First Order.
33. Ben Solo embraces his destiny
Director J.J. Abrams works closely with Adam Driver on set as Kylo Ren within the ruins of the second Death Star. The dramatic lighting and shattered environment underscore the emotional weight of the character’s journey as he nears a turning point—both visually and narratively—toward redemption.
34. Lando returns!
Billy Dee Williams flashes a smile on set as he steps back into the iconic cape of Lando Calrissian, bringing with him some of that old on screen magic.
35. Finding peace in the end
In front of a sea of blue screens, Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver film one of the film’s most emotional scenes—Rey saving a wounded Kylo Ren. The raw performances stand in contrast to the digital environment that would later become the wreckage of the Death Star.
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