Discover the Hidden Empire Strikes Back Easter Egg in The Force Awakens After 10 Years of Waiting

Star Wars: The Force Awakens features an engaging Easter egg from The Empire Strikes Back that has intrigued many fans, including myself. This film marked a significant revival of the Star Wars franchise, reintroducing it to audiences around the globe. Although it shares striking similarities with A New Hope—most notably, the Starkiller Base resembling a colossal version of the Death Star—the film also draws inspiration from other critical installments in the saga, particularly The Empire Strikes Back.

The character of Darth Vader stands as a cornerstone of the Star Wars universe, playing a vital role in the franchise’s enduring appeal. His chilling aura, coupled with remarkable visuals brought to life by concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, has significantly shaped the legacy of these films. As we delve deeper into the mythology surrounding Vader, a fascinating link emerges between The Force Awakens‘s Maz Kanata and McQuarrie’s original artworks.

Maz Kanata’s Castle: A Concealed Connection to Vader

After Han Solo and Chewbacca reclaim the Millennium Falcon from Rey and Finn, they journey to Takodana, where Maz Kanata’s castle awaits. This remarkable structure features impressive high towers and a grand stone façade. Initially, however, Maz’s gathering place was envisioned as something akin to the famous Mos Eisley Cantina. In Star Wars: The Blueprints, director J.J. Abrams expressed his desire to create a unique atmosphere that resonated with the cantina vibe while steering clear of direct parallels.

“Maz’s castle would be the confluence of many different alien cultures and was depicted in early draft iterations like a Western saloon. This, however, made it too much of a callback to the infamous Mos Eisley Cantina of A New Hope. ‘This was clearly our cantina,’ says Abrams. ‘It was a nod to the cantina…how can we do the cantina – but not do the cantina?”

A significant breakthrough came when previously unused concept art from The Empire Strikes Back surfaced, showcasing Ralph McQuarrie’s vision for Darth Vader’s castle. Production designer Rick Carter described how the artwork inspired the team to consider a castle as Maz’s residence, fostering creativity around her character’s origins.

This castle design serves as a clever nod to Maz Kanata’s extensive history and influence, striking a balance between grandeur and mystery. Furthermore, it underscores Ralph McQuarrie’s lasting impact on the visual storytelling within Star Wars.

Darth Vader’s Castle: A Realization of McQuarrie’s Vision

Although Darth Vader’s castle was not part of the original trilogy’s narrative, it was introduced into the Star Wars canon in 2016 with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. This film unveiled Fortress Vader on Mustafar, an architectural marvel rooted in McQuarrie’s earlier designs. As noted by Doug Chiang, Lucasfilm’s executive design director, the influence of McQuarrie’s sketches is evident in the castle’s iconic “tuning fork”configuration, which features twin towers flanking a hidden Sith cave.

Years after its initial conception in The Empire Strikes Back, McQuarrie’s imaginative designs continue to resonate, shaping the Star Wars landscape today.

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