Geek and non-geeks cannot wait to see the eighth chapter in the Star Wars saga. Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues on from where 2015’s The Force Awakens left off. The family drama grows as the battle between Sith and Jedi lingers on. An intergalactic movie deserves nothing but greatness, particularly in the set! The film introduced us to different worlds and sceneries and it is one of the many reasons fans fell in love with the franchise! Before we immerse ourselves again into the film, read up first on some cool facts about the set of Star Wars: The Last Jedi!
Rian Johnson takes on the directorial role in the movie. To deliver what the fans are expecting, the film writer/director took inspiration from “12 O’Clock High” (1949), “To Catch a Thief” (1955) and “Three Outlaw Samurai” (1964). Joining his team in creating and designing The Last Jedi environment is Academy Award®–winning production designer Rick Heinrichs. Here are some of the cool stuff that they have gone through during the production of the film:
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Familiar Sets
If you have seen every Star Wars movie there is, you will be up for a treat as the film brings back some of the familiar sets such as the Millennium Falcon, the Resistance Cruiser, the Fighter Hangar, the Mine Control Center, the First Order sets, the Star Destroyer, the Mega Destroyer and Kylo’s Chambers.
New Worlds
The Last Jedi introduces audiences to new environments. Its massive scale production with 120 sets utilized all sets and backlots at Pinewood, as well as stages at Longcross Studios and two foreign filming locations, Dubrovnik, Croatia, and the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland. Among the environment and worlds created in the film include the expanded Jedi Island Ahch-To, Canto Bight, the planet Crait, and Snoke’s Throne Room.
Canto Bight Casino
The set for Canto Bight Casino is one of the largest made for the film. It was so large, it had to be split across two stages at Pinewood, with the exterior built at Longcross, and the medieval city of Dubrovnik standing in for the planet Canto Bight, where the Casino is situated, and where the action spills out. The Casino set, which took 16 weeks to build, is an excellent example of how departments work together to create something extraordinary.
Costume designer Michael Kaplan took on the massive task of creating costumes for the scenes set here. Hundreds were made, each one completely different to the next.
The Jedi Village
The Force Awakens closed off in this area that was being sought out the entire film. Do you know that was designed to be built on a cliff top on the West Coast of Ireland? Due to practical, logistical and safety reasons made some filming impossible there, so the set, a series of beehive huts, based on the island huts where the monks had lived, were first constructed on the Pinewood Backlot.
The Porgs
Creative Supervisor Neal Scanlan did not just create new worlds and new environments but also created new creatures! The Porgs are inhabitants of Ahch-To, the isolated island home of Luke Skywalker. The Porgs, which were very much an on-set favorite, are an adorable mix of a puffin, an owl and a baby seal. Everyone wanted to take one home!
Did we just hype your excitement for Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Wait no more because the film opens on December 13 with screenings starting at 5PM!
