• More More

Search

My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other
  • NEWS + FEATURES
  • VIDEO
  • FILMS
  • SERIES
  • INTERACTIVE
  • COMMUNITY
  • DATABANK
  • DISNEY+
  • More More
My Account Logout
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • other

ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

All

  • Andor
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Books + Comics
  • Characters + Histories
  • Collecting
  • Creativity
  • Disney Parks
  • Disney+
  • Events
  • Fans + Community
  • Films
  • Force For Change
  • Forces of Destiny
  • Galaxy of Adventures
  • Games + Apps
  • ILMxLAB
  • In Pop Culture
  • Interviews
  • LEGO Star Wars
  • Lucasfilm
  • Merchandise
  • Obi-Wan Kenobi
  • Opinions
  • Quizzes + Polls
  • Recipes
  • Rogue One
  • Solo
  • Star Wars Celebration
  • Star Wars Day
  • Star Wars Rebels
  • Star Wars Resistance
  • Television
  • The Bad Batch
  • The Book of Boba Fett
  • The Clone Wars
  • The Force Awakens
  • The High Republic
  • The Last Jedi
  • The Mandalorian
  • The Rise of Skywalker
  • The Star Wars Show
  • Visions
{:title=>"Lucasfilm", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/lucasfilm"} {:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"}

Empire at 40 | Watch Lucasfilm’s New Empire Featurettes

December 17, 2020
December 17, 2020
StarWars.com Team

Made for fans as a gift for the holidays, these videos celebrating 40 years of Episode V feature rare footage and new interviews with George Lucas, Mark Hamill, and more.

On May 21, 1980, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back made its theatrical debut. To celebrate the classic film’s landmark 40th anniversary, StarWars.com presents “Empire at 40,” a special series of interviews, editorial features, and listicles.

This year marked 40 years of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the critically-acclaimed first sequel of the saga. While Lucasfilm was not able to celebrate Episode V as originally hoped, two new featurettes have been created for fans as a special holiday gift.

In the first featurette, you’ll see rare behind-the-scenes moments captured by the film’s documentary crew, including the frozen exteriors of Hoth, the rebel base hangar, interiors of the Millennium Falcon, Cloud City, and the film’s climactic duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Also included is an all-new and archival audio commentary by George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, and Lawrence Kasdan.

The second focuses on the talent and production crews keeping the Star Wars legacy alive today, as they look back at The Empire Strikes Back and share their thoughts and memories of the film that transformed the Star Wars story into a saga. This brief featurette includes humorous outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage, with all-new commentary by Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Pedro Pascal, Deborah Chow, Leslye Headland, Taika Waititi, and Diego Luna.

Watch both revealing featurettes below!



For more on the 40th anniversary of Empire, be sure to check out StarWars.com’s in-depth and fun features:
  • Read a new interview with George Lucas.
  • Go inside the Battle of Hoth with an oral history featuring new insights from George Lucas, Joe Johnston, Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, and Ben Burtt.
  • Discover a new interview with Mark Hamill.
  • Learn how Boba Fett came to life in a new interview with Joe Johnston.
  • Find out how artist Matt Ferguson created his stunning anniversary poster.
  • Enjoy 40 memorable quotes from
  • Get the recipe for Boba Fett Banana Bread Muffins.

You can find even more videos, articles, and surprises at StarWars.com’s official hub for the 40th anniversary of Empire.

StarWars.com. All Star Wars, all the time.

Site tags: #StarWarsBlog, #ESB40

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Empire at 40 featurette

Related Stories

{:title=>"Lucasfilm", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/lucasfilm"}

Star Wars Galaxy of Creatures Season 2 Arrives

January 20, 2023

January 20, 2023

Jan 20

{:title=>"Lucasfilm", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/lucasfilm"} {:title=>"Collecting", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/collecting"}

From Santa Yoda to Rocket Sleds: Lucasfilm's Star Wars Holiday Cards Through the Years

December 22, 2022

December 22, 2022

Dec 22

{:title=>"Lucasfilm", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/lucasfilm"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

Star Wars: Best of 2022

December 21, 2022

December 21, 2022

Dec 21

{:title=>"Lucasfilm", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/lucasfilm"} {:title=>"Disney+", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney+"}

The Mandalorian Returns for Season 3 This Spring

December 1, 2022

December 1, 2022

Dec 1

{:title=>"Andor", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/andor"} {:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"}

Tony Gilroy Breaks Down Andor Season 1

November 25, 2022

November 25, 2022

Nov 25

{:title=>"Andor", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/andor"} {:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"}

The Stories Behind 5 Memorable Andor Props

November 17, 2022

November 17, 2022

Nov 17

{:title=>"The High Republic", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-high-republic"} {:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"}

“An Indescribably Great Feeling”: Author Kristin Baver On Writing The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic

November 8, 2022

November 8, 2022

Nov 8

{:title=>"Fans + Community", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/fans-+-community"} {:title=>"Characters + Histories", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/characters-+-histories"}

Bring Us “Pan Solo” and a Cookie

November 4, 2022

November 4, 2022

Nov 4

More From Star Wars:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • SWKids
  • Terms of Use
  • Additional Content Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Star Wars at shopDisney
  • Star Wars Helpdesk
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved