Movies

Earth in Star Wars: Fact or Fiction?

BBG News

In simpler terms, the phrase “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away” is well-known among fans, serving as an introduction to George Lucas’s Star Wars universe across films and series. This phrase suggests that the Star Wars events take place at a significant distance from contemporary Earth, both in time and space. Yet, it appears that our world isn’t as disconnected as one might think from the realm of the Jedi and Sith.

In the authentic Star Wars lore, it’s been established that Earth exists, thanks to the popular Star Tours travel agency, often recognized as the Star Tours rides at Disney Parks. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, the opening sequence of the attraction explicitly refers to the “Earth system,” hinting at its presence within the Star Wars universe. This detail has been officially confirmed by Disney on their website. The Star Tours itinerary links Earth to various other planets like Kashyyyk, Coruscant, Naboo, Hoth, Tatooine, and Geonosis. Prior to discontinuation, Earth even served as a transit hub to Endor. Star Tours is the sole reference to Earth in the official Star Wars canon, but the Star Wars Expanded Universe provides additional information about it.

Earth Is Officially In the Star Wars Canon

The Phantom Menace Hints at Earth

In the official Star Wars stories, as established by canon, there are no references to Earth. This shouldn’t be shocking to fans. However, in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, relatives of an individual who visited Earth in the early 1980s can be spotted. During a particular scene in the Galactic Senate, when Queen Amidala requests a vote of no confidence, keen-eyed viewers might notice a group of Asogians among those applauding. The Asogian species, which featured in the 1982 film E.T., directed by Steven Spielberg and a friend of George Lucas, appears in Star Wars under this name.

In their creative endeavors, the directors and associates have occasionally hidden small tributes (Easter eggs) in each other’s movies. For instance, the character “beloved” appeared in the Well of Souls in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Club Obi-Wan” in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”. Now, although Earth isn’t physically present in the universe, it might be accessible to beings like the Asogians, possibly through the purrgil or some other means. In a fantastical scenario, E.T. and his spacefaring companions could one day traverse the Milky Way from wherever and whenever the Star Wars galaxy resides. A side note: One major challenge in incorporating Earth into the Star Wars canon is dealing with time. The storytellers at Lucasfilm would need to establish a specific date and distance for when the events of Star Wars might have taken place, which could be quite complex.

Earth Features More Heavily in the Expanded Universe

Earth Has a Few Speculative or Silly Non-Canonical Appearances

The Trial and Transformation of Arhul Hextrophon” explains the spread of human existence in this distant cosmos.

Originally, humans hailed from a planet known as Urthha. Over time, humans migrated to Coruscant. Later, the fate of Urthha in Realspace was altered; it was moved to a secluded area called Otherspace. Numerous fictional narratives feature Urthha. In George Lucas’s book, Monsters and Aliens, a galactic gossip magazine discloses a newlywed Duros couple who were abducted by humans from planet Urthha. The pair underwent experiments until a compassionate young human assisted them in their escape back to their home planet using a substance known as a “matter catalyst,” which is commonly referred to on Earth as a “blender.

In a more recent, unconventional encounter, Disney+ brought together the worlds of Star Wars and The Simpsons through a promotional crossover. In an episode titled The Force Awakens From Its Nap, Maggie Simpson misplaces her pacifier and stumbles upon Star Wars characters during her search, including Baby Darth Maul. The following short, named Rogue Not Quite One, depicts Maggie pushing Grogu’s hovering crib and embarking on a journey where she confronts TIE Fighters. Despite the mention of their home planet, “Earth,” it remains unclear exactly where Springfield, the Simpsons’ hometown, is situated within the United States.

A Comic Book Crossover Features Indiana Jones

In a Cool Twist, He Finds the Millennium Falcon

In another instance, Earth is featured in the comic book titled “Star Wars Tales #19: Into the Great Unknown“. This 2004 publication, authored by W. Haden Blackman and illustrated by Sean Gordon Murphy, combined elements from both Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The story revolves around Han Solo and Chewbacca who, in an unexpected turn of events, crash-land the Millennium Falcon in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

Sadly, Han meets his end at the hands of a group of people armed with tools such as spears, bows, and axes. Upon encountering Chewie, they nickname him “Sasquatch.” Over a hundred years pass, and these people are guided by Indiana Jones to the relics of their spaceship and Han Solo. It’s then uncovered that not only is Chewbacca still alive, but he appears to be the basis for the tales about the American Bigfoot. In the end, Jones opts not to pursue Chewie but instead chooses to let him live in peace.

There Was That Time the Empire Responded to President Obama

It Ridiculed the Administration for Not Building the Death Star

A playful blog post on StarWars.com in January 2013, penned in the manner of a press release, received another mention of Earth from the Galactic Empire. This post humorously responded to the U.S. administration under President Barack Obama’s denial of a petition, which had been signed by over 34,000 people, requesting the U.S. government to construct its own Death Star by 2016.

In this scenario, the Obama administration chose not to build a Death Star due to its expensive construction costs, its design flaw of planet destruction, and their personal stance against such an action. This decision stemmed from a program that enables any U.S. citizen to directly petition the government, with a response guaranteed if a minimum number of responses is met. The initiative garnered support from Star Wars enthusiasts, including President Barack Obama himself, who was known to be a fan of the series, making it an easy decision for his administration to address the matter.

Will Earth Ever Appear Prominently in a Star Wars Story?

Earth Has Yet to Appear In Any Canon Star Wars Projects

Star Wars hasn’t officially acknowledged Earth within its canon, but it has left room for such exploration in future endeavors. The latest installment, for instance, ventures beyond the usual confines of the galaxy, as its characters traverse to a distant one where Grand Admiral Thrawn and Ezra Bridger have been isolated for years. In the series ‘Ahsoka’, the antagonist Morgan Elsbeth creates a colossal hyperspace bridge that can leap across galaxies beyond her own – implying it might even reach the Milky Way galaxy.

As a movie critic, I’ve always admired the unique charm of Star Wars, its distant galaxies filled with endless possibilities. Introducing Earth into this universe could potentially dilute the magic that makes it so special for viewers. This transition might just be the franchise’s equivalent of “jumping the shark,” pushing the boundaries too far and risking a loss of authenticity. While I wouldn’t rule out a visit to Earth entirely, I believe the Star Wars saga should remain in the realm of the fantastical, a galaxy far, far away.

Many Other Planets Deserve Recognition in Star Wars

The Franchise Has Sidelined Too Many Other World

Regardless of whether Earth is mentioned in the Star Wars canon, fans are unlikely to voice complaints. After all, Earth, once our home, holds little significance in a universe filled with countless planets, many of which have significant roles within the franchise. Surprisingly, several planets receive less attention than they deserve. For example, Corellia, renowned for its shipyards that built iconic vessels like the Millennium Falcon and Razor Crest, is often overlooked. It’s also the home planet of Han Solo, placing it on par with Tattooine and Alderaan. Additionally, numerous planets exhibit traces of ancient Jedi history, which could enrich the Star Wars franchise by adding historical depth to the galaxy depicted in the series.

A lesser-known but significant celestial body is the enigmatic Dagobah, which serves as Yoda’s retreat following his break from Sheev Palpatine. While the Star Wars comics delve somewhat into Dagobah, fans are eager to learn about its importance to Yoda and its influence on Luke Skywalker. The planets Exegol and Moraband, both relevant in the sequel trilogy and prequels respectively, also raise questions. Exegol, Palpatine’s chosen throneworld after his resurrection, is not well-developed, much like Moraband, the Outer Rim home planet of the Sith Order, which appears sparsely given its historical significance. These are just a few examples of planets in the galaxy that deserve more attention despite their popularity.

The Roles Played by Earth in Popular Science Fiction

Some Roles Are Comprehensive; Others Are Merely Perfunctory

One of Isaac Asimov’s groundbreaking science fiction series, the “Foundation” trilogy, was set in the far future of the Galactic Empire. By the 12th millennium, all traces of Earth had vanished due to 20,000 years of human expansion. However, in a later trilogy by Asimov, Earth reappears as a radioactive wasteland that the main character visits on the Moon. Interestingly, Earth is also a setting in Asimov’s “Robots” series and is connected to the “Foundation” timeline. Similarly, the science fiction franchise “Dune,” set in its own distant future, features characters who can access knowledge and history of Earth through their ancestral memory recall powers despite the fact that the Golden Age had passed by Paul Atreides’ time.

On one end of the spectrum are science fiction stories set in space that significantly include Earth, although the extent of her involvement may differ. For instance, in ‘Star Trek’, Earth is known as Sol III and serves as the capital of the United Federation of Planets. By the 2500s, many alien species inhabit Earth, including Vulcans and Bolians, making it just as significant as planets like Vulcan or Andoria. In a nutshell, Earth’s homeworld holds equal importance in these fictional worlds. The same goes for ‘The Expanse’, where Earth is the leading power in the colonized Solar System. Interestingly, the most influential entity in ‘The Expanse’ is the United Nations, which has evolved into a somewhat tyrannical force. Regardless of whether a sci-fi story merely mentions our planet or builds its entire tale around it, every fictional universe we know was born on Earth.

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2025-04-27 02:23

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