'Star Wars' celebrates 35th anniversary
This 1980 publicity image originally released by Lucasfilm Ltd., Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker and the character Yoda appear in this scene from "Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back." The Library of Congress announced early Tuesday…
Copyright Associated Press
Posted: 05/25/2012
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- It was 35 years ago Friday that moviegoers were first transported to a galaxy far, far away.
"Star Wars" launched in theaters May 25, 1977, introducing the world to The Force, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo and a pair of loveable droids named R2-D2 and C-3PO. (The film's subtitle, "A New Hope," was added when it was first re-released in 1981.)
The intergalactic adventure spawned two sequels, 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back" and 1983's "Return of the Jedi," as well as a prequel trilogy that debuted in 1999.
That first film laid the groundwork for a multi-billion-dollar franchise now comprised of comics, games, a TV series and other media used to tell stories set within the universe created by "Star Wars" mastermind George Lucas.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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