26-Year Secret: Lucas’s Face Hidden in Star Wars Archway!

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Summary

  • The Phantom Menace included an Easter egg featuring the pixelated face of George Lucas hidden in a stone archway.
  • The Easter egg required Lucas’ approval and was put in by a former ILM artist as a tribute to the director.
  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith will be returning to theaters in 4DX for its 20th anniversary on April 25, 2025.

Twenty-five years have passed since the initial release of “Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace,” and a fascinating tidbit has emerged, hidden as an Easter egg by George Lucas, the creator of this space saga. For many, “The Phantom Menace” marked the beginning of their “Star Wars” adventure, and its 25th anniversary last year was a reminder for millennials of their maturity. The movie also brought Lucas back to the director’s seat following his work on the original 1977 film.

Fans of “Star Wars” are eagerly looking forward to the new year, with plenty of intriguing updates throughout the franchise. But there’s more reason for excitement! To mark its 20th anniversary on April 25, 2025, “Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge Of The Sith” will be back in theaters, and this time it’ll be presented in a unique way – for the first time ever, it will be shown in 4DX. Before we get to that exciting event, some fans might have missed an intriguing detail: last year, we learned that “The Phantom Menace” almost included a major twist. Now, a crew member who was there has shed light on a special appearance by the creator on the film’s set, which has recently been brought to attention.

Hidden Easter Egg From the Star Wars Prequel Shows off George Lucas

Clayton Sandell, a television news reporter and collaborator on “Star Wars Timelines,” recently had a conversation with Caroleen “Jett” Green, a former artist at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). This talented lady was previously involved in digital matte art for movies such as Hellboy, Sleepy Hollow, Galaxy Quest, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. During their discussion, Green shared insights about her contribution to The Phantom Menace. Her role primarily focused on digitally increasing practical sets within the Theed Palace hallway, thereby creating an illusion of various locations with marble columns and floors.

During the design process, Green decided to subtly incorporate a playful reference to George Lucas, similar to an Easter egg in a movie, which most viewers might miss unless they scrutinize carefully and recognize what to look for. “I opted to include an image of George,” said Green, “and I placed it on this plaque. I thought, ‘That’ll be neat. Once you reduce that, his face becomes merely a blur.’

At approximately one hour, 58 minutes, and 17 seconds into the film on Disney+, Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) and her guards are seen fleeing down a hallway pursued by Droidekas and battle droids. In the distance, a grand stone archway can be noticed. If you squint your eyes at the top of this arch, you might just make out the creator’s pixelated face subtly embedded within it. I suggest using the highest quality version of the film available for optimal viewing.

In order for Lucas’ cameo appearance in the movie to happen, the filmmaker’s approval was essential. Given that Green admired the director, she was hoping he would agree. Fortunately, George Lucas found it quite amusing, saying “Oh, naughty, naughty.” After a brief pause, he consented, “Okay. Keep it in,” recalls Green with a sense of relief, knowing she had avoided any trouble. The Star Wars series is known for its Easter eggs, some of which almost caused issues for Lucasfilm and others that were humorous production winks.

The Star Wars franchise is available to stream on Disney+.

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2025-03-10 14:44