Empire Strikes Back 1980 Origin Story

The origin of the movie “The Empire Strikes Back“ dates back to the immense success of the original Star Wars film (later retitled “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope“) released in 1977. After the unexpected and overwhelming positive reception of “A New Hope,“ George Lucas, the creator and mastermind behind the Star Wars franchise, began planning a continuation of the story. Even before the release of “A New Hope,“ Lucas envisioned the Star Wars saga as a trilogy. The incredible box office success of the first film provided Lucas with the opportunity and financial resources to bring his vision to life. He formed Lucasfilm Ltd., the production company responsible for creating the Star Wars films, and set his sights on making the sequel. For “The Empire Strikes Back,“ George Lucas took on the role of executive producer, entrusting the directorial duties to Irvin Kershner, who had previously directed films such as “The Eyes of Laura Mars“