George Lucas Explains Why Yoda Talks Backwards

The 80-year-old legendary filmmaker made a uncommon look on the opening evening of the 2025 TCM Basic Movie Pageant in Los Angeles to have fun the forty fifth anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Again.”

Throughout a dialog with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz, George Lucas dropped a serious bombshell about Yoda’s iconic speech sample.

“As a result of if you happen to communicate common English, folks will not hear that a lot,” Lucas revealed, per Variety. “But when he had an accent, or it is actually onerous to know what he is saying, they deal with what he is saying.”

Lucas defined that Yoda wanted to face out since he was “mainly the thinker of the film,” including, “I had to determine a solution to get folks to truly hear, particularly 12-year-olds.”

Secure to say, mission completed.

Since debuting in 1980, “The Empire Strikes Again” has earned over $550 million worldwide, and Yoda stays one of the vital beloved and most quoted characters within the galaxy.

Yoda, the sensible Jedi Grasp who educated Luke Skywalker, was famously voiced and puppeteered by Frank Oz in six “Star Wars” movies. Lucas as soon as described the character as a “little Dalai Lama,” and Oz’s work, together with the assistance of puppeteers like Kathryn Mullen, Wendy Froud, and David Barclay, introduced Yoda’s distinct appear and feel to life.

Since Yoda’s authentic run (and his demise at age 900 in “Return of the Jedi”), the galaxy’s love for his species has continued by way of “The Mandalorian”’s Grogu, affectionately dubbed “Child Yoda.”

Lucas additionally acquired actual about his artistic course of, admitting, “I write like a blueprint. It isn’t acquired numerous element on it.”

When he completed the unique “Star Wars” script, it stretched 130 to 180 pages, which was approach too lengthy. So he chopped it into three components, specializing in the primary one, believing he’d by no means get sufficient cash to make the entire epic saga.

Lucas famously agreed to a tiny paycheck, simply $50,000, to put in writing, direct, and produce “Star Wars,” however he negotiated two situations that may change Hollywood ceaselessly: possession of the sequels and the licensing rights.

“I stated, ‘I need the rights for these items as a result of I’m going to make these films it doesn’t matter what occurs,’” Lucas stated. “‘And in addition to that, I need the licensing.’ They stated, ‘What’s licensing?’”

Lucas’ thought was to make use of merchandising to assist promote the films, with children carrying “Star Wars” shirts that may assist unfold the phrase. He additionally hustled, sending children dressed as characters to Disneyland and Comedian-Cons to hype it up.

In 2012, Lucas offered Lucasfilm, and the rights to “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones,” to Disney for a staggering $4 billion. It was a choice he as soon as in comparison with shedding a member of the family.

“These are my children, I liked them. I created them,” he informed CBS on the time, per Daily Mail.

“I’ve spent my life creating ‘Star Wars,’ 40 years, and giving it up was very, very painful,” Lucas informed one other interviewer in 2020, per The Independent. “But it surely was the proper factor to do. I believed I used to be going to have somewhat bit extra to say in regards to the subsequent three [films] as a result of I might already began them, however they determined they needed to do one thing else.”

Issues “do not at all times work out the best way you need it. Life is like that,” he added.