Millennium Falcon

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For the 2008 novel, see Millennium Falcon (novel).
Millennium Falcon
174x108
The Millennium Falcon in Star Wars
First appearance Star Wars
References Star Wars Databank[1]
General characteristics
Class YT-1300 freighter
Armaments Laser cannons, concussion missiles
Length 34.75 metres (114.0 ft)

The Millennium Falcon is a spacecraft in the Star Wars universe commanded by Corellian smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). The highly modified Corellian Engineering Corporation (CEC) YT-1300 light freighter first appears in Star Wars (1977), and subsequently in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Return of the Jedi (1983) and Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). The ship also makes a brief cameo appearance in Revenge of the Sith (2005). Additionally, the Falcon appears in a variety of Star Wars expanded universe materials, including books, comics, and games; James Luceno's novel Millennium Falcon focuses on the titular ship.[2] It also appears in the 2014 animated film The Lego Movie in Lego form, with Billy Dee Williams and Anthony Daniels reprising their roles of Lando Calrissian and C-3PO, with Keith Ferguson voicing Han Solo.

Origin and design

According to Star Wars creator George Lucas, the Millennium Falcon's design was inspired by a hamburger, with the cockpit being an olive on the side. The ship originally had a more elongated appearance, but this design's similarity to the Eagle Transporters in Space: 1999 prompted Lucas to change the Falcon's design.[1] The original model was modified, re-scaled, and used as Princess Leia's ship, Tantive IV.[3]

The sound of the ship traveling through hyperspace comes from two tracks of the engine noise of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, with one track slightly out of synchronization with the other to introduce a phasing effect.[4] To this, sound designer Ben Burtt added the hum of the cooling fans on the motion-control rig at Industrial Light & Magic.[4]

Models and sets

File:Millennium Falcon cockpit.jpg
Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon during the making of a scene from the Star Wars Holiday Special.

Visually, the Millennium Falcon was represented by several models and external and internal sets. For Star Wars, a partial exterior set was constructed and the set dressed as Docking Bay 94 and the Death Star hangar. Besides the functional landing gear, an additional support held up the structure and was disguised as a fuel line. The interior set included the starboard ring corridor, the boarding ramp, cockpit access tunnel, gun turret ladder, secret compartments, and the forward hold. The cockpit was constructed as a separate set that could be rocked when the ship was supposed to shake. Several inconsistencies exist between the internal set and the external set, the cockpit access tunnel angle being the most noticeable.

The effects models for Star Wars matched the design of the exterior set. The primary model was 5 feet long and detailed with various kit parts. The ship was represented as a matte painting when Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) sees it for the first time, showing the full upper surface. For the 1997 "Special Edition", a digital model replaces the effects model in several shots, and is used in a new shot of the Falcon lifting off from Docking Bay 94.

For The Empire Strikes Back, a new external set was constructed. In spring 1979 Marcon Fabrications, a heavy engineering firm that serviced the UK's petrochemical and oil industries,[5] was contracted to build a moveable full-scale external model capable of "moving as if it were about to take off."[5] Built in secrecy under the project codename Magic Roundabout,[5][6] the company leased the 1930s built Western Sunderland Flying Boat hangar in Pembroke Dock, West Wales.[6][7] Taking three months to construct, once complete the model weighed over 25 long tons (25 t), measured 65 feet (20 m) in diameter and was 20 feet (6.1 m) high, and used compressed air hover pads for up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) of hover-height movement around the set.[6][8][9] It was then disassembled and shipped to Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire for filming.[5] Today, the Pembroke Dock museum has a section focused on the construction project.[5][6]

As in Star Wars, the location set was changed around the ship set. The only major design change was to add additional landing gear where the disguised fuel line had been in Star Wars. As this set included the port side, that gave the set seven landing gears. The internal set was slightly refitted from A New Hope and featured a larger cargo hold, an additional corridor to port, and an equipment room. Two new interior sets were created that are not shown to connect to the rest of the set: a top hatch that Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) uses to rescue Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and the compartment where Luke rests on a bunk.

The 5-foot-long (1.5 m) effects model from Star Wars was modified to reflect the additional landing gear, and several new models were built, including one roughly the size of a U.S. Quarter Dollar. For the 1997 Special Edition, a CGI model replaced the effects model during the approach and landing on Cloud City.

No new models or sets were created for Return of the Jedi. A portion of the full-scale ship was used for a scene cut from the film in which several characters board the Falcon in a sandstorm on Tatooine. In the scene when Han exacts a promise from Lando not to damage the Falcon, the Falcon is represented by a backdrop painting. It is also in a matte painting of the entire hangar bay.

The internal and external sets were scrapped after filming on Return of the Jedi ended.[8] The effects models were kept by Lucasfilm and some have been on display from time to time.

A digital version of the Falcon appears briefly on Coruscant in Revenge of the Sith. Lucas has stated that the ship is the Falcon and not another ship of similar design.[10] A CGI version of the vessel also appears in the Disney attraction Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.

On June 3, 2014, TMZ confirmed that the Falcon would return for Star Wars: The Force Awakens when it leaked a photo from the set of the film, showing a full-scale version of the Falcon being built.[11] An effects shot of the Falcon appears in the teaser trailer for The Force Awakens, released November 28, 2014. This version of the ship has a rectangular sensor array above the top hull, replacing the circular dish from the first three films.[12]

Depiction

Han Solo won the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian in the card game 'sabacc'.[13] In Star Wars, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) charter the ship to deliver them, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), and the stolen Death Star plans to Alderaan. When the Falcon is captured by the Death Star, the group conceal themselves in smuggling compartments built into the floor to avoid detection during a search of the ship. Solo later collects his fee for delivering them to the hidden Rebel base and departs under bitter circumstances, but returns to assist Luke in destroying the Death Star.

Solo flies the Falcon, with Chewbacca, Leia, and C-3PO aboard, to elude the Imperial Starfleet in The Empire Strikes Back, wherein they take refuge at Cloud City, where Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones) captures Solo. Lando Calrissian helps the others escape and, at the film's end, he departs in the Falcon to track down Solo and his captor, Jabba the Hutt. Calrissian again flies the Falcon during the climax of Return of the Jedi, with Nien Nunb as co-pilot, to destroy the second Death Star.

In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, set some 30 years after Return of the Jedi, the Falcon is in the possession of a scrap dealer on the desert planet Jakku, having been stolen from Solo and Chewbacca some years prior. Scavenger Rey and former stormtrooper Finn steal the Falcon in order to escape from an attack by the First Order, having been targeted for having the droid BB-8 in their possession. They are captured by a smuggling freighter, which turns out to be piloted by Solo and Chewbacca, who reclaim the Falcon for their own. Forced to escape in the Falcon from an ambush by parties to whom Solo is heavily in debt, Solo reluctantly agrees to help Rey and Finn return BB-8 to the Resistance. After Solo is killed by Kylo Ren, it is implied that Rey and Chewbacca assume joint ownership of the Falcon.

Kessel Run

In the initial film, Solo brags that the Falcon made the Kessel Run in "less than twelve parsecs". As the parsec is a unit of distance, not time, different explanations have been provided. In the fourth draft of the script, Kenobi "reacts to Solo’s stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation".[14] In the Expanded Universe, the Kessel Run is a pathway from Kessel past the Maw Black Hole Cluster: used by smugglers to transport precious Glitterstim spice; and Solo's bragging refers to his ability to move the ship closer to the Maw's black holes and therefore shorten the distance traveled.[15] On the Star Wars DVD audio commentary, Lucas comments that, in the Star Wars universe, traveling through hyperspace requires careful navigation to avoid stars, planets, asteroids, and other obstacles,[16] and that because no long-distance journey can be made in a straight line, the "fastest" ship is the one that can plot the "most direct course", thereby traveling the least distance.[16] The novelization changes the line to "twelve Standard Time Units".

Ownership

Throughout the franchise, the Falcon has been depicted a number of times, and often comes about during explanations of its history.

  • Prior to Star Wars, it is said to be in the possession of Lando Calrissian and was lost to Han Solo in payment of a gambling debt.
  • Following the events of The Empire Strikes Back, Leia and Chewbacca take possession of the Falcon after Solo's incarceration in carbonite and capture by the Empire and Boba Fett.
  • During Return of the Jedi, Solo retrieves and immediately lends the Falcon to Lando, who uses it to assist in the Battle of Endor and destruction of the second Death Star.
  • Following the Battle of Endor, Solo winds up losing the Falcon under unknown circumstances, and reappears 30 years later on the planet of Jakku under the ownership of a scrap dealer. Rey and Finn commandeer the ship and use it for escape and subsequently are captured by Solo and Chewbacca, who retake possession of the ship once again.
  • Following the death of Solo, it is implied that Rey takes possession of the Falcon along with Chewbacca, though there is no hard proof on whether this was Chewbacca's decision to continue being copilot under her.

Cultural influence

Joss Whedon credits the Millennium Falcon as one of his two primary inspirations for his Firefly television show.[17] The Falcon and the Falcon's distinct shape appear in Star Trek: First Contact,[18] Blade Runner,[19] Spaceballs, and Starship Troopers.[20] The manga series Berserk includes a "Millennium Falcon" arc.[21] In another manga and anime series, Hellsing, the Millennium Falcon is referenced briefly for comedic effect. Animation show Robot Chicken aired a sketch entitled "The Emperor's Phone Call," in which Palpatine receives the news of the destruction of the Death Star with incredulity, screaming at one point "What the hell is an aluminum falcon?"[22]

Kenner,[23] Hasbro,[24][25] Steel Tec,[26] Master Replicas,[27] Code 3 Collectibles and Micro Machines have all released Millennium Falcon toys and puzzles, including a Transformers version of the ship. Lego has released multiple versions of the Millennium Falcon in varying sizes. The 5,195-piece Lego model (part of the Star Wars "Ultimate Collectors Series") was physically the largest Lego set sold by the company, until it was topped in 2008 by the Lego Taj Mahal.[28][29]

in January 2000, Ford Australia released a 'Fairlane Millennium' version of its Falcon car.[30][31]

In 2010, Adidas also released a pair of Stan Smith trainers inspired by the Millennium Falcon, as part of the Adidas Originals Star Wars campaign.[32] SpaceX states that its Falcon series of rockets are named after the Millennium Falcon.[33]

In 2015, DeAgostini and Model-Space introduced (in the USA) a monthly installment piece-build model of the Millennium Falcon. The model is a 1:1 replica of the The Empire Strikes Back filming miniature.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-31649541
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 http://www.sunderlandtrust.com/welsh-memories-millennium-falcon/
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Commentary track on Star Wars DVD
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Ford AU Fairlane Retrieved on 9 January 2016.
  31. ↑ Fairlane Millennium news article Retrieved on 9 January 2016.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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