A Look Back At 'Star Wars Uncut'

Star Wars

Oct 14

One thing that Star Wars fans have always been known for is their creativity. Whether it be creating fan fiction that takes their favourite characters in new directions. One of the largest projects undergone by the fan community is the vast and extremely impressive creation - Star Wars Uncut.

Star Wars Uncut was the brainchild of superfan Casey Pugh, who asked fellow fans to help create a ‘fan remake’ of the original 1977 film Star Wars, which has since been renamed Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Fans responded to this 2009 request in droves, with thousands of passionate fans from around creating their own 15-second clips and sending them to Casey, who worked with Aaron Valdez, who edited the project, and Bryan Pugh, who did sound design. Together, the trio won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Creative Achievement In Interactive Media in 2010.

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Star WArs Uncut scene — Image Source: Tribeca Film

The video, which can be found online and even has its own website, features footage made collectively by thousands of ordinary people with a passion for Star Wars in many different styles, each person given their own style. Live-action shots, animation, toys, models, and many other ideas are mixed in a shot-for-shot remake of the original movie. The scene includes a scene of Jabba The Hutt speaking with Han Solo, a scene which was cut from the original movie but later added into the special editions. Many fans, through creative uses of animation, props, and set design within their own homes, were able to get their brief moments of fame playing Luke, Leia, Han, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3P0, Governer Tarkin, and many more of their favourite heroes and villains. Tones of each of these include a clear desire to re-create scenes close to the original, comedic takes added in, over-the-top versions of certain characters for a few seconds, and more. A sequel, The Empire Strikes Back Uncut, has since been created and can also be found online.

Both fan creations follow the spirit of the original but contain some ad-libbed changes to the script, such as a briefing displaying the Empire in a Western background using Western slang and the Imperial March being done by cat meows. Fans of all ages get involved, including many children giving clean performances. Many of the animation styles appear original, while others are based on those of existing shows and movies. Intriguing ideas that are in line with modern-day cinema, such as the 20th Century Fox logo having the spotlights turning into dueling lightsabers, are also added in.

Star Wars Uncut scenes — Image Source: Directors Notes

The Empire Strikes Back version begins with an introduction by Lucas Film Events And Fan Relations Lead Mary Franklin, talking about how both versions are fan projects that she is extremely impressed with, as she sings praises how passionate the fans are. She describes The Empire Strikes Back Uncut as “So many pieces of great movie making all done by fans all put together to tell the story of The Empire Strikes Back.”

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