Pauses the film Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
at the right moment to discover a cool Easter egg that alludes to a sci-fi classic.
Which classic is it? Even though many probably know Star Wars: Episode 1
almost by heart, there is always something new to discover. A closer look is worthwhile, because at minute 33 and 40 seconds you can spot a hidden love letter to one of the greatest masterpieces of the sci-fi genre – namely, 2001: A Space Odyssey
by Stanley Kubrick from 1968.
The EVA Pod from 2001: A Space Odyssey
What can be seen? In the background of this scene at Watto’s junkyard on the planet Tatooine, an EVA Pod can be seen, a small spherical spacecraft from Kubrick’s work. The EVA Pod is operated by astronauts and used for external tasks and as a means of transport in space.
Originally, all props and sets from 2001 were to be destroyed after filming, but somehow this capsule found its way into the sets of Star Wars.
2001: A Space Odyssey
George Lucas’s Appreciation
How did Watto get the EVA Pod? George Lucas and his team likely consciously decided to incorporate a homage to this classic. The EVA Pod was placed as an Easter egg in Watto’s junkyard. It is probably a replica.
Kubrick’s masterpiece expanded the boundaries of film and inspired numerous other artists and filmmakers. Without 2001, the genre would undoubtedly look different today. It set new standards for visual effects and philosophical storytelling in the sci-fi genre.
The homage to the EVA Pod in Star Wars: Episode 1
shows George Lucas and his team’s appreciation for Kubrick’s work. It is a subtle recognition of the significance of 2001: A Space Odyssey
for the genre.
This hidden detail is just one of many Easter eggs in the Star Wars
saga. In Star Wars Episode 1, you will find another clever allusion: If you stop Star Wars Episode at the right moment, you’ll find a clever Easter egg
