Star Wars has produced many characters that even people who haven’t watched the movies know. Everyone knows Darth Vader. Almost everyone also knows Master Yoda and his iconic way of speaking. But the green Jedi almost didn’t exist.
Master Yoda is a character first introduced in Star Wars Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back. At first glance, he appears to be a primitive creature causing mischief on the ugly planet Dagobah. But actually, he is in exile and hiding from the Empire.
The hero, Luke Skywalker, is taught by him about the Force and the ways of the Jedi throughout the film. In the later prequel films, Yoda receives a bit more backstory. He is one of the most legendary and wisest Jedi of all time.
Originally, however, Yoda was not planned at all. Obi-Wan was supposed to take his role. But then George Lucas had to turn one film into a whole trilogy.
Originally, only one film was planned
What was George Lucas’s original plan? Initially, George Lucas had a huge script and an ambitious vision of how big Star Wars should be. At that time, however, he was planning for only one film. Not a trilogy. Lucas had no money for that and no studio willing to make it.
He actually planned to conclude the story of Darth Vader in one film. But he had to change the script and turned the first third into Episode 4. In the original script, Yoda didn’t exist at all, and Obi-Wan survived until the end.
His role, however, was that of a passive observer who taught Luke the Force but otherwise only watched during the battles. Lucas didn’t want that, as he liked Alec Guinness’s portrayal so much. Therefore, he had him die in Episode 4 to give the character a greater impact.
I felt that his character became so strong due to Alec Guinness’s portrayal that I really couldn’t do that. He was too noble, so I had to kill him.
George Lucas about Obi-Wan in the original trilogy (Source: YouTube)
A new teacher was needed
Someone had to take on the role of Obi-Wan. Lucas then created Master Yoda. He took on the role of the master. Interestingly, he didn’t think about the background or species at all. He was supposed to be a mysterious figure that appears and then disappears at the end.
I never really figured out where he comes from, what his species is called, […] So he is a mysterious figure, a magical figure, he has no background, he comes and goes. He is the subversive, secretive, mysterious outsider who enters the film and leaves again at the end.
George Lucas about Yoda in the original trilogy (Source: YouTube)
Later, Yoda, of course, received more background. In the prequels, he was seen as the wise master of the Jedi Order, and other representatives of his species also appeared. One of the most famous is probably Grogu, who is also fondly referred to as Baby Yoda. Many books have also expanded the world of Star Wars, although they no longer belong to the Disney canon today. One particularly interesting evil being was: An evil being in Star Wars is more powerful and dangerous than the Emperor – Never appeared in films and series
