Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One is a treasure trove of pop culture Easter eggs, some of which are from a famous galaxy far, far away. Staying true to the source material, the film adaptation of Ernest Cline's novel contains a multitude of references to other movies and TV shows, but there was a point in time when it looked like Star Wars wouldn't be one of them. Shortly before Ready Player One premiered in theaters, there was some confusion over Spielberg getting the rights. Initially, reports indicated there wouldn't be any Star Wars nods, but the director later clarified to state that he wouldn't be referencing Disney's new films. The ones prior to the Lucasfilm acquisition were fair game.
So, Star Wars fans were on the prowl for any Easter eggs they could find when they settled in to watch Spielberg's latest. Ready Player One isn't overloaded with callbacks to the famous space opera, but there are multiple ones that people have spotted. We've put together a rundown.
Wade Watts, OASIS Padawan
The crux of Ready Player One's narrative deals with a massive hunt for three keys in the OASIS in order to inherit the late James Halliday's immense fortune. Protagonist Wade Watts, whose avatar goes by Parzival, is the first one to complete the first challenge - a race populated by by various obstacles (including King Kong). When Parzival receives the key, Halliday's avatar Anorak congratulates the youngster by calling him "padawan."
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From the sound of things, Halliday comes from the group of people who weren't too fond of George Lucas' prequel trilogy, but a term from those movies stuck with him. The Phantom Menace introduced the concept of padawan learners, Jedi apprentices who studied under a master until they faced the trials. Obi-Wan Kenobi was Qui-Gon Jinn's Padawan at the film's start, and Anakin Skywalker became Obi-Wan's by its end.
Flying the Millennium Falcon
Ready Player One is the latest genre movie to feature Ben Mendelsohn as a corporate villain, following his turns in The Dark Knight Rises and Rogue One. Here, his motivation is to win Halliday's game so his company IOI assumes control of the OASIS and they can monetize it with copious ad placement. Despite his resources, Nolan Sorrento is one of many players to fall behind Parzival, so some good old fashioned bribery is in order.
Sorrento attempts to sway Wade to IOI by bringing Watts to his office and laying out a lucrative offer. Should Wade agree to join, he'll not only get a very rich salary and a penthouse apartment (a marked improvement from "The Stacks" he currently lives in), but he'll also get to channel his inner Han Solo and captain the Millennium Falcon. Ever since the iconic ship debuted in 1977, this has been a dream of Star Wars fans across the globe (and with the impending opening of Galaxy's Edge, a reality), but Wade fought off the temptation and went down a different path.
Other Spaceships
The Falcon isn't the only Star Wars vehicle referenced in Ready Player One. All of the OASIS users have their own vehicles that they get around in (for Parzival, it's the Back to the Future DeLorean), and some people decided to take to the skies in ships from the original trilogy.
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In the establishing shot before the nightclub sequence, there's a group of vehicles flying towards the planet. Among those included are an X-wing and a Lambda class shuttle. The latter is what Han Solo and his strike team arrived in for their mission to Endor in Return of the Jedi. This scene in particular has Easter eggs for other properties as well, like Firefly.
Parzival's Blaster Holster
Maybe this is why Sorrento singled out the Falcon in particular as he tried to tempt Wade. Parzival's costume includes a subtle nod to everyone's favorite smuggler. The holster the avatar wears on his belt is virtually identical to Han's, indicating Wade Watts is a big fan of the character. In the OASIS, users can customize their appearance, and this is so close it has to be intentional.
Interestingly enough, Ready Player One is the second recent movie to specifically reference Solo's holster. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle included it as an Easter egg for fans. By the time Alden Ehrenreich sports it in Solo: A Star Wars Story, the accessory will be old news.
The Rebel Alliance Patch
OASIS users "plug in" to the virtual reality by wearing suits, and you can bet some customized their get-ups. Wade's best friend Helen, who goes by Aech in the OASIS, also appears to be a Star Wars fan. Her suit has a patch of the Rebel Alliance's logo, which is briefly visible when Spielberg cuts to the inside of the van during Wade's speech about fighting back against IOI. You may have to look hard for it, but it's there.
This detail is rather fitting considering where the characters end up. Samantha, aka Art3mis, greets Wade in the real world with "welcome to the rebellion," as she helps lead the fight against Nolan Sorrento. IOI is quite similar to the Galactic Empire with their tyrannical tactics (the loyalty centers that work people to the bone) and constant pursuit of power. The comparison is apt and plays well into Ready Player One's old school vibe.
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These are the Star Wars themed Easter eggs in Ready Player One we've found so far. We'll be sure to update this space with more as they continue to be uncovered.
MORE: How Ready Player One Got All Its Easter Eggs
