It's an amazing time to be a Star Wars fan who is getting their fix with multiple TV shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka coming out every year, not to mention all the movies and games on the way. But in addition to all of that, every once in a while a little bit of Star Wars manages to creep into other places.
This should be no surprise, as Star Wars is arguably the most iconic and beloved franchise of all time. Hundreds of movies and shows have referenced the series in clever ways, and sometimes they even get to feature actual Star Wars characters.
Chewbacca and Harrison Ford on Jimmy Kimmel
Late night Ttlk shows are a fun place for existing characters to show up. For example, Daniel Craig portrayed James Bond on a 2015 episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, while celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger reprised many of their roles with James Corden.
One of the great Star Wars talk how moments came during Harrison Ford's 2013 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Ford was getting frustrated by a never-ending slew of Star Wars questions from the audience when Chewbacca suddenly appeared. Ford called Chewy a son of a b***h and implied that Chewy had an affair with his wife. Two years later, the two returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live where they reconciled.
R2-D2 in Close Encounters of the Third Kind
R2-D2 has appeared in quite a few outside films, and it should be no surprise as the astromech droid is one of the franchises most beloved and iconic characters. R2 and his buddy C-3PO were the first on-screen characters and Princess Leia trusted R2 with the Death Star plans and the top secret mission of finding Obi-Wan Kenobi. Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind came out the same year as Star Wars and was the first movie to reference it.
During the climax, R2 can be seen on the underside of the massive spacecraft as it flies by Ronnie. Another connection to Star Wars is that Spielberg and Lucas traded 2.5% of the films to each other before they were released. As reported by getblockbuster, Spielberg gained $40 Million from the trade. Further cameos to Star Wars appeared in E.T. where the alien recognizes a Yoda costume, suggesting that E.T. is from the Star Wars galaxy. This theory is strengthened by the presence of E.T. creatures in the republic senate.
R2-D2 & C-3PO in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Lucasfilm's other big franchise is of course Indiana Jones which also stars Han Solo actor Harrison Ford, so it should be no surprise that the films are loaded with Star Wars references. There are hieroglyphics of R2-D2 and C-3PO in the Well of the Souls where Indy finds the Ark of the Covenant and some fans believe this suggests a shared universe.
But that's not the end of the Star Wars references in the Indy films. Jock's plane is identified as OB-CPO, a play on Obi-Wan and C-3PO, while the Shanghai nightclub seen in the opening of Temple of Doom is called Club Obi-Wan. And of course, Indy is named after George Lucas's dog Indiana who was also the inspiration for Chewbacca. Hopefully, a few more references will pop up in Indiana Jones 5.
Han, Lando, Chewy and C-3PO in The LEGO Movie
Like Ready Player One, the LEGO films are loaded with characters and references from different films. And since Star Wars was the first ever movie series turned into LEGOs and LEGO video games, the two brands have long held a special relationship. 2014's The LEGO Movie features a wide range of cameos including Batman, Gandalf, and Dumbledore.
But Star Wars was given a special and hilarious part in the film when the Millennium Falcon suddenly appears while the main characters are building a spaceship. Han Solo and Chewbacca were seen on board in addition to C-3PO and Lando Calrissian, who were voiced by Anthony Daniels and Billy Dee Williams, respectively. Batman then steals the hyperdrive from the Falcon, which results in the ship being eaten by the Empire Strikes Back space slug.
R2-D2 in Star Trek
There has long been a rivalry between the two most popular sci-fi properties of all time, Star Wars and Star Trek. But in recent years, ties between the two franchises have started to develop. In particular is the fact that J.J. Abrams directed two films in each series.
During the destruction of Vulcan in 2009's Star Trek, everyone's favorite astro droid can be seen in the wreckage. The droid similarly appeared in Star Trek Into Darkness as a piece of debris in space.
Luke Skywalker on The Muppets Show
A few months before The Empire Strikes Back debuted in 1980, Mark Hamill was invited as a guest on a Star Wars-themed episode of The Muppets Show. Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels also appear as Chewbacca and C-3PO, while R2-D2 also appears as 'Himself.'
In it, Luke, C-3PO and R2-D2 are on a quest to rescue their friend Chewbacca from "Darth Gonzo." There are hilarious interactions with all the Muppet characters, including Miss Piggy who dresses up as Princess Leia to woo Luke. The episode ends with musical numbers and a tap dance by C-3PO.
Cantina Patrons on The Richard Pryor Show
Shortly after the release of Star Wars, many of the Mos Eisley patrons appeared in a sketch on The Richard Pryor Show called Star Wars Bar. Pryor served as the owner and had some hilarious interactions with the aliens. The original designers of these costumes did such a great job designing characters who only appeared in one scene and it's good to see that they were put to use again.
Greedo, a Bith from the Cantina Band, and an absolutely hammered Hammerhead populate the bar, just to name a few. Forcematerial reported that the skit was part of an effort to reignite the film's box office frenzy, as was an episode of Donny & Marie featuring R2, 3PO, Chewy, and Vader.
R2-D2, Stormtroopers, and more in Ready Player One
Ready Player One was absolutely loaded with pop culture references. The story sees people escape their mundane lives by entering the virtual reality "Oasis" where they can choose avatars and use vehicles and items from famous movies. King Kong, the Back to the Future Delorean, and Monty Python's Holy Hand Grenade are just a few examples of such references.
R2-D2 appears at the end of the film in Wade and Artemis's apartment and numerous stormtroopers take part in the climactic battle. There are also numerous Star Wars spacecrafts seen and, according to CBR, fans spotted a Princess Leia avatar somewhere in the film.
Darth Vader in Night at the Museum 2
The Night at the Museum series starring Ben Stiller features museum statues coming to life thanks to a supernatural artifact. This allowed numerous historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and Napoleon Bonaparte to interact with each other.
The legendary and powerful Darth Vader appeared alongside Sesame Street's Oscar the Grouch in the second film, Battle of the Smithsonian. They approached Kahmunrah wishing to join his group of villains but were not accepted. Vader attempted to perform a force choke on Kahmunrah but finds that it doesn't work.
Darth Vader in The Indian in the Cupboard
The beloved 1980 book The Indian in the Cupboard tells the story of a boy who is able to bring his action figures to life but putting them in a magic cupboard. He develops a bond with a Native American figure named Little Bear. The 1995 film adaptation was directed by Star Wars alum Frank Oz, the puppeteer and voice artist who portrays Yoda.
Upon first discovering the cupboard's power, Omri puts Darth Vader, Rexy from Jurassic Park, Robocop, and characters from Star Trek and G.I. Joe into the cupboard. They all start attacking each other, with Darth Vader battling Rexy with his lightsaber. A terrified Omri is quick to undo this action.