Multiple global locations were used for filming locations during the production of the Star Wars films to provide the setting for alien planets in the Star Wars Universe.
Most locations were used to shoot principal photography with actors; more recently as digital filmmaking has become more common, some prequel and sequel trilogy locations were shot with no actors present and digitally composited into the films to provide a backdrop of a story setting.
In addition to filming locations, a list of film studios is also included for reference.
Listed below are locations used for filming of the following Star Wars films:
Image | Location | Country | Episode | Setting | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Salar de Uyuni | Bolivia | VIII | Crait | This salt flat served as the filming location for the Battle of Crait | |
Guilin | China (Guangxi) | III | Kashyyyk | Footage of limestone karst mountains which was later composited into the film for the backdrop of Kashyyyk [1] | |
Dubrovnik | Croatia | VIII | Cantonica | The city served for the city of Canto Bight | |
Tikal | Guatemala | IV | Yavin 4 Rebel Base | Exterior panoramic shots over the Yavin 4 jungle towards the Massassi Temple [2] [3] | |
Eyjafjallajökull | Iceland | VII | Starkiller Base | Snow scenes on the surface of Starkiller Base [4] | |
Reynisfjara | Iceland | R1 | Planet Lah'mu | A 20-minute drive from Vík í Mýrdal, Reynisfjara served as the setting for the planet Lah'mu. [5] | |
Skellig Michael | Ireland | VII, VIII, IX | Ahch-To: Luke's refuge | Final scenes: Rey meeting Luke Skywalker for the first time [4] VIII: Scenes of Luke's hideout and Rey's Jedi training | |
Dolomites and Misurina | Italy | Solo | Vandor-1 | Footage of the snowy landscape of Vandor-1 | |
Mount Etna | Italy | III | Mustafar | The volcano erupted during filming of Episode III and Lucasfilm sent camera crews to shoot several angles of the eruption; footage was later composited into the background of the scenes set on Mustafar including the lightsaber duel of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. [6] [7] | |
Palace of Caserta | Italy | I, II | Naboo Royal Palace | [8] | |
Villa del Balbianello | Italy | II | Naboo lakeside | Used for Anakin and Padmé's wedding scene overlooking Lake Como [9] | |
Wadi Rum | Jordan | R1, IX | Planet Jedha and Planet Pasaana | Wadi Rum is a popular desert location, also used in Lawrence of Arabia . This location earned the Royal Film Commission – Jordan the Location Managers Guild Award for best Film Commission in 2017. [10] | |
Laamu Atoll | Maldives | R1 | Planet Scarif | The Laamu Atoll makes up 82 of the 1,192 Maldivian islands. The atoll's Gan, which is one of the Maldives' largest islands, stood in for planet Scarif. [5] | |
Hardangerjøkulen Glacier and Finse 1222 Hotel | Norway | V | Hoth | Exterior scenes during the battle of Hoth filmed on the glacier, and other scenes filmed from the hotel and surrounding area [11] | |
Fuerteventura in Canary Islands | Spain | Solo | Savareen | Desert scenes on the surface of Savareen | |
Plaza de España in Seville | Spain | II | Naboo: City of Theed | [12] | |
Grindelwald | Switzerland | III | Alderaan | Footage of mountain scenery which was later composited into the film for the backdrop of the planet Alderaan [13] | |
Phang Nga Bay, near Phuket | Thailand | III | Kashyyyk | Aerial footage of limestone karst mountains which was later composited into the film for the approach over the Battle of Kashyyyk [14] | |
Ajim | Tunisia | IV | Tatooine | Mos Eisley Spaceport: Cantina (exterior), plaza, stormtrooper checkpoint, Docking Bay 94 alley | Ajim city center neighborhood (Al-Hunit Mosque district). Djerba island. [15] [16] | |
Amghar Mosque | Tunisia | IV | Tatooine | Obi-Wan Kenobi's house (exterior) | Ibadi mosque (10th century CE). Ajim coastal outskirts. Médenine Governorate. Decommissioned place of worship. Amghar Mosque footage replaced in Episode IV Special Edition (1997).[ citation needed ] | |
Chott el-Djerid | Tunisia | IV, II, III | Tatooine | Lars Homestead (exterior) | Salt flats between the Kebili and Tozeur governorates. Film site area in northwest sector of Chott el-Djerid. West of Nefta. [17] [16] | |
Gour Beni Mzab | Tunisia | IV | Tatooine | dune sea (lifepod crash site & krayt dragon skeleton) | Linear dunes system. Tozeur Governorate. West of Nefta. Film site location formerly associated with the name "La Grande Dune." [18] [16] [19] [20] | |
Eriguet dunes (Mos Espa large set area) | Tunisia | I, II | Tatooine | Mos Espa marketplace & Mos Espa arena elements (grandstand, pit area, starting grid, viewing platform) | Eriguet dune system. Salt-saturated barchanoid dunes south of Chott el-Gharsa. North of Nefta. Tozeur Governorate. Mos Espa arena elements are located north and west of the Mos Espa marketplace set (known also as the Mos Espa large set). [21] [16] | |
Eriguet dunes (Mos Espa small set area) | Tunisia | I | Tatooine | Mos Espa slave quarters backyards & Mos Espa outskirts | Eriguet dune system. Salt-saturated barchanoid dunes south of Chott el-Gharsa. North of Nefta. Tozeur Governorate. Located one dune east of the Mos Espa large set. Mos Espa small set remains are buried by dunes. Mos Espa small set was a reproduction of key elements found in the northwest corner of Ksar Hadada. Yardang field featured as film site area for Qui-Gon Jinn vs. Darth Maul lightsaber duel & Naboo spacecraft ramp scenes. [22] | |
Hotel Sidi Idriss | Tunisia | IV, II | Tatooine | Lars Homestead (interior) | Located in Matmata al-Qadimal. Gabès Governorate. Hotel established in 1968. Consists of five interconnected subterranean (troglodyte) pit dwellings. Pit 2 is the film site location. Cave 9 in pit 2 is the Lars Homestead dining room. [23] [16] [24] | |
Ksar Hadada | Tunisia | I | Tatooine | Mos Espa slave quarters backyards & street | Amazigh fortified granary village (mid-19th century CE). Tataouine Governorate. One of the largest remaining ksour in southeastern Tunisia. Film site area located in northwest corner of the ksar. [25] [16] | |
Ksar Ommarsia | Tunisia | I | Tatooine | Mos Espa slave quarters street & Anakin Skywalker's hovel (exterior) | Amazigh fortified granary (early 19th century CE). One of three remaining ksour in Médenine city center. Médenine Governorate. Film site location often erroneously identified as Ksar Médenine. [26] [16] | |
Maguer Gorge | Tunisia | IV, I | Tatooine | Jundland Wastes, desert wasteland bluff overlooking Mos Eisley, Canyon Dune Turn (Mos Espa podrace circuit) | Maguer Gorge located in Jebel Sidi Bouhlel mountain region. Dghoumès National Park. Tozeur Governorate. Often identified as Sidi Bouhlel Canyon due to the prominent shrine (Sidi Bouhlel Marabout) situated above the western ridge of the gorge. Nicknamed "Star Wars Canyon" by Lucasfilm crews. Numerous iconic scenes filmed inside, above, and at the entrance of the gorge. Lucasfilm returned to the gorge more than 20 years after filming Episode IV to shoot Episode I Tusken Raider sniper sequences for the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. [27] [16] [19] [28] | |
Ong Jemel outcrop | Tunisia | I | Tatooine | Sith landing desert mesa, Canyon Dune Turn ( Mos Espa podrace circuit) | Ong Jemel (Arabic: "camel's neck"). Meteorized rock zooform. Chott el-Gharsa salt flats. Directly near the Eriguet dunes boundary. Tozeur Governorate. North/northwest side of the outcrop loosely resembles a camel's neck. No footage of this portion of the outcrop was featured in the film. [29] | |
Sidi Jemour Mosque | Tunisia | IV | Tatooine | Anchorhead main road, Tosche Station (exterior), Mos Eisley perimeter | Ibadi mosque complex (16th century CE). Sidi Jemour coastal area. Groa outskirts. Médenine Governorate. Not a functioning mosque during Episode IV filming. Revived as a place of worship in 2013/2014. Extensive deleted Anchorhead/Tosche Station content filmed at this location involving Luke Skywalker, Biggs Darklighter, Camie, and The Fixer. Only Episode IV footage featuring this location is the Mos Eisley perimeter transition plate. [30] [16] [31] | |
Rub' al Khali | United Arab Emirates | VII | Jakku | Desert scenes on the planet Jakku [32] [4] | |
Bovingdon Airfield, Hertfordshire | United Kingdom (England) | R1 | Scarif | Battle scenes on the surface of Scarif [33] | |
Canary Wharf | United Kingdom (England) | R1 | Imperial Base | London's Canary Wharf tube station was used as the setting for the Imperial security complex on Scarif. The Norman Foster-designed station's escalators and glass safety doors are particularly noticeable in the film. [5] | |
Derwentwater, Cumbria | United Kingdom (England) | VII | Takodana | Lakeside setting of Maz Kanata's Castle on Takodana; some Lakeland Fells in the background are altered with CGI [34] [4] | |
Ivinghoe Beacon | United Kingdom (England) | IX | Kef Bir | Hill location covered in grassland [35] | |
Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean | United Kingdom (England) | VII | Takodana | Forest scenes on the surface of Takodana [36] [4] | |
RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire | United Kingdom (England) | IV, R1 | Yavin 4 Rebel Base | Interior of disused WWII airship sheds were used for the Rebel Base hangar scenes inside the Massassi Temple on the Fourth Moon of Yavin IV; Shed 1 was used in Ep.IV and Shed 2 was used for Rogue One. [37] [38] | |
RAF Greenham Common, Berkshire | United Kingdom (England) | VII, VIII | D'Qar | Disused aircraft revetments formed the backdrop for the Resistance Base [39] [4] | |
Thirlmere, Cumbria | United Kingdom (England) | VII | Takodana | Low-level X-Wing flight sequences over Takodana; the background was apparently flipped horizontally [34] [4] | |
Whippendell Wood, Cassiobury Park, Watford | United Kingdom (England) | I | Naboo forest scene | First meeting of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi with Jar Jar Binks. [40] [41] | |
Buttercup Valley (Imperial Sand Dunes) | United States (California) | VI | Tatooine | dune sea | Buttercup Valley is located in southeastern California ca. 10 miles from the Arizona border. Yuma (Arizona) is the closest town to the film site. Location used for the Great Pit of Carkoon scene. [42] [43] Lucasfilm returned to this area in August 1995 to shoot additional action for the Episode IV Special Edition (1997). Footage of stormtroopers roaming the dune sea in search of droids was fused with the original content filmed in the Gour Beni Mzab dunes (Tunisia) in March 1976. [44] [45] | |
| Death Valley National Park | United States (California) | IV | Tatooine desert | Several Tatooine scenes: [2] [46]
|
Del Norte County, CA | United States (California) | VI | Endor | Forest scenes on the moon of Endor | |
Twenty-Mule Team Canyon, Death Valley, California | United States (California) | VI | Tatooine: Road to Jabba's Palace | Two Tatooine scenes:
|
Image | Location | Country | Episode | Setting | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fox Studios, Sydney | Australia (New South Wales) | I, II, CW, III, R, VII, IX | |||
Ealing Studios | United Kingdom (England) | II | |||
Elstree Studios | United Kingdom (England) | II, III, R1, IV, V, VI | The largest Stage 6 was built specifically for The Empire Strikes Back in 1979 (since demolished) | ||
Leavesden Studios | United Kingdom (England) | I | |||
Pinewood Studios | United Kingdom (England) | VII, R1, VIII, Solo, IX | |||
Shepperton Studios | United Kingdom (England) | III, IV | Stage H was used for the final awards ceremony at the end of Episode IV |
Behind-the-scenes documentaries:
Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the eponymous 1977 film and quickly became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The franchise has been expanded into various films and other media, including television series, video games, novels, comic books, theme park attractions, and themed areas, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. Star Wars is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.
Darth Vader is a character in the Star Wars franchise. He is the primary antagonist of the original film trilogy and, as Anakin Skywalker, is the protagonist of the prequel trilogy. Born a slave on the planet Tatooine, he becomes a powerful Jedi. He is lured to the dark side of the Force by Chancellor Palpatine, and becomes the Sith Lord Darth Vader. After being severely wounded in a lightsaber battle, he is transformed into a cyborg. He is the husband of Padmé Amidala and the biological father of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa Solo.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film that is the sequel to The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002). It is the sixth film in the Star Wars film series, the third installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and third chronological chapter of the "Skywalker Saga". It is written and directed by George Lucas, who also served as executive producer. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz.
Yoda is a character in the Star Wars franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with The Force. He is a Jedi Master and a leader in the Jedi Order. Yoda first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, in which he was voiced and puppeteered by Frank Oz, who reprised the role in Return of the Jedi, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and the sequel trilogy. Outside of the films, the character was voiced most frequently by Tom Kane.
Tatooine is a fictional desert planet that appears in the Star Wars franchise. It is a beige-colored, desolate world orbiting a pair of binary stars, and inhabited by human settlers and a variety of other life forms. The planet was first seen in the original 1977 film Star Wars, and has to date featured in a total of seven Star Wars theatrical films, three live-action television series, and four animated series.
Coruscant is an ecumenopolis planet in the fictional Star Wars universe. It was first described in Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel Heir to the Empire. The planet made its first on-screen appearance in a scene added to Return of the Jedi for its 1997 re-release. It has gone on to become an important location in the Star Wars universe and appears frequently in Star Wars media. In-universe, Coruscant is a politically and strategically important planet, serving as the capital and seat of government for the Republic and Empire, as well as the headquarters of the Jedi Order. It is typically depicted as a bustling, yet highly stratified planet-spanning metropolis. Throughout the city's centuries-long development, new city blocks were built on top of old ones, forming levels. Coruscant has 5127 levels, with the 5127th being the wealthiest and the 1st being the poorest.
Yavin is a fictional planet in the Star Wars galaxy. It first appeared in the 1977 film Star Wars and is depicted as a large red gas giant with an extensive satellite system of moons. The hidden military base of the Rebel Alliance is located on its fourth moon, Yavin 4.
Star Wars: Labyrinth of Evil is a 2005 novel by James Luceno set in the fictional Star Wars universe. The novel serves as a lead-in to Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, and was loosely adapted into Volume Two of the Star Wars: Clone Wars microseries.
Over one hundred video games based on the Star Wars franchise have been released, dating back to some of the earliest home consoles. Some are based directly on films while others rely heavily on the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
Alderaan is a fictional planet featured in the Star Wars franchise. It is blue-green in appearance, depicted as a terrestrial planet with humanoid inhabitants, and characterized by a peaceful culture. It is the home planet of Princess Leia Organa, one of the lead characters in the film series, as well as former Rebel shock trooper Cara Dune. In the original 1977 film, Alderaan is destroyed by the Death Star's superlaser.
The Star Wars prequel trilogy, colloquially referred to as the prequels, is a series of epic space-opera films written and directed by George Lucas. It was produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The trilogy was released from 1999 to 2005 and is set before the original Star Wars trilogy (1977–1983), chronologically making it the first act of the Skywalker Saga. Lucas had planned a prequel trilogy before the release of the original film, but halted major Star Wars films beyond the original trilogy by 1981. When computer-generated imagery (CGI) had advanced to the level he wanted for the visual effects he wanted for subsequent films, Lucas revived plans for the prequels by the early 1990s. The trilogy marked Lucas's return to directing after a 22-year hiatus following the original Star Wars film in 1977, as well as a 16-year hiatus between the classic and prequel trilogies.
The music of the Star Wars franchise is composed and produced in conjunction with the development of the feature films, television series, and other merchandise within the epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas. The music for the primary feature films was written by John Williams. Williams' work on the series included the scores of nine feature films, a suite and several cues of thematic material for Solo and the theme music for the Galaxy's Edge Theme Park. These count among the most widely known and popular contributions to modern film music, and utilize a symphony orchestra and features an assortment of about fifty recurring musical themes to represent characters and other plot elements: one of the largest caches of themes in the history of film music.
Sheev Palpatine is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. He first appears on screen in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), in which he is credited as The Emperor, and is the overarching antagonist of the three film trilogies in the Skywalker Saga, in which he is portrayed by Ian McDiarmid. The character is also known by his Sith name, Darth Sidious, which was first used in the novelization of The Phantom Menace (1999). In creating Palpatine, Lucas was inspired by real-world examples of democratic backsliding during the rise and rule of dictators such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Adolf Hitler.
Darth Maul, later known simply as Maul, is a character in the Star Wars franchise. He first appeared in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace as a powerful Sith Lord and Darth Sidious' first apprentice. Though seemingly killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of the film, Darth Maul returned in the 2008 animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Star Wars creator George Lucas had intended for the resurrected Maul to serve as the main antagonist of the sequel film trilogy, but these plans were abandoned when Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. The character nonetheless reappeared in the 2014 animated series Star Wars Rebels and the 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story, voiced again by Witwer; Park physically reprised the role in Solo. Since his initial defeat in The Phantom Menace, Maul has become an independent criminal mastermind and endured as Obi-Wan's archenemy.
Mace Windu is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in the prequel trilogy. Jackson later reprised the role with voice only in the 2008 animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the 2019 sequel film The Rise of Skywalker, whilst Terrence C. Carson voiced the character in other projects, such as The Clone Wars animated television series. The character also appears in various canon and non-canon Star Wars media like books, comics, and video games.
Padmé Amidala is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise, appearing in the prequel trilogy and portrayed by Natalie Portman. First indirectly mentioned in Return of the Jedi, she is introduced in The Phantom Menace as the teenage Queen of Naboo, and after her reign, becomes a senator and an anti-war activist in the Galactic Senate. She secretly marries Anakin Skywalker, a Jedi Knight, then later dies while giving birth to twins Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa. Anakin's fear of losing Padmé serves as the catalyst in driving him to the dark side of the Force and becoming Darth Vader.
Notes
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help){{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)Sources
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)