George Lucas Explains Why Rebels’ Ships Are Faster Than Empire’s

George Lucas has a rich and colorful explanation behind why the Rebels’ ships are much faster than the Empire’s ships. Even at the peak of its power, the Empire could not outdo the Rebels, and Lucas’ reasoning is connected to the economic aspect of Star Wars and real-world history.

Lucas’ Rebellion is determined but scattered in the original Star Wars films. Compared to the monochromatic and standardized star destroyers and TIE fighters, their ships came in a lot of variety, with different shapes, sizes, and colors.

It mirrored the eclectic mix of people resisting the Empire that ruled the Star Wars galaxy. This depiction created a dichotomy between them and their well-funded enemy, which the viewers could see on the screen.

However, there’s more to the decision than just aesthetic appeal. The first episode of Disney’s Light and Magic revealed that the Rebellion was faster than the Empire as they were made to be. For Lucas, Rebels’ ships were modified to go faster. In contrast, the Empire’s ships just came readymade from a factory.

Lucas’ vision for the Rebellion of Star Wars also displayed the vibrance of the Rebel Alliance’s original members, including Princess Leia. There’s also a real-world history connection. Real-world hot rods became prominent after World War II when soldiers returning home were given technical training. They saw the potential in early, clunky vehicles.

The dedication and grit also showed through the Rebellion, as they improved their underdog status. Though they lacked the resources of the Empire, they worked with what they had to surpass their enemy.

The reason behind the Rebels’ ships being much faster than the Empire’s ships shows the amount of thought, care, and love that went into building the Star Wars universe. The universe was built keeping real-world influences and changes in mind, which makes it all the more relatable.

About Star Wars

Star Wars is an American epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the 1977 film Star Wars: A New Hope and quickly became a worldwide pop-culture phenomenon.

It has three trilogies at its core – Original, Prequel, and Sequel, spread across five decades and interspersed with at least a dozen spin-off series and films.

Created by George Lucas and his Lucasfilm, the franchise is currently under the Disney umbrella. All the Star Wars films and shows are now available to binge on Disney+ streaming service.