The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

How do you follow up a genuine once-in-a-lifetime pop culture phenomenon like the initial release of Star Wars in 1977?  Well if you're writer/director/producer George Lucas, you use your ownership of the franchise to continue the story but in a unique new direction with a new director (Irwin Kirsher) along with a new up-and-coming writer (Lawrence Kasdan) to take over most creative decisions.  You also decide to bring back most of the main cast (Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse/James Earl Jones, Peter Mayhew) while deciding to introduce some exciting new characters including Yoda (Frank Oz) and Lando Calrissian).  Beyond that.....larger scale, more unpredictable twists, and a cliffhanger ending which left many audiences at the time genuinely suprised.  And what resulted was not only an enduring classic which not only redefined the genre but sequels for decades to come.....on the eve of its 45th Anniversary and just in time for May The Fourth, it's time to return to A Galaxy Far, Far Away!   Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene GershonSend us Fan MailSupport the showhttps://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/