| Millennium Falcon | |
|---|---|
| Star Wars vehicle | |
 TheMillennium Falcon as seen inStar Wars: A New Hope | |
| First appearance | Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) |
| Last appearance | Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) |
| Created by | George Lucas |
| Designed by | Joe Johnston |
| Information | |
| Affiliation |
|
| Made by | Corellian Engineering Corporation |
| Auxiliary vehicles |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Class | YT-1300F light freighter / smuggling ship |
| Armaments |
|
| Defenses |
|
| Maximum speed |
|
| Propulsion | |
| Power |
|
| Length | 34.75 metres (114.0 ft) |
| Height | 7.8 metres (26 ft) |
| Population volume |
|
TheMillennium Falcon is a fictionalstarship in theStar Wars franchise. Designed byJoe Johnston for the filmStar Wars (1977),[a] it has subsequently appeared inThe Star Wars Holiday Special (1978),The Empire Strikes Back (1980),Return of the Jedi (1983),Revenge of the Sith (2005),The Force Awakens (2015),The Last Jedi (2017),Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), andThe Rise of Skywalker (2019). Additionally, theFalcon appears in a variety ofStar Wars spin-off works, including books, comics, and games;James Luceno's novelMillennium Falcon focuses on the titular ship.[1] It also appears in the 2014 animated filmThe Lego Movie inLego form.
The ship, aYT-1300 Corellian light freighter, is primarilycommanded by smugglerHan Solo and hisWookieefirst mate,Chewbacca, and was previouslyowned by gambler/con-artistLando Calrissian.Solo: A Star Wars Story depicts the ship as being co-piloted by, and later integrated with, Calrissian'sdroid L3-37. Described as being one of the fastest vessels in theStar Wars canon, theFalcon looks worn-out but despite its humble origins and shabby exterior, theMillennium Falcon has played a critical role in some of the greatest victories of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic.
The ship originally had a more elongated appearance, but this design's similarity to the Eagle Transporters inSpace: 1999 promptedGeorge Lucas to change theFalcon's design.[2] The original model was modified, re-scaled, and used asPrincess Leia's ship,Tantive IV.[3] ModelmakerJoe Johnston had about four weeks to redesign theFalcon, and Lucas' only suggestion to Johnston was to "think of aflying saucer".[4] Johnston did not want to produce a "basic flying saucer", so he created the offset cockpit, forward cargo mandibles, and rear slot for the engines.[4] It was also said that the shape of the ship was roughly based on a hamburger with an olive-on-the-side cockpit. The design was simple enough to create in the four-week window. Johnston called production of the newFalcon design one of his most intense projects.[4]
The sound of the ship traveling throughhyperspace comes from two tracks of the engine noise of aMcDonnell Douglas DC-9, with one track slightly out of synchronization with the other to introduce aphasing effect.[5] To this, sound designerBen Burtt added the hum of the cooling fans on the motion-control rig atIndustrial Light & Magic (ILM).[5]
It has been noted that the cockpit with its greenhouse-style window was likely inspired by the cockpit of the AmericanB-29 Superfortress.[6][7][8]
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Visually, theMillennium Falcon was represented by several models and external and internal sets. ForStar Wars, a partial exterior set was constructed and the set dressed as Mos Eisley's Docking Bay 94 and the Death Star hangar. Besides the functional landing gear, an additional support held up the structure and was disguised as a fuel line. The interior set included the starboard ring corridor, the boarding ramp, cockpit access tunnel, gun turret ladder, secret compartments, and the forward hold. The cockpit was constructed as a separate set that could be rocked when the ship was supposed to shake. Several inconsistencies exist between the internal set and the external set, the cockpit access tunnel angle being the most noticeable.
The effects models forStar Wars matched the design of the exterior set. The primary model was five feet long and detailed with various kit parts. The ship was represented by amatte painting whenPrincess Leia sees it for the first time, showing the full upper surface. For the1997 "Special Edition", a digital model replaces the effects model in several shots, and is used in a new shot of theFalcon lifting off from Docking Bay 94.[9]
ForThe Empire Strikes Back (1980), a new external set was constructed. In spring 1979, Marcon Fabrications, a heavy engineering firm that served the UK's petrochemical and oil industries,[10] was hired to build a movable full-scale external model capable of "moving as if it were about to take off."[10] Built in secrecy under the project code nameMagic Roundabout,[10][11] the company leased the 1930s WesternSunderlandFlying Boathangar inPembroke Dock,West Wales.[11][12] The model, which took three months to construct, weighed over 25 long tons (25 t), measured 65 feet (20 m) in diameter and 20 feet (6.1 m) high, and usedcompressed air hover pads for up to 1.5 inches (38 mm) of hover-height movement around the set.[11][13][14] It was then disassembled and shipped to Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, for filming.[10] Today, the Pembroke Dock museum has an exhibit about the project.[10][11]
Along with the full-size mock-up of theFalcon, a new miniature model was created forThe Empire Strikes Back to allow ILM to film more intricate in-flight rolls and pitches that were not possible with the five-foot model. This model was able to be mounted on agimbal that allowed ILM to simulate very difficult maneuvers as the ship attempted to outrun Imperial TIE fighters during the asteroid-field-escape scene from the film.[2] The new model, which measured at approximately 32 inches in length, had several surface features that differed from the five-foot model, including an updated landing gear and different surfacegreebles. The 32" model was the version of theMillennium Falcon most depicted in toys, model kits, and promotional materials for theStar Wars universe prior to the release of thesequel trilogy. The model was reused forReturn of the Jedi (1983). At the end of this production, the model was destroyed.[15]
As inStar Wars, the location set was changed around the ship set. The only major design change was to add a landing gear where the disguised fuel line had been inStar Wars. This set included the port side, giving the set seven landing gears. The internal set was slightly refitted fromA New Hope and featured a sliding cockpit door, a larger cargo hold, an additional corridor to port, and an equipment room. The cockpit was rebuilt slightly larger to allow more actors to fit comfortably;[16] shots were apparently slightly cropped in later releases of the film to hide this alteration.[17] Two new interior sets were created that are not shown to connect to the rest of the set: a top hatch thatLando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) uses to rescueLuke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and the compartment where Luke rests on a bunk.
The 5-foot-long (1.5 m) effects model fromStar Wars was modified to reflect the additional landing gear, and several new models were built, including one roughly the size of aU.S. quarter dollar. For the 1997 Special Edition, aCGI model replaced the effects model during the approach and landing on Cloud City.
No new models or sets were created forReturn of the Jedi. A portion of the full-scale ship was used for a scene cut from the film in which several characters board theFalcon in a sandstorm on Tatooine. In the scene when Han exacts a promise from Lando not to damage theFalcon, theFalcon is represented by a backdrop painting. It is also in a matte painting of the entire hangar bay.
The internal and external sets were scrapped after filming onReturn of the Jedi ended.[13] The effects models were kept byLucasfilm and some have been on display from time to time.
A digital version of theFalcon appears briefly on Coruscant inRevenge of the Sith (2005).[18] Lucas has confirmed that the ship is theFalcon and not another ship of similar design.[19] A CGI version of the vessel also appears in the Disney attractionStar Tours: The Adventures Continue.
On June 3, 2014,TMZ confirmed that theFalcon would return forStar Wars: The Force Awakens when it leaked a photo from the set of the film, showing a full-scale version of theFalcon being built.[20] An effects shot of theFalcon appears in theteaser trailer forThe Force Awakens, released on November 28, 2014. This version of the ship is a digital recreation[21] of the original 1977 five-foot model, with additional detailing reflecting the passage of time. The most noticeable change is the rectangularsensor array above the top hull, which replaces the circular dish from the first three films.[22]
On April 16, 2021, concept artist Phil Saunders shared some abandoned concept art, and revealed thatJudi Dench was considered for a role inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as the original designer of theMillennium Falcon.[23]
What a piece of junk!
— Luke Skywalker,A New Hope
You came in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.
— Leia Organa,A New Hope
Han Solo won theMillennium Falcon fromLando Calrissian in the card gamesabacc several years before the events of the originalStar Wars film.[24] In that movie,Obi-Wan Kenobi andLuke Skywalker charter the ship in theMos Eisley cantina to deliver them,C-3PO,R2-D2, and the stolenDeath Star plans toAlderaan. When theFalcon is captured by the Death Star, the group conceal themselves in smuggling compartments built into the floor to avoid detection during a search of the ship. The group eventually escapes aboard theFalcon after rescuing Princess Leia. Solo later collects his fee for delivering them to the hidden Rebel base on Yavin IV and departs under bitter circumstances, but returns to assist Luke in destroying the Death Star.
Solo pilots theFalcon, with Chewbacca, Leia, and C-3PO aboard, to elude the Imperial fleet inThe Empire Strikes Back, which is a notable struggle due to a damaged hyperdrive. They take refuge at Cloud City, whereDarth Vader captures Solo afterBoba Fett tracks them there. Lando Calrissian helps the others escape, with R2-D2 successfully repairing the ship's hyperdrive. At the film's end, he departs in theFalcon to track down Solo and his captor,Jabba the Hutt. Calrissian again captains theFalcon during the climax ofReturn of the Jedi, withNien Nunb as co-pilot, to destroy the second Death Star. Before the second Death Star is destroyed, Lando accidentally damages the ship by hitting the circular sensorrectenna dish on a random pipe or circuit in the second Death Star. Regardless, Lando and the others successfully destroy theGalactic Empire.
InStar Wars: The Force Awakens, set some 30 years afterReturn of the Jedi, theFalcon is in the possession of a scrap dealer namedUnkar Plutt on the desert planetJakku, having been stolen from Solo and Chewbacca some years prior. ScavengerRey and former stormtrooperFinn steal theFalcon in order to escape from an attack by theFirst Order, having been targeted for having the droidBB-8 in their possession. They are captured by a smuggling freighter, which turns out to be piloted by Solo and Chewbacca, who reclaim theFalcon. Forced to escape in theFalcon from an ambush by parties to whom Solo is heavily in debt, Solo reluctantly agrees to help Rey and Finn return BB-8 to theResistance. After Rey is captured by the First Order, Solo agrees to take Finn in theFalcon to the First Order's new Starkiller Base—a planet that has been converted into the next generation of 'Death Star'—by attempting a risky maneuver of bypassing the planet's defences by exiting hyperspace in its atmosphere. When Solo is killed by his son, the rebels escape the destructing Starkiller Base. Later, Rey uses a newly-assembled map to travel to Ahch-To, the site of the first Jedi temple, to make contact with the long-lost Luke Skywalker, travelling in theFalcon in the company of Chewbacca and R2-D2.
TheFalcon appears again inStar Wars: The Last Jedi, still on Ahch-To withRey andChewbacca. Later in the film, Chewbacca and Rey take theFalcon to the planet Crait, where the Resistance is under attack by the First Order. TheFalcon loses its sensor dish for the third time on Crait, after it is shot off by a TIE fighter, but still manages to single-handedly take out most of the First Order's fighters on the planet while Luke distracts Kylo Ren. After the battle, surviving Resistance personnel leave Crait aboard theFalcon.
InThe Last Jedi, Rey uses theFalcon'sescape pod to boardSupreme Leader Snoke's flagship, theMega-class Star DreadnoughtSupremacy. DirectorRian Johnson noted that he wanted its design to resemble a coffin, inspired byC.S. Lewis'Perelandra. The escape pod wasmonogrammed to say "Property of Han Solo".[25] In the filmSolo: A Star Wars Story, it is revealed that Lando modified theFalcon by putting an escape pod between the frontal 'mandibles', which Han jettisons to escape agravity well.[26]
InThe Rise of Skywalker theFalcon is piloted by Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca and Wedge Antilles in the final battle of Exegol, leading the entire fleet of free worlds against theSith Eternal forces.
In the initial film, Solo brags that theFalcon "made theKessel Run in less than twelveparsecs".[b] As the parsec is a unit of distance, not time, different explanations have been provided. In the fourth draft of the script, Kenobi "reacts to Solo's stupid attempt to impress them with obvious misinformation."[27] Lucas acknowledged the misnomer in 1977, saying that Han modified "the navigational system to get through hyperspace in the shortest possible distance".[28] On the film's DVDaudio commentary, Lucas further explained that in theStar Wars universe, traveling through hyperspace requires careful navigation to avoid stars, planets, asteroids, and other obstacles,[29] and that is because no long-distance journey can be made in a straight line, the "fastest" ship is the one that can plot the "most direct course", thereby traveling the least distance.[29]
InThe Force Awakens,Rey references the Kessel Run but describes it as being completed in fourteen parsecs, after which Solo corrects her.
InSolo: A Star Wars Story, Solo's Kessel Run is depicted in detail, providing an explanation for the "twelve parsec" boast. Solo has to make many calculated jumps to avoid killing the crew. After integrating the memory module of Lando's damaged L3 droid into the ship's navigation, Solo is able to take a "shortcut"[28] (which is dangerously close to ablack hole). Chewbacca indicates the real distance was closer to 13 parsecs, but Solo insists, "Not if you round down," implying that the claim of "less than twelve parsecs" is slightly exaggerated.
TheFalcon has been depicted many times in the franchise, and its ownership and command have changed several times.
Joss Whedon credits theMillennium Falcon as one of his two primary inspirations for hisFirefly television show.[30] TheFalcon and theFalcon's distinct shape appear inStar Trek: First Contact,[31]Blade Runner,[32]Spaceballs, andStarship Troopers.[33] The manga seriesBerserk includes aMillennium Falcon arc.[34]
SpaceX states thattheir launch vehicles (exceptStarship) are named after theMillennium Falcon.[35]
TheUnited States Air Force named the first of their software factoriesKessel Run for the way they intended to "smuggle" inagile software development techniques and set speed records.[36][37]
The middle Cambrian arthropodCambroraster falcatus is named after theMillennium Falcon.[38]
Kenner,[39]Hasbro,[40][41] Steel Tec,[42]Master Replicas,[43] Code 3 Collectibles andMicro Machines have all releasedMillennium Falcon toys and puzzles, including aTransformers version of the ship.
Hot Wheels has made a model of the ship for theirStar Wars starship line[44] and a version of it as a car.[45] It is also available as a Hot Wheels playset.[46]
Lego has released multiple versions of theMillennium Falcon in varying sizes. The 5,195-piece Lego model (part of theStar Wars "Ultimate Collectors Series") was physically the largest Lego set sold by the company, until it was topped in 2008 by the LegoTaj Mahal.[47][48] In September 2017, Lego released an updatedMillennium Falcon set in theStar Wars "Ultimate Collectors Series". With the new interior and more details compared to the 2007 model, the 7,541-piece model is the most expensive commercially available Lego set.[49][50] Lego has also made a version of theFalcon to tie in withSolo: AStar Wars Story. It is called the Kessel Run Millennium Falcon.[51] A version called The Dark Falcon features alternate characters such as Darth Jar Jar and Jedi Vader, showing theMillennium Falcon with black coloring.[52]
On May 31, 2019, a full sized replica of theFalcon was opened to the public along with the rest ofStar Wars: Galaxy's Edge at theDisneyland Resort inAnaheim, California, along with aflight simulator attraction,Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, in which riders take control of theFalcon from inside itscockpit. An identical version of the attraction opened on August 29, 2019, atDisney's Hollywood Studios at theWalt Disney World Resort inOrlando, Florida.
Footnotes
Citations
It's a very simple ship, very economical ship, although the modifications he made to it are rather extensive – mostly to the navigational system to get through hyperspace in the shortest possible distance (par-sect) [sic].
Bill George had been making a replica of theMillennium Falcon [ . . . ] we were so frantic to get more buildings into the cityscape that we grabbed Bill's ship, bristled it with etched brass, and plopped it into different shots. Instant building.
