Yoda’s first incarnation, this is
WITH his green, wrinkled skin, pointed ears and distinctive way of speaking to impart his ancient wisdom in the Star Wars saga, Yoda is one of the most memorable film characters.
But the Jedi Master, who made his debut in The Empire Strikes Back, could have looked very different if the makers had followed the original design, which is revealed here for the first time.
The drawing, by art director Joe Johnston, is quite unrecognisable as the Yoda that eventually hit the screens. With a snub nose, short ears, pale skin and more human features, he resembles a garden gnome.
It was a vision that was completely overhauled by Star Wars mogul George Lucas and other executives.
The final character was operated by puppeteer Frank Oz, who had found success on The Muppets, in the 1980 sequel to the original Star Wars film.
The 900-year-old Yoda tutors hero Luke Skywalker in the ways of the supernatural powers known as the ‘Force’, and has an idiosyncratic way with language.
In the third film, Return Of The Jedi, he declares: ‘When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.’
Johnston’s watercolour is on display at the exhibition Star Wars Identities at London’s O2. About 200 props, costumes and models are also on show.
A spokesman for the exhibition said: ‘In the early story development of Yoda, the initial descriptions varied from a large alien to a tiny one.
‘Once the design was settled, Yoda was realised by make-up and creatures supervisor Stuart Freeborn, who designed the alien as an intricately detailed puppet.’