Recently, Kathleen Kennedy announced that J.J. Abrams’ wildly anticipated Star Wars: Episode VII would film the bulk of its sequel in noted UK studios including Shepperton, Elstree and Pinewood. The producer mentioned that previously Star Wars films shot scenes at these facilities, and it was their desire to tap into the series’ rich history as they embark on a new challenge and tell original stories.
Maybe they also could swing by Tunisia, where locations and props from Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope still stand to this day? As part of her books Every World’s a Stage and No More Stars, photographer Ra di Martino captured (via Laughing Squid) enlightening images of futuristic Star Wars props in Tunisian locations, meaning fans can trek to the North African country and touch a piece of Hollywood history. Here are three of our fave shots. You can find more on Martino’s official site:
This is cool, but honestly, how is it that George Lucas and his team didn’t have to clean this shit up once they were finished shooting? Did the Tunisian government, or perhaps the community, ask him to leave it up? The top pic of the person sitting on the ground near a Tatooine tower is just … odd. There’s no other way to put it.
What I love about it, however, is the physicality of it. Lucas took a beating from fans – and rightfully so – for relying too heavily on CGI effects for the prequel trilogy. These photos remind us that Star Wars used to come from actual props in a legitimate desert setting. Here’s hoping Abrams returns to a little of that authenticity when he begins creating his own Star Wars galaxy.
