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These wholesome behind the scenes moments from Star Wars really warm our heart.
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00:00Very few franchises possess the ability to warm your heart quite like the galaxy far, far away.
00:07Sure, there's a ton of heartbreak to be experienced along the way as well,
00:11with Chosen Ones falling, beloved Jedi Masters perishing, and Empires rising.
00:17However, Star Wars still always finds a way to leave you with a big ol' smile on your face
00:22with its captivating characters, rousing set pieces, moving themes, beloved John Williams, and more.
00:28This iconic universe is arguably just as wholesome behind and away from the movie and TV cameras at times too.
00:37So I'm Gareth, you're watching WhatCultureStarWars, and here are 10 wholesome behind-the-scenes Star Wars moments.
00:45This is where the nice stuff begins.
00:47Number 10. Mark Hamill Surprises Massive Star Wars Fan Adam Scott
00:51For entire generations, Mark Hamill is a damn hero.
00:55The super-talented star brought the legendary Luke Skywalker to life throughout the original trilogy,
01:01before eventually returning to the role in the sequels.
01:04Meaning that both adults and children all over the world today tend to melt whenever he walks into a room.
01:10And that was the wholesome experience none other than Adam Scott went through on Jimmy Kimmel Live back in 2017.
01:16Appearing on the show on May the 4th, Star Wars Day of All Days, the severance actor talked about being
01:23a massive Star Wars fan.
01:25He even wrote Hamill a letter and invited him to his second birthday party around the time Episode 5 The
01:30Empire Strikes Back was heading into theatres.
01:33Hamill sadly couldn't attend, but he was able to make up for that no-show.
01:36Midway through Scott's story, the epic Star Wars main theme blasted through the speakers.
01:43And a stunned Scott could not contain his shock and excitement when it was revealed that Hamill was in the
01:48studio too.
01:49Watching a grown man and one of the most successful actors working today suddenly become a star-struck kid was
01:56incredibly heartwarming.
01:57And if seeing his idol and having his dreams come true wasn't enough,
02:01he was also gifted a lightsaber and has since become pals with Hamill.
02:05What a life.
02:06Number 9. John Boyega reacts to seeing himself in the Force Awakens trailer.
02:11John Boyega's time in the galaxy far, far away may not have gone the way many would have liked,
02:16but that will never change the fact that it started out in the most delightful way imaginable.
02:21One could only imagine the feeling of being cast as one of the central characters in a Star Wars movie.
02:27It must have been surreal turning up to set each day and walking around the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo
02:33and Chewbacca.
02:33Like what? The whole experience probably felt like a dream for Boyega.
02:37But that dream likely felt a little bit more real when the Brit finally got to watch the first trailer
02:42for Episode 7, The Force Awakens.
02:45As the entire planet stopped what they were doing and glued their eyes to a screen,
02:49Boyega was captured doing the same thing at home and understandably losing his damn mind.
02:54There he was, speaking Finn's words and holding the Skywalker family lightsaber.
03:00With that latter shot being enough to send the actor flying over his own couch.
03:04It's the sort of overwhelming and unbelievable moment that would leave any long-time Star Wars lover exploding with joy.
03:13And watching a giddy Boyega do precisely that will always induce a smile.
03:17I would absolutely lose my cool if I saw myself on screen holding a lightsaber.
03:21And while on the subject of Star Wars trailers, I want to know right now what do you think is
03:25the greatest Star Wars trailer of all time?
03:28It could be from a movie, a TV show, a game, whatever it is, let me know in the comments
03:32down below.
03:33Number 8. A precious father and son moment made possible by The Mandalorian.
03:38Families all over our world have bonded over Star Wars.
03:42For many, they're some of the first movies they remember sitting down watching with a parent, a grandparent or sibling.
03:48And the galaxy far, far away will forever hold a special place in their hearts for that reason.
03:53Omid Abtahi and his son are two more folks you can add to that list of families bonding over this
03:59wonderful franchise.
04:01With The Mandalorian actor revealing one of the most wholesome Star Wars stories back in 2023.
04:07Abtahi plays Dr. Penn Pershing, of course.
04:10And during the filming of Season 3 of The Mandalorian, he was able to bring his son to work to
04:15be an extra on Coruscant.
04:16Best dad ever, quite possibly.
04:18It must have been quite the day for Abtahi's boy.
04:21And once the pair got home that night, the actor shared a moment with his lad that he will never
04:25forget.
04:26As he'd reveal on X, his son told him,
04:28Coruscant is real, I've been there.
04:31After Abtahi kissed him on the head and turned off the light for him to go to sleep.
04:35With a tear in his eye, the actor replied,
04:37Yes, you have, baby.
04:38Oh, no, you're crying.
04:40This is what Star Wars is all about, folks.
04:42Number 7, Hayden Christensen and Kelly Marie Tran get some love during Star Wars Celebration.
04:48Becoming a part of the galaxy far, far away should be a life-changing experience for the better.
04:55However, while some actors certainly felt the love after appearing as various Jedi, Sith, Rebels,
05:01members of the Empire and alien lifeforms,
05:04others had to endure some horrific abuse online and were targeted by the media for their work in the franchise.
05:10Like the aforementioned John Boyega, Hayden Christensen and Kelly Marie Tran are two other Star Wars actors
05:17who were blasted and attacked by some sections of the audience and critics for a while there,
05:23and you wouldn't have blamed them for turning their backs on this franchise forever.
05:26However, over the years, fans have made it their mission to remind both Christensen and Tran
05:31that they are still truly loved and welcome in this galaxy,
05:36with both actors receiving lovely reactions at various Star Wars Celebration events.
05:41Tran was visibly emotional after hearing the roar of support she was given at the 2019 event,
05:47following on from the racist and sexist abuse she'd received after being cast as Rose in Episode 8,
05:52The Last Jedi, and Christensen similarly struggled to fight back the tears when he saw the passionate
05:57crowd at the 2023 event after being criticized for his prequel trilogy performances as Anakin Skywalker
06:04for years.
06:05Seeing two brilliant and important parts of the Star Wars world finally gain the love and appreciation
06:11they deserved away from a Star Wars set was extremely moving.
06:166. Diego Luna Loves Jabba the Hutt
06:18Everyone has their favorite Star Wars characters, right?
06:22One character who doesn't typically find themselves near the top of those lists, though,
06:26is the giant gangster slug once seen lounging around on Tatooine.
06:31However, there is one person out there who simply cannot get enough of Jabba the Hutt,
06:35and he also happens to play a character who was knocking around the galaxy far, far away
06:39at the same time the slimy criminal was.
06:42If you're in need of a quick injection of joy in your day,
06:45then just look at the way the great Diego Luna talks about his precious Jabba.
06:50In various interviews, the Cassian Andor actor has surprisingly gushed over the massive hut
06:55and has made no secret of his desire to, um, touch the gross skin of the infamous alien.
07:02Whatever floats your boat, Diego.
07:04Well, when given the choice between French kissing the big guy or punching an Ewok in the face,
07:08Luna happily went for the former, refusing to hide his love for this amazing character.
07:14Those were his words.
07:15Some may find it a touch weird, sure.
07:18But there's also something undeniably sweet and endearing about the way Luna talks about
07:22one of the most disgusting and villainous characters in the galaxy.
07:26As of 2025, we're still yet to see Andor and Jabba cross paths on screen,
07:30and it actually seems like the actor himself has given up on ever getting to meet his favourite.
07:34But who knows, maybe Andor Season 2 will finally give us that long-awaited interaction,
07:40and make Luna's real-life Jabba dreams come true.
07:43Make it happen, Disney.
07:44If you're having fun looking at these heartwarming behind-the-scenes, backstage,
07:47or just away from the movie and TV cameras, Star Wars moments,
07:51then hit that subscribe button down below for even more WhatCulture Star Wars videos.
07:56Number 5.
07:56Fans celebrate Ahmed Best Star Wars Return
07:59As this list is already noted, way too many brilliant actors have seen their Star Wars dreams
08:06turn into nightmares, due to the way critics and some parts of the audience reacted to their
08:11performances or presence in the galaxy far, far away.
08:14Before those aforementioned stars all experienced unacceptable levels of abuse and criticism,
08:21though, Ahmed Best was the first person to really go through horrendous waves of fan
08:25and critical backlash for his work in the franchise. Best debuted in Episode I The Phantom Menace,
08:31of course, helping bring the groundbreaking, fully CGI-supporting character of Jar Jar Binks to
08:37life. However, the negative reception to Binks and abuse sent Best's way ultimately led to the
08:42actor considering taking his own life. But then something rather wholesome finally happened.
08:4824 years after Best's first Star Wars appearance, the actor surprisingly returned to the
08:54franchise in The Mandalorian TV show, being revealed as the Jedi Master, Keller and Beck,
08:59who saved Grogu during Order 66. Now, Best had also appeared as Beck in the Star Wars Jedi Temple
09:06Challenge children's game show, but this was his big comeback. And the reaction to his lightsaber-wielding
09:12Star Wars return online was positive to say the least, with fans going out of their way to let Best
09:18know
09:19just how loved he was and happy they were to see him back in this galaxy. It took way too
09:24long,
09:25but it finally feels like Best is getting the flowers he's always deserved for being such an
09:29important part of both the Star Wars universe and the game-changing motion capture technology
09:35being constantly used today. You'll love to see it.
09:384. Hayden Christensen Thanks Matt Lanter for Keeping Star Wars Alive
09:42Though Hayden Christensen's is unquestionably the face that springs to mind when the name
09:48Anakin Skywalker pops up in your average Star Wars conversation, the character has also been
09:53brilliantly played by the great Matt Lanter. In the likes of Star Wars The Clone Wars, Rebels,
09:58Tales of the Jedi, various Lego projects, and even in video games, Lanter has voiced the eventual
10:04Darth Vader, and his terrific work in those animated shows and games definitely added interesting new
10:10layers to the Skywalker character. Both Lanter and the rest of the ridiculously talented voice actors
10:15heard in those projects also kept the franchise going back when movies and live-action shows weren't
10:21showing up on screens every year. This is something that Christensen was quick to remind his fellow
10:26Anakin when they finally met for the very first time. According to the Dark Side Collection book,
10:31thanks for keeping Star Wars alive were the words the live-action Annie said to his animated
10:37counterpart when they finally met. And if that doesn't bring a tear to your eye, well, nothing
10:41will. Christensen has been vocal about watching The Clone Wars to prepare for his return in the
10:45Obi-Wan Kenobi show, and clearly felt that Lanter's voice work as Skywalker helped keep the Star Wars
10:51flame burning in a fantastic way. 3. The Wonderful Way Ewan McGregor Got a Performance Out of a Child
10:57Actor There's a moment there in Episode 2, Attack of the Clones, where Obi-Wan Kenobi ends up
11:02interacting with none other than legendary bounty hunter Boba Fett. Well, he's not quite a sharp
11:08shooting, Beskar-wearing badass just yet, but the young lad who would become that icon was there
11:14on Kamino with his dad Jango during this prequel movie. While shooting the moment when Obi-Wan and
11:20Boba first meet, George Lucas actually found it rather tough to get the performance he wanted out
11:25of a young Daniel Logan. Lucas wanted the lad to be suspicious of the Jedi, but Logan was struggling
11:30to pull the right face. It happens. Then, in one of the most hilarious and sweet instances of an
11:36experienced actor helping out a scene partner you'll ever hear, Ewan McGregor told Logan to
11:41imagine that Kenobi had just let one rip as the door opened to reveal him standing there.
11:46McGregor would explain on The Graham Norton Show that not only did his strange fart notes work,
11:51the face that Logan pulled after he'd given it was the one that ended up making it into the finished
11:56movie. Now you'll never look at that scene the same way again.
11:592. Jake Lloyd is doing better and remains a big Star Wars fan
12:03Following his performance as a young Anakin Skywalker in Episode I The Phantom Menace,
12:08child actor Jake Lloyd was also sadly criticized and targeted by both audiences and critics.
12:15Contrary to popular belief, though, said reactions weren't the reason Lloyd largely disappeared from
12:20the screen in the years after that Star Wars debut, and they also didn't contribute to the star's
12:25eventual struggles with mental illness. According to Lloyd's mother, Lisa,
12:29Jake was always going to eventually become schizophrenic due to a history of schizophrenia
12:34on his biological father's side of the family. Lloyd was ultimately diagnosed with paranoid
12:40schizophrenia. His psychiatrist also felt that Lloyd was always going to deal with this mental illness.
12:45Along with this, Lisa noted how she protected him from much of the Star Wars negativity,
12:49outside of a bit of bullying at school. And his reasons for walking away from acting were more
12:54to do with family. The family were going through a divorce, and Lisa explained that things were
12:59unsettled and kind of rough, and Jake didn't seem to be having a lot of fun auditioning anymore.
13:03And a lot of this can be found in a Scripps news article that if you've not read already,
13:07is definitely worth a read. You'll be pleased to hear that things are now looking up for the actor,
13:12though. After a 10-month stint in prison following a high-speed car chase in 2015,
13:16Dean, the sudden death of his sister in 2018, suffering what his mother described as a full-blown
13:21psychotic break in 2023, and recently finishing an 18-month stay at an inpatient mental health
13:28facility in Southern California. As revealed in a follow-up article from Clayton Sandel,
13:33Lloyd is living at a new rehabilitation center and receiving treatment there, and is said to still be
13:39a huge fan of Star Wars, playing the video games, watching the Ahsoka series, and getting excited about
13:44the idea of spending May the 4th with his mom. Jake also still has fond memories of his interactions
13:50with fans, and mentioned this year that the experience I've had with fans is immediately
13:54therapeutic. Right now, it's still therapeutic. It's helpful for people and healthy. It isn't
14:00something I'd shy away from. Just hearing that Lloyd is in a bare place after a rough time there
14:04brings warm feelings to our hearts. So keep sending him all the love, folks.
14:091. George Lucas meets Grogu
14:12In the years since selling Lucasfilm to the House of Mouse, George Lucas hasn't really been
14:17massively involved in the creation of this new era of Star Wars stories. However, the creators behind
14:23the new wave of tales set in this galaxy far, far away are still more than happy to roll out
14:28the red
14:28carpet for the bloke who started it all should he feel like dropping by to visit a set. And it
14:33was
14:33during one of said occasional set visits, when perhaps the most heartwarming interaction you
14:39didn't know you needed to see occurred. As shown in the Disney Gallery's Star Wars The Mandalorian
14:44Making of Season 2 documentary, easy for me to say, Lucas was given the chance to hold arguably the
14:50most popular edition to the franchise since Disney purchased it. And it is every bit as wholesome as
14:56you'd expect watching the person described as the child's great-great-grandfather rock the
15:01Grogu animatronic whilst an overjoyed Jon Favreau snapped photos on his phone. Just look at their
15:07faces. Try not to crack a massive smile at the Star Wars equivalent of watching a loving grandparent
15:13pick up their grandkid for the very first time. You know, if that grandkid was green, could make
15:18animals float and eat frog eggs. Yeah.
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