The influences of the Holiday Special that are now Star Wars canon

How the Star Wars Holiday Special has influenced the formal canon

While the Star Wars Holiday Special is infamously famous as a piece of hot garbage derided by most viewers, thanks to its modern availability on the internet, it has become a bit of a cult film.

For this writer, I'll probably never choose to watch it again, except for the Boba Fett cartoon sequence which is quite entertaining as a side story. I like it so much, I even have the hoodie of this Fett!

And it's Boba Fett that brings us here today. 

You may have heard that Lucasfilm is developing a live action Star Wars show called The Mandalorian. Produced by Jon 'Happy Hogan' Favreau, it will follow a Mandalorian that appears to be following in the footsteps of Jango and Boba Fett. 

Favreau recently posted to Instagram a picture of the Mandalorian's rifle:

Did you spy it yet? Yes, the style of that weapon is remarkably similar to that which the Special Edition Boba carried.

It would seem then that the Holiday Special still has something to offer Star Wars fans and scriptwriters?

Take for example the plot point about Chewbacca. Chewie is returning home to visit his family for Life Day on the planet of Kyshkkk. 

You may recognise that name as it was featured in the Revenge of the Sith. Yes, the name of Chewie's planet was taken from the Holiday Special.

The original designs for the Special featured the Wookie homes in the trees which I think was inspired by the work of concept designer Ralph McQuarrie. These elements eventually made their way into the Ewok tree village in Jedi and the Revenge of the Sith.

Chewbacca, son of Attichitcuk

The recent Han Solo movie took things a step further when Chewbacca introduced himself to Han.

Their exchange:

Han: "So what's your name?"

Chewbacca: "Chewbacca, son of Attichitcuk"

And where does that name Attichitcuk come from? Yes, it is Chewie's father in the special.

The influence of the Special also extends to the Clone Wars television series. 

In The Mandalore Plot episode of 2010, the elongated Mandalorian helmets are based on Boba Fett's cartoon version.

The version of C-3PO on the 2001 Star Wars: Clone Wars was animated in a style that paid homage to the animation style of C-3PO in the Special.

Who knows what JJ Abrams may pinch for Episode IV?

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