Over the past 40 years, the various teams behind the franchise have scoured the globe to find the right ‘real world’ landscapes and backdrops for the hundreds of diverse planets that make up the Star Wars universe. And now, retailer Holiday Hypermarket has created a cool infographic that charts the real-life filming locations of the series.
This Christmas, the epic Star Wars saga final winds down with The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth film in the main franchise and the 11th film overall in what has become more of a pop-culture movement than a simple sci-fi series. Indeed, games, TV shows, books, theme parks and plenty more besides have all sprung up in its wake and Episode IX will undoubtedly be far from the last we see of George Lucas’ creation.
What makes Star Wars so enduringly popular, though? Is it the intricately woven stories? The dense world-building? Or the loveable quirky cast of characters? It might be all that and more, but there’s one thing for certain – Star Wars would not be Star Wars without its locations.
Over the past 40 years, the various teams behind the franchise have scoured the globe to find the right ‘real world’ landscapes and backdrops for the hundreds of diverse planets that make up the Star Wars universe. And now, retailer Holiday Hypermarket has created a cool infographic that charts the real-life filming locations of the series.
From the rustic charms of Tunisia, where much of Episode IV: A New Hope was shot (Tatooine), to the glaciers of Norway that hosted the stunning opening sequence of Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (Hoth), once you know where these scenes were shot you’ll want to start booking flights ASAP.
Being featured in Star Wars can even have a monumental effect on a location’s economy. Skellig Michael in Ireland, for example, has become a monumentally popular attraction since it was featured heavily in Episodes 7 and 8 of the new trilogy. The walled city of Dubrovnik in Croatia, meanwhile, has seen a massive influx of tourists in recent years due not only to featuring heavily in Game of Thrones but as the casino city Canta Bight in The Last Jedi.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though. Wherever your vacation plans might take you next, you’ll almost always be close to a Star Wars location!
