The Empire Strikes Back (1950)

I think this may be the most impressive Star Wars parody/tribute/whatever I've ever seen, and I've seen some truly great ones.

This makes me want to do a 13 episode webseries, probably serialized 3 minutes at a time, that's entirely done in the 1950s Sci-Fi style, with locations at Vasquez Rocks, sets that look like the inside of a submarine, with square-jawed heroes and bullet-bra'd heroines. 

62 thoughts on “The Empire Strikes Back (1950)”

  2. That is the most wonderful idea I have heard all day. I would certainly give an amount of dollars greater than zero for this.
    Also, you should have Scott Kurtz do the voice of the robot.

  4. I”d hope your opening sequence would be along the lines of Space Patrol with a cheesy announcer saying something like, “Wil Wheaton, commander in chief of the Kosmic Kazoooooooo!”
    ..or, you know, something that makes more sense.

  12. This is one of the best things I have ever seen. Today is my Star Wars-obsessed son’s fourth birthday and he just made me watch it with him twice.
    I am dying to do something like that out at Vasquez Rocks, though I was thinking of making westerns…

  14. Remember to talk to your son about the Star Wars prequels, because if you don't … someone else will.

  18. I have seen, now that I think about it, surprisingly few Star Wars parodies/tributes/whatevers, but I do think this one is currently in the running for ‘most favorite thing ever’ (this is a traveling trophy that travels a lot, but it’s still pretty rarified air)
    Your serial idea is pretty awesome too. Now that you mention it Wil Wheaton is actually a pretty awesome 50s sci-fi name… though Wil Windsor or Willard Wheaton would be better.

  21. It's not a parody; it would be sincere. It would just be made in the style of those 1950s Sci-Fi matinees that I love so much.

  22. I have already failed him. He… (and please imagine me saying this with my eyes closed in shame and horror) …he thinks the podrace is totally wizard.

  23. You are going to have to search far and wide to find an actor who can scream like the heroine did in this reel. I mean being able to do the ‘pause, prepare to scream, deep breath, high pitch scream’ and in a way is so very non convincing. That kind of scream is not something that comes naturally. That takes practice.

  25. That is completely cool. Thanks for sharing!
    And I am certain, Wil, that you could make something MUCH cooler. That is, if it wouldn’t be, you know, too much of a challenge. We wouldn’t want you to have to, you know, stretch your talents or anything. It would be quite a challenge. But, that’s OK… sometimes maybe we expect too much from you.
    (You see what I did there?)

  32. Here is a Star Wars Parody we did a while back:
    Boba Fett and the Raiders


    This was when Boba Fett had just established his own recording label “The Electric LightSaber Orchestra”

  33. I’m echoing any sentiments that would encourage you to do such a thing. That was awesome and I’m sure any webisode idea ya got will be pretty damn good.
    My only question is, besides current commitments you may already have, what’s keeping you from doing a web series like you wanna do?

  35. I have stage management, lighting, sound and sewing skills and can scream like a Portland liberal locked in a closet with with Glenn Beck.

  36. oh, btw, i sent you an email re: “getting a book signed” a couple of days ago. Or was it yesterday? I forget. Anyways, lemme know if you want me to retype it here…

  38. Wil,
    You just made my day. That video is pretty awesome. And yes, I agree you should do a webseries in 1950s SciFi style!
    Cal

  41. Has anybody else looked at the list of films that went in to making this? Unbelievable. Every now and then I’m just staggered at how much geekier than me it’s possible to be. Truly humbling. I mean has he actually watched all of these? Sat through (in fact, found) Invasion of the Animal People or Man Beast.
    Man do I have some catching up to do.

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