The Star Wars Holiday Special is an unloved skeleton in Lucasfilm's closet. But that hasn't stopped it from making a cameo appearance on the Blu-ray box set...
Despite the promise that the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special would never be released, it appears that footage from it has cropped up on the recent Blu-ray box set of the sci-fi saga.
After its initial 1978 broadcast in the US, the two hour extravaganza has never been repeated (and very rarely officially referred to) due to George Lucas's disappointment with the show. The special starred much of the original cast, including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher (singing, no less) and Mark Hamill. Any requests for a home release have been met with derisory silence, with the general feeling that, from all involved, it would never see the light of day.
Eagle-eyed fans will note, however, that the Star Wars: The Complete Saga Blu-ray box set does include some scenes from the unloved Lucasfilm offspring. The deleted scenes from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope include two clips from the streets of Mos Eisley, which were used in the special. However, there's even more.
Buried as an Easter Egg, of sorts, on the Episode V extras, is the very first onscreen appearance of bounty hunter, Boba Fett. Everyone's favourite Mandalorian warrior popped up in an animated sequence in the Star Wars Holiday Special, facing off against our heroes (again voiced by the original cast).
To find the nine-minute cartoon in all its glory, pop in the Original Trilogy bonus disk, go to the "Pursued by the Imperial Fleet" section, click on "The Collection" and then check out the "Boba Fett Prototype Costume" - you'll find the cartoon in "First Look".
Thanks to The Force for the heads up on the Fett cartoon.
Read more about the Star Wars Holiday Special here.
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