Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Star Wars fans thrilled after spotting ‘impressive’ easter egg in new TV show

The Holiday Special is one of the most notorious titles in the Star Wars universe

Greg Evans
Tuesday 03 December 2024 12:41 GMT
Comments
Skeleton Crew - trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

New Star Wars series Skeleton Crew features an Easter egg reference to one of the most infamous moments in the history of the franchise and fans are delighted.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for episode one of Skeleton Crew.

The show, which stars Jude Law, is a coming-of-age story focusing on four children who are lost in the Star Wars galaxy and are attempting to make their way back home.

One of the children in the show is Neel, who resembles Max Rebo, better known as the keyboard-playing blue elephant from the band seen in Jabba the Hutt’s palace in Return of the Jedi.

In the first episode, Neel’s younger siblings are seen watching a holographic circus performance on a table. Eagle-eyed Star Wars fanatics immediately noticed that the holograms were identical to the ones watched by Chewbacca’s son, Lumpy, in the 1978 TV special.

The Holiday Special has become an infamous piece of media in Star Wars lore. It has only officially ever been aired once on television but has subsequently been released on physical media, with George Lucas distancing himself from it.

Bizarrely, it is also the official debut of cult Star Wars character, Boba Fett, in an animated segment, which has since been repackaged as a short film called The Story of the Faithful Wookiee.

Those who have spotted the reference are thoroughly impressed that it made it into the final show.

One fan said: “Wow, I forgot Star Wars had circus dancers. Skeleton Crew deserves credit for recreating something that well when the only real source for The Holiday Special is YouTube... impressive. Most impressive.”

Another added: “Disney slowly integrating The Holiday Special (The same special that George Lucas hates with a passion) into Star Wars canon is the best thing to come out of Disney Star Wars.”

A third wrote: “I’m watching the first episode right now and I lost it when Neel’s siblings were watching the circus performers from the Star Wars Holiday Special.”

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled

Try for free
Star Wars Holiday Special
Star Wars Holiday Special (Lucasfilm)

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Skeleton Crew co-creator Jon Watts called the easter egg “one of my favourite parts of the whole show.”

“And I’m glad that it’s in the first episode just so we can get it out of the way. I’ve just always been fascinated by that weird little circus hologram.”

Watts also confirmed that the shot was recreated, adding: “We initially wanted to see if we could get the original footage, but it’s so low resolution because it was a TV special.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in