Filmmakers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have shared a close friendship which has been documented in the media. The two friends collaborated to make the Indiana Jones franchise, starring Harrison Ford in the titular role. It became a global commercial success with the first installment Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Aside from the globe-trotting action and exciting plot developments, Spielberg also included an easter egg reference to his friend’s other popular franchise, Star Wars, in the first Indiana Jones movie. However, this wouldn’t be the only time the two filmmakers referenced each other’s works, and here is everything you need to know about the same.
Steven Spielberg Hid a Star Wars Reference in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark directed by Steven Spielberg was released in 1981, grossing $389.9 million at the box office. The film starred Harrison Ford as the titular archaeologist and holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 93%, making it the best installment in the franchise.
The film follows Jones as he goes on an adventure to find the titular Lost Ark. During Jones’ lengthy search across the globe, he reaches the Well of Souls. The ancient monument is carved with Egyptian hieroglyphics. Spielberg took advantage of these carvings to hide a Star Wars easter egg.
Upon looking closely at the carvings, fans will see one of the inscriptions of fan-favorite droids R2-D2 and C-3PO. Therefore, Spielberg hid a reference to his friend, George Lucas’ popular sci-fi franchise in plain sight. The inscription shows the droids interacting with Egyptians, likely a nod to the desert planet Tatooine from Lucas’ franchise.
However, this wasn’t the only Star Wars reference in the movie as the plane from the opening scene features the call sign OB-CPO. It serves as a reference to C-3PO and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The easter eggs do not come as a surprise since Lucas and Spielberg have been good friends and worked on the film under the Lucasfilm banner, which also produced the Star Wars films.
George Lucas Returned the Favor With an ET Reference in The Phantom Menace
Years after Raiders of the Lost Ark, George Lucas found the opportunity to return the favor to Spielberg, by referencing his friend’s works in one of his movies. After an absence of almost sixteen years, Lucas returned to the galaxy far, far away for 1999’s The Phantom Menace.
Spielberg directed the 1982 sci-fi film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which features the titular alien character. The film also featured several Star Wars characters such as Yoda in the form of action figures. Lucas eventually brought E.T.’s alien species into the Star Wars universe, with a character from the race appearing in The Phantom Menace.
In the movie, the species is identified as Asogians, from the planet Brodo Asogi, aka the Green Planet. The planet is represented in the Galactic Senate by Senator Grebleips, which is Spielberg spelled backward. As a result, Lucas returned the favor by including one of Spielberg’s films after the latter did so in the past with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the Indiana Jones franchise.
The Star Wars movies are streaming on Disney+.
