Forty Years of Star Wars

Today is the fortieth anniversary of the Star Wars franchise. I became a fan during the twentieth anniversary when A New Hope was re-released in its 1997 special edition format. The unconvincing Jabba the Hutt has always been part of the Star Wars to me.

The thirtieth anniversary was a little more forgettable. The conclusion to prequel trilogy had led most people my age to start treating the franchise with disdain. I didn't hate those films but there was a lot of potential in them that the finished product didn't live up to. It was a a bit of a sad time to be a fan, even if the spin-off media continued.

Now, fans of Star Wars are able to see that the franchise is moving on to bigger and better things. There is an upcoming Han Solo film and Episode VIII is due to be released in cinemas later this year. Things are looking hopeful for the saga.