Star Wars boss finally explains why Yoda speaks backwards after years of debate

Daily Mirror

26-04-2025

Star Wars creator George Lucas finally reveals why Yoda speaks in his famous backwards style, ending decades of fan theories and debate about the Jedi Master's speech
The Star Wars franchise is beloved by many, with fans obsessing over every detail, from lightsaber duels to cryptic dialogue. One long-standing mystery, however, has finally been cleared up: why Jedi Master Yoda speaks in his famously backwards way.
Over 40 years since Yoda first appeared on screen, the wise and ancient Jedi Master made his debut in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, released in 1980. In the film, Yoda plays a pivotal role in Luke Skywalker's journey, guiding him through his Jedi training on the swampy planet of Dagobah.
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After years of fan theories and speculation surrounding the mystery of Yoda's behaviour, Star Wars creator George Lucas has finally revealed the true reason behind the character's odd way of speaking.
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He finally shed light on the long-debated topic during a Q&A at a 45th anniversary screening of The Empire Strikes Back, held on the opening night of the TCM Classic Film Festival.
'If you speak regular English, people won't listen that much,' Lucas said via Variety. 'But if he had an accent, or it's really hard to understand what he's saying, they focus on what he's saying.'
He added: "He was basically the philosopher of the movie. I had to figure out a way to get people to actually listen — especially 12-year-olds." '' The science-fiction classic was released in 1977 and evolved into one of the most recognisable franchises in film history. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill became megastars off the back of the film while recognisable screen legends like Alec Guinness also featured in supporting roles.
But one actor reportedly turned down a lead part in the original film says he did so because he could not understand the plot, with it being none other than the Godfather star Al Pacino. His role which later filled by Harrison Ford.
Some fans agreed with the actor's reason for turning his back on the opportunity, with one Reddit user saying: "I'd imagine that accepting acting roles is sort of like swinging at pitches in baseball where you really shouldn't swing at every pitch or accept every offer. Would it be fair to say that a certain amount of Star Wars success is because the main cast wasn't really that well known before the movie?"
Another said: "We definitely lucked out that Harrison Ford was eventually chosen. Pacino was too boyish at that time. Ford had a much scruffier look, which I think fits the role better.