George Lucas has announced a new American Graffiti remaster that includes new scenes with a CGI Jabba the Hutt and wookie.
Jabba the Hutt will be seen as the manager of the local Mel’s Drive-In and the wookie, Bakkawakka, replaces ‘Wolfman Jack’ as the disk jockey who reads out the message for ‘the Blonde.’
“We made American Graffiti back in ’72,” said Lucas.
“We just didn’t have the technology to create convincing looking wookies back then, which is why we had to use Wolfman Jack, who I love, as the DJ.
“But really, the intention was always for that character to be a wookie. A wookie would make a great DJ, apart from their inability to articulate anything other than a strangulated roar.”
“Also, a young Jabba as a manager of a Mel’s Drive-in? It just gives real context to how he worked his way up to be this criminal overlord.”
The remaster will be the first indication that American Graffiti was set in the Star Wars universe.
“Well, I always find it quite strange when people say that,” chuckled a bemused Lucas.
“Of course it’s set in the Star Wars universe – it’s got Han Solo in, one of the stars in the sky is obviously the Death Star. I mean, where else would it be set? I know it’s similar to life in small-town America in the fifties, but come on, Ronny Howard’s character is on the cusp of joining the stormtroopers and Curt is showing early signs of a synchronicity with The Force.”
The American Graffiti remaster will be the first a series of George Lucas associated remasters that will include Raiders of the Lost Ark with a lightsabre battle inserted, Willow, which will now clearly take place on the Ewok planet of Endor, and Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones with a digitally inserted coherent plot and structure.
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