Lucafilm
Have you ever wondered what a galaxy far, far away looked like? Perhaps you’ve thought about the types of objects you might find there? Well, in the world of “Star Wars”, there are plenty of things you wouldn’t find, such as paper. This universe is filled with droids, spaceships equipped with hyperdrives, and even moon-sized space stations armed with planet-destroying lasers, but not a single sheet of paper.
Defining the “Star Wars” aesthetic can be a challenge. The films, live-action series, and animated shows all have a specific look and feel. But can you summarize it in a sentence or two? You might say it’s a blend of junk and sleek, but that’s somewhat vague. There’s an essential element that is missing, an ineffable quality that’s unique to “Star Wars”. And maybe, you identify “Star Wars” when you see it and leave it at that.
An alternative approach would be to describe the unique aesthetic of “Star Wars” through what it does not contain. This is precisely how “Andor” creator Tony Gilroy has interacted with the universe. After finishing “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” for Lucasfilm and director Gareth Edwards, he found that the feedback from Lucasfilm’s gatekeepers mostly pertained to objects that did not exist in the ongoing saga.
In 2022, Gilroy revealed to Le Monde, “I recall we were filming a scene, and someone was cleaning a knife. You can’t have a knife, there are no knives in Star Wars, no wheels, no paper.” So who’s giving these instructions? “There’s a person, Pablo Hidalgo, who dictates what’s permissible,” explained Gilroy. “His job is incredibly tough because he needs to remember everything [that ever occurred in the universe].”
So what do we know for sure is forbidden in “Star Wars?” Here’s the list of items that are not to be depicted, according to available reports (with some possible exceptions).
Mirrors
Lucasfilm
There must be restrooms in the “Star Wars” universe, but if you happen to use one, don’t expect to tidy up your appearance in the mirror before returning to the outside world. According to Gilroy, you’ll have to catch your reflection on something else or learn from a young age how to groom yourself without one.
If you’re searching for an exception, there’s a fantastic scene in “Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi,” where Rey (Daisy Ridley) sees infinite reflections of herself during her Jedi training. It’s an especially trippy sequence for the rather conventional “Star Wars”, so you have to wonder if there was some debate over the acceptability of these naturally occurring mirrors. Since they weren’t practically hung, we’ll argue that they don’t violate the “Star Wars” prohibition of mirrors.
Paper
Lucasfilm
In a franchise that is perpetually (and at this point, tiresomely) fixated on heritage, it’s surprising that paper is forbidden. After all, how else would you keep track of birth certificates and similar documents? We know from one of the very first scenes in “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope” that messages can be communicated via holograms. Perhaps everyone carries holo-certificates and licenses. We don’t see much of them, and I’m not complaining about the lack of detail in this regard. Perhaps we can assume that there’s documentation somewhere, and Lucasfilm simply doesn’t want to disrupt its narrative flow to focus on a close-up of a decree or passport. Or not! One opportunity for “Star Wars” to include some paperwork was during Han Solo’s attempt to circumvent security to board a transport in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Instead, he manages to get by on his own recognizance and a bribe — and we know there’s no paper money in “Star Wars.” So, trees of the galaxy, you’re safe.
Wheels
Lucasfilm
In a galaxy filled with spaceships and hovering speeders, why would anyone need a wheel? The most primitive vehicles we see (like the Jawas’ sandcrawler) have tank treads, which are more practical in the desert than wheels (although the spice harvesters in David Lynch’s “Dune” have them).
If you’re looking for a wheel rule breaker in the “Star War” universe, look no further than D-0 in “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker” (though I understand if you’re not eager to revisit that trash compactor of a film). This is the old, beat-up droid found by BB-8, and he has, by his own admission, a “squeaky wheel.” Why this insignificant character was deemed important enough to violate the wheel prohibition is a mystery. If you’re about to protest that R2-D2 has wheels, I’m sorry, but he has tracks under his feet. To the best of my knowledge, D-0 is the only wheeled entity in the “Star Wars” galaxy.
Knives
Lucasfilm
There’s a significant amount of Mandela Effect occurring with knives in “Star Wars.” Surely, Boba Fett has knives, right? He doesn’t. What about R2-D2, the beeping Swiss Army knife? Nope. Whenever there are dining scenes in “Star Wars” (and there aren’t many), you won’t see a single knife being used. There are just other ways to cut objects in these films and shows, and I believe a minor embellishment like this contributes significantly to making “Star Wars” feel alien. If someone were to brandish a knife in, say, “The Mandalorian,” it would be striking.
Hinges
