[3], Irvin Kershner passed away at the age of 87 on November 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California, after a long battle with lung cancer.[4]. He later turned to television, directing and photographing a series of documentaries ... Fri, Oct 23

The production of 1977's Star Wars was notoriously tumultuous and George Lucas desperately needed to take a hiatus from directing due to exhaustion. By the time he was offered the directing job, Irvin Kershner was a veteran filmmaker whose resume included directing several documentaries in the Middle East, television shows and independent films such as the Roger Corman produced Stakeout on Dope Street.

Instead, he picked one of his film professors from USC to direct the movie, Irvin Kershner.

RELATED: What Revenge Of The Sith Did Well That Rise Of Skywalker Didn't.

Kershner later described directing the film as "one of the great experiences of my life."

Kershner was a surprising choice for such a movie.

Irvin Kershner didn’t live to see the new generation of Star Wars films, so he missed out on watching each of them be measured against his own — The Empire Strikes Back. A one-stop shop for all things video games. Leia and Han organically build their relationship from reluctant allies in the beginning to genuine love by the end.

KEEP READING: Star Wars: Darth Maul Dreamed Of Becoming A Jedi With A [SPOILER] Lightsaber, Writer for CBR.com since January 2020.

Obituary: Irvin Kershner dies at 87; film director, https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Irvin_Kershner?oldid=9343672. According to Kershner himself, he once asked writer-producer George Lucas, "Of all the younger guys around, all the hot-shots, why me?" RETRO (662), Fri, Oct 23

April 29, 1923[1]Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.[source?] Irvin Kershner and Carrie Fisher on the set of The Empire Strikes Back.

To Lucas's credit, he found the perfect director who had all the knowledge and experience of making a big-budgeted feature film without being within the confines of the Hollywood studios that prioritize money over art. Freddy Kreuger: Slasher Icon and... Forgotten Rap Star? By the climax of the film he's a complete mess and intentionally falls off the air shaft with his hand lost and having been told who his father really is.

Never Say Never AgainRobocop 2SeaQuest DSV RETRO (662), ‘Empire Strikes Back’ Leads At The Weekend Box Office With $644K, 23 Years After Sequel’s Special Edition – Update, The Empire Strikes Back 4K Rerelease Is Coming to U.K. A film instructor and mentor of George Lucas at USC, Kershner summarized his interaction with Lucas when asked to direct The Empire Strikes Back: Irvin Kershner originally turned down George Lucas's request to direct The Empire Strikes Back because he did not believe he could possibly improve upon A New Hope. Kershner directed The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel of the 1977 hit film Star Wars. Died

Theaters to Boost Ticket Sales, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Again: UK Cinemas Using 4K Remaster Of ‘Star Wars’ Sequel To Woo Customers Back, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Interesting Actors in Steven Seagal Films, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back: Deleted Scenes.

[Source].

Some may assume that George Lucas directed all six Star Wars movies before selling it to Disney, but in reality he handed off the reigns for Empire and Return of the Jedi while overseeing the project as a writer and producer. Film director A graduate of the University of Southern California, Kershner had directed several major film and television hits, but retired in 1994 after completing SeaQuest DSV. What makes Empire stand out compared to every Star Wars movie before or since is its effective emphasis on character development.

Super fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Legend of Korra and BoJack Horseman. Looking for something to watch?

on Guest commentator Irvin Kershner joins us to watch the Big Red Ones charge into action and gives us the inside scoop on the long-awaited sequel! Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Father Electrico: Ray Bradbury Lives Forever! Regardless, had it not been for Kershner's direction, Star Wars may not have grown into the cultural phenomenon it remains to this day. Kershner was 57 years old when offered the gig and initially refused.

So when watching The Empire Strikes Back again to celebrate it's 40th anniversary, raise a glass to the unsung greatness of Irvin Kershner.