Star Wars, with its iconic opening phrase “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” immediately transports audiences to a universe brimming with diverse planets, species, and adventures. But does Earth exist in Star Wars? It’s a huge universe, after all, and Star Wars mostly just depicts one galaxy.
The short answer is that the Star Wars universe does indeed have connections to our own world, Earth. We will need a deeper exploration of the intriguing presence of Earth in Star Wars, both within the official canon and in the expanded universe. At the same time, we’ll be shedding light on this captivating crossover between fiction and reality.
Earth in the Official Canon: Star Tours and the Earth System
You can find the most concrete evidence of Earth’s existence in the Star Wars universe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Star Tours attraction. As you embark on a thrilling 3D space flight through legendary destinations from the Star Wars saga, the opening crawl of the ride intriguingly mentions the “Earth system.”
This unmistakable reference establishes that, in the Star Wars universe, Earth is indeed a part of the cosmic lore. Moreover, the ride goes on to reveal that Earth was once a flight hub to the forest moon of Endor, connecting our world to iconic planets like Coruscant and Naboo.
That’s where it gets conflicting. Because supposedly, Star Wars doesn’t take place in the Milky Way galaxy (the galaxy in which our Earth belongs). At the same time, the “galaxy far, far away” might also be the Milky Way. It’s ambiguous.
Earth in the Expanded Universe: Earth as Urthha
While the official Star Tours ride provides a tantalizing albeit eyebrow-raising glimpse of Earth’s presence, the Star Wars Expanded Universe delves deeper into this connection. Although the Expanded Universe is non-canon, it offers fascinating insights into how Earth relates to the “galaxy far, far away.”
One of the most notable references to Earth in the Expanded Universe is found in the novella Supernatural Encounters: The Trial and Transformation of Arhul Hextrophon. This work reveals that Earth, known as Urthha in the Star Wars galaxy, is the planet where the human race originated.
Over time, humans left Urthha for the bustling metropolis of Coruscant. Strangely, Urthha was eventually taken from its orbit in realspace and placed in an isolated region called Otherspace, highlighting its unique status in the Star Wars lore.
You can find more instances of Earth, or Urthha, in the book Monsters and Aliens from George Lucas where a galactic tabloid reports the abduction of a Duros newlywed couple by humans from Urthha. These unfortunate individuals were taken to Urthha and subjected to experiments until a young human helped them return home, using a matter catalyst known on Earth as a “blender.”
Crossovers and Alternate Realities
Earth’s presence in the Star Wars universe extends beyond literature and theme park rides. In the crossover comic book Into the Great Unknown, written by W. Haden Blackman and illustrated by Sean Gordon Murphy, Han Solo and Chewbacca crash-land the Millennium Falcon on Earth, specifically in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
This comic book explores the intriguing notion of what would happen if Star Wars characters encountered our world and its inhabitants. Tragically, Han Solo meets his end at the hands of primitive humans who wielded spears, bows, and axes, while Chewbacca is referred to as a “Sasquatch.”
The story takes a unique turn when, over a century later, the renowned archaeologist Indiana Jones stumbles upon the remains of the iconic starship, bridging two beloved franchises in an unexpected way. It’s a fan service wet dream if anything, though by no means canon.
A Galactic Petition and Earth’s Response
Perhaps one of the most bizarre and humorous instances of Earth’s connection to the Star Wars universe occurred in January 2013 when a petition urging the U.S. government to build a Death Star garnered considerable attention. The petition amassed an astounding 34,435 signatures, leading to an official response from the Obama administration.
Paul Shawcross, the Chief of the Science and Space Branch at the White House Office of Management and Budget, provided a witty and detailed response, outlining the exorbitant cost, design flaws, and the administration’s aversion to planetary destruction. Earth’s very own government declined the construction of a Death Star.
In a delightful twist, Star Wars responded with a mock press release, maintaining the fictional narrative by asserting that the primitive Earth would use such a weapon for malevolent purposes. Governor Wilhuff Tarkin of the Outer Rim Territories even criticized Earth’s “obvious cowardice” and its “unimaginatively named” planet.
For now, Earth’s existence in Star Wars is both canon, non-canon, and fictional until further notice, though at most, it’s inconsequential given how Earth is considered primitive.