Star Wars: The Last Jedi might be one of the most divisive films in the franchise, but even if you weren’t thrilled with every creative decision, there’s no denying it came with some genuinely fascinating behind-the-scenes details. From unexpected solutions to unique production challenges, director Rian Johnson and his team navigated some pretty unusual scenarios that shaped the final movie we saw on screen.
For instance, did you know that the adorable Porgs weren’t just a random addition? Turns out they were an inventive way of dealing with a real-world puffin infestation!
But that’s not the only cool behind-the-scenes detail from The Last Jedi. Here are 4 more fun facts you might not know.
Table of Contents
1. Porgs Only Exist Because Star Wars: The Last Jedi Couldn’t Get Rid of Puffins
While filming The Last Jedi on Skellig Michael—a remote Irish island used as Luke Skywalker’s hideout—the crew ran into an unexpected problem: puffins. Lots of puffins. The island is home to thousands of these little birds, and because it’s a protected habitat, the crew wasn’t allowed to remove or disturb them.
Instead of digitally erasing them from every shot, the team came up with a clever solution: turn them into creatures that actually belong in the Star Wars universe. And that’s how the Porgs were born—they’re essentially puffins with a Star Wars makeover.
As concept designer Jake Lunt Davies shared on the official Star Wars website:
“From what I gathered, Rian, in a positive spin on this, was looking at how can he work with this. You can’t remove them. You physically can’t get rid of them. And digitally removing them is an issue and a lot of work, so let’s just roll with it, play with it. And so I think he thought, ‘Well, that’s great, let’s have our own indigenous species.’”
2. Yoda’s Return Was Kept Top Secret
We all remember how incredible it was to see Yoda return as a Force ghost in The Last Jedi—but what makes that moment even cooler is how well they kept it a secret.
Frank Oz, the original voice and puppeteer of Yoda, came back for the role, but the production team made sure his appearance wouldn’t be spoiled. They left his name out of all promotional materials and even the credits before release. He also kept completely silent about his role in interviews. All that effort paid off, because Yoda’s return ended up being one of the most surprising and emotional parts of the film.
Oz himself shared, “I was told that that was going to be the surprise of the movie, so when I went to Pinewood I had to be a secret there. Although if people saw me… people DID see me, but if they questioned me it would have been fine because I shot Little Shop of Horrors there, and could have just said I had some meetings for movies. But the idea was to keep me off the credits. I was asked, ‘Could you have your name off the poster?’ and I said ‘Sure.’ So the idea was that that would be the surprise.”
3. TLJ was Nominated for Four Oscars
As I know every hardcore Star Wars fan out there, some of us didn’t exactly love The Last Jedi—but did you know it was actually nominated for four Academy Awards at the 90th Oscars?
Yep, despite all the debates and mixed reactions, the film still got recognized for its technical achievements. It earned nominations in the following categories:
- Best Original Score (John Williams)
- Best Visual Effects
- Best Sound Editing
- Best Sound Mixing
It didn’t take home any wins, but the fact that it was recognized in these categories says a lot about the level of craftsmanship behind the film. Whether it’s John Williams’ powerful music or the incredible sound and visual work during scenes like the Holdo maneuver or the throne room duel—The Last Jedi still made a big impact behind the scenes.
4. Mark Hamill’s Hidden Role
Everyone knows Mark Hamill as the legendary Luke Skywalker, but in The Last Jedi, he actually played more than just the older, wiser Jedi. What many fans don’t realize is that Hamill also took on a second role as a voice actor for one of the film’s quirky background characters.
During the Canto Bight sequence, there’s a brief moment when a small alien mistakes BB-8 for a slot machine and starts stuffing coins into him. That alien, named Dobbu Scay, was voiced by Hamill himself. He performed the role under the pseudonym William M. Patrick—a combination of his brothers’ names—to keep the cameo low-profile.
And it wasn’t just a voice performance. Hamill later revealed on Twitter that he actually acted out the role in a full motion-capture suit, using a giant-sized medicine ball to match BB-8’s size. He wrote: “It is commonly (& mistakenly) reported that I only did the voice of Dobbu Scay, but I filmed the scene in a full motion-capture suit w/ a giant-sized medicine ball to make me the same size as BB-8. I didn’t expect to be credited, assuming it would be another un-billed Easter-egg.”
It is commonly (& mistakenly) reported that I only did the voice of Dobbu Scay, but I filmed the scene in a full motion-capture suit w/ a giant-sized medicine ball to make me the same size as BB-8. I didn’t expect to be credited, assuming it would be another unbilled easter-egg. https://t.co/f6hAPOstxR
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) June 29, 2019
5. Johnson Gave Kylo Ren a Bit of Plastic Surgery
In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Kylo Ren famously received a dramatic facial scar after his intense duel with Rey, leaving him with a prominent mark running from his forehead down past his nose. However, when fans saw him again in The Last Jedi, something was noticeably different: the scar had moved slightly to a less central, more visually appealing position.
Director Rian Johnson jokingly referred to this adjustment as giving Kylo Ren a bit of “plastic surgery,” openly admitting the scar’s original placement looked “goofy running straight up the bridge of his nose.” This aesthetic change sparked some fan debates about continuity, but Johnson was clear that it was intentional—prioritizing the character’s striking visual presence over strict continuity.
So, while Kylo didn’t exactly visit a galaxy far, far away’s plastic surgeon, Johnson’s little tweak gave Kylo Ren a subtle yet impactful makeover, reinforcing the brooding aesthetic that makes him such an iconic villain.