New Easter Egg Found in ‘The Phantom Menace’ After 26 Years: George Lucas Hidden in Plain Sight!
A fun new Easter egg has been discovered in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 26 years after the movie’s release. It turns out that George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, made a secret appearance in the film.
If you know when and where to look, you can spot his bearded face on a stone archway in the background on Naboo, at 1 hour, 58 minutes, and 17 seconds into the movie.
This surprising discovery was shared by Caroleen “Jett” Green, a former matte artist at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), who worked on The Phantom Menace. Jett revealed that she created the hidden cameo while working on a matte painting for the movie.
She said that she noticed an oval-shaped space on an arch in the painting, which she thought looked like a plaque. “I decided to get a picture of George, and I put it on this plaque,” she explained. “By the time you shrink that down, his face is just a blur.”
Jett showed her creation to one of the visual effects supervisors, Scott Squires, who suggested they get George Lucas’ approval before adding it to the final version of the film. “You know, I think we’re going to have to get George to approve that,” Scott told her.
When Lucas came to check on the work, Jett nervously zoomed in on the image of his face. She recalled, “George is really quiet… and then, ‘Okay. Leave it in.’”
This little Easter egg has been a mystery for years, even though rumors about Lucas’ face hidden somewhere in the palace had been circulating. Now, fans can finally spot the director in this clever and playful cameo.
Interestingly, this was not Lucas’ first cameo in a Star Wars film. He made another appearance in Revenge of the Sith (2005) as a blue-hued opera patron. However, his appearance in The Phantom Menace is likely the first time someone snuck his face into a Star Wars movie.
Today, Jett still enjoys her work in the Star Wars universe. She recently painted a beautiful matte for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2024), a piece that now hangs in ILM’s office.
Reflecting on the experience, Jett said, “George is a nice guy, and he has a heart, you know?”
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!
