Happy Birthday Star Wars! 39 Years Old Today

Happy birthday, Star Wars! The franchise began a long time ago in a galaxy - well, in our galaxy. The long time ago is 39 years today, as Star Wars (that's all it was called at the time), later expanded to Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, was released in theaters on May 25, 1977.

That film, of course, spawned a massive franchise, spanning seven live-action films so far, and two full universes of expanded content in the form of comic books, novels, video games, tabletop games, cartoons, and every toy and collectible you can possibly imagine.

Disney purchased Lucasfilm, including its Star Wars properties a few years ago, and has since launched a new all-canon comicbook line with Marvel Comics and new canon novels that fit directly into the world established by the film, to some resistance from fans of the old expanded universe. After the massive success of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December 2015, Disney and Lucasfilm have Rogue One: A Star Wars Story cooking for December 2016 and Star Wars: Episode VIII for December 2017. Another "Star Wars Story" featuring a young Han Solo is in pre-production, and Episode IX is also already on the schedule.

Happy Birthday, Star Wars! Thanks for the amazing adventures, the many memories, the creative costumes, the rollicking romances, and for bringing the Force into our lives. Happy Birthday, and May the Force Be With You, always.