Speaking to Variety, John Williams, the composer behind the legendary ‘Star Wars’ theme, recently revealed an embarrassing mistake in his work on the franchise’s first film, ‘Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.’
In the original Star Wars movie, Williams composed what he believed was a romantic theme for Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. However, it was later revealed that the characters were siblings, making his first theme awkward. Williams expressed his surprise, noting:
“I mistakenly wrote a love theme for Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker. I learned later that they were brother and sister, so it was an incestuous idea to have a love theme for them. But George never told us there was going to be a second film!”
There Were Some Solid Reasons For This Confusion
The confusion around Luke and Leia’s relationship was due to their interactions in the films, where they shared two kisses. This eventually led to mixed interpretations among fans. On top of that, their familial bond wasn’t known until later in the series.
Despite this, Williams adjusted the score, which not only won an Academy Award for Best Score but also became one of the most iconic pieces of music in pop culture.
George Lucas later revealed his decision to make Luke and Leia twins, which was not initially planned. This was aimed at adding emotional depth to the Star Wars saga, especially in moments of conflict.
Over his career with the Star Wars franchise, Williams composed music for several sequels and spin-offs, including ‘The Empire Strikes Back,’ ‘Return of the Jedi,’ and the sequel trilogy starting with ‘The Force Awakens’ in 2015. His work also includes ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story,’ ‘The Rise of Skywalker,’ and the Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney Plus.
You can listen to Luke and Leia’s theme song below.
