Irvin Kershner, also known as "Kersh" (born April 29, 1923; died November 27, 2010), was the individual who helmed the 1980 motion picture Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Kershner went on to direct multiple successful movies and television programs. He ultimately retired in 1994 after his work on SeaQuest DSV.
Kershner, who taught film and acted as a mentor to George Lucas at USC, recounted his discussions with Lucas when he was asked to direct The Empire Strikes Back with the following words:
Initially, Irvin Kershner declined George Lucas's offer to direct The Empire Strikes Back because he didn't think he could improve upon A New Hope. Kershner changed his mind after Lucas assured him that he would focus on visual effects at Skywalker Ranch and give him complete control over the direction; Kershner recalled Lucas saying it would be "[his] picture." Kershner's aim was to make The Empire Strikes Back more serious than the first film, but he also wanted to stay true to Lucas's vision of it being a "Saturday matinee, fun kind of film." Later, Kershner would call directing the movie "one of the great experiences of my life." Kershner also had a sense of humor. For instance, at the conclusion of The Empire Strikes Back, Kershner felt it was important for Luke to experience pain in his cybernetic hand, as otherwise, the audience might find it unsettling to see Luke embracing Leia.
Kershner did not return to direct Return of the Jedi because he dedicated nearly three years of his life to The Empire Strikes Back. However, looking back, he mentioned that he would have been interested in directing a film in the prequel trilogy if they had been made earlier. Richard Marquand took over the directorial duties for the third film.
Irvin Kershner died at the age of 87 on November 27, 2010, in Los Angeles, California, after a prolonged battle with lung cancer.
- The Empire Strikes Back Notebook
- The Jedi Master's Quizbook
- " Anthony Daniels: Remembering That Galaxy Far, Far Away " — The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 1
- " Mark Hamill: 10 Years Later " — The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 3
- " Irvin Kershner: Remembering The Empire Strikes Back " — The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 11
- " Irvin Kershner: Renaissance Director " — Star Wars Insider 27
- " Director Irwin Kershner " — Star Wars Insider 49
- Directing a Scoundrel on Hyperspace (content obsolete and backup link not available)
- " Empire Builder " — Star Wars Insider 119
- Empire Builder: An Interview with Irvin Kershner on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Irvin Kershner Remembered: George Lucas on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy
- " Assistant of the Empire " — Star Wars Insider 147
- Star Wars in 100 Scenes
- " Back on Set! " — Star Wars Insider 160
- " Irvin Kershner: Before the Empire Struck Back " — Star Wars Insider 179
- Star Wars: Build Your Own X-Wing 11 (Creating a Starship Fleet: The Ice Hangar — Filming the Rebel Base)
- Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – The Official Collector's Edition