The Empire Strikes Back, also known as Star Wars: Episode V, hit theaters in 1980 under the direction of Irvin Kershner. The screenplay was crafted by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, building upon a story conceived by George Lucas. This film serves as the second installment in the original trilogy of the Star Wars saga.
The narrative follows the ongoing conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the imposing Galactic Empire. The movie showcases Darth Vader and his formidable forces relentlessly pursuing Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia Organa across the vastness of space. Simultaneously, Luke Skywalker, guided by the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi, embarks on an intensive Jedi training regimen under the tutelage of Yoda. The film culminates in a dramatic confrontation where Vader reveals a shocking truth to Luke, forcing him to confront his destiny.
Initially met with mixed reactions, the film has since become a favorite among both fans and critics. It is now celebrated as one of the finest sequels ever made and stands as a cinematic masterpiece. It was re-released with changes to theaters in 1997 and became available on DVD in 2004. The Blu-ray version was released in September of 2011. In 1983, a radio adaptation was aired on National Public Radio in the U.S.A. In 2010, the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Three years have passed since the events of A New Hope. Having been compelled to flee their base on Yavin 4, the Rebel Alliance establishes a new headquarters on the icy planet of Hoth.
Darth Vader, the Sith Lord, dispatches an Imperial Star Destroyer to continue his pursuit of Luke Skywalker. The ship launches thousands of probe droids across the galaxy, with one landing on Hoth to survey the planet. While patrolling on his tauntaun, Luke Skywalker discovers the probe, mistaking it for a meteorite. After informing Han Solo of his intention to investigate, Luke is attacked and knocked unconscious by a wampa.
When Luke doesn't report back to Echo Base, Han Solo sets out on his tauntaun to find him amidst an approaching storm. Upon awakening, Luke finds himself suspended upside down in a cave, where he witnesses a wampa devouring his tauntaun. Utilizing the Force, Luke retrieves his lightsaber from the snow. He ignites the weapon, frees himself, and severs the wampa's arm before escaping into the freezing Hoth night.
Luke attempts to return to Echo Base on foot but becomes lost in the blizzard and collapses. The Force spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi appears before him, instructing him to seek training from Yoda, a Jedi Grand Master, on Dagobah. After the spirit vanishes, Han arrives to find Luke nearly unconscious, muttering about Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Dagobah. Han's tauntaun collapses from the cold. To prevent Luke from freezing, Han uses Luke's lightsaber to open the tauntaun's carcass and places Luke inside. Han then builds a shelter for them. They are forced to spend the night outside because the Rebels' snowspeeders were not yet adapted for Hoth's extreme temperatures, preventing a rescue mission.
The following morning, Rebel pilots in snowspeeders search for the missing men. Zev Senesca, a pilot in Rogue Group, contacts Han via comlink, and the pair are rescued. Back at the base, Luke is placed in a bacta tank for treatment, attended to by the medical droid 2-1B.
Princess Leia Organa urges Han to remain with the Rebels. When Han assumes it's due to her feelings for him, Leia retorts, calling him a "stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder."
Meanwhile, the probe droid detects signs of occupation on Hoth and transmits a signal to the Imperial fleet before being targeted by Han Solo and Chewbacca, triggering its self-destruct. Aboard the Executor, Admiral Kendal Ozzel dismisses the information as evidence of smugglers. However, Darth Vader suspects otherwise and orders the fleet to Hoth. Han warns General Rieekan that the Empire is likely aware of their location, prompting Rieekan to initiate the evacuation of Echo Base.
Darth Vader and the Imperial forces head to the Hoth system to launch their attack. The Rebels load equipment onto transports and plan a rear-guard action to ensure their escape. Luke, having recovered, bids farewell to Chewbacca and Solo, who are leaving to settle their debt with Jabba the Hutt. As the Imperial forces enter the Hoth system, General Rieekan orders full power to the energy shield protecting the base from orbital bombardment.
Aboard the Executor, General Maximilian Veers informs Vader that Admiral Ozzel emerged from lightspeed too close to Hoth, intending to surprise the Rebels. Vader realizes the Rebels have been alerted. Via video communication, Vader uses a Force choke to kill Ozzel for his incompetence, promoting Captain Firmus Piett to Admiral. As Vader ordered, the Imperial ground forces, led by General Veers, land outside the shield and advance to destroy the power generator.
Princess Leia instructs the Rebel fighters to evacuate Hoth in groups of two to three ships past the energy shield to a rendezvous point beyond the outer rim. Rieekan lowers the shields to allow the Ion cannon to fire on an Imperial Star Destroyer, enabling the first transports to escape. The Rebel pilots depart to engage the heavily equipped Imperial forces in the impending battle, facing AT-STs (All Terrain Scout Transports) and massive AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) walkers, commanded by General Veers.
The Rogue Squadron snowspeeder group, led by Luke, initiates the attack. Luke determines the AT-AT armor is too strong for blasters and decides to use harpoons and tow cables to entangle the walkers' legs. Luke's gunner Dak Ralter is killed during the initial approach. Wedge Antilles and his gunner Wes Janson topple one of the AT-ATs, which is then destroyed by Rebel troops. The lead AT-AT, commanded by General Veers, prepares to target the Rebel base's power generator. Luke's speeder is shot down, crashing in the snow. Luke escapes before an AT-AT crushes his ship.
The Rebel base is under direct attack, and Imperial snowtroopers enter the base, forcing Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO to flee. Leia orders the evacuation of the base as they depart.
Luke destroys another AT-AT by using his hoist cable and lightsaber to enter its belly, dropping in a thermal detonator, and detaching as the AT-AT explodes. The Rebels suffer significant losses. General Veers' AT-AT reaches the power generator and destroys it.
Han, Leia, and company, realizing Vader is following them (having arrived on Hoth), reach the Millennium Falcon and escape. As the Falcon departs, Luke reaches R2-D2 and his X-wing starfighter and leaves Hoth, changing course to Dagobah.
Han and company are pursued by Imperial TIE fighters. Attempting to jump to lightspeed, Han discovers the hyperdrive is damaged. He enters an asteroid field to evade pursuit, landing the ship inside a cavern on a large asteroid to rest and repair the ship.
Luke lands on the swampy planet Dagobah, sinking his X-wing. R2 is nearly eaten by a Dragonsnake, which spits him out. He encounters a small, eccentric figure tinkering with his equipment. When Luke says he seeks a Jedi Master, the figure offers to take him to Yoda.
Back on the Falcon, Han makes his move on Leia, leading to a passionate kiss. When Threepio arrives, Leia withdraws.
Vader orders Death Squadron to sweep the asteroid field for the Millennium Falcon. An asteroid destroys a Star Destroyer. Vader insists on continuing the search. Admiral Piett informs Vader that Emperor Sheev Palpatine demands contact. Vader orders his ship out of the asteroid field for a clear transmission.
Palpatine alerts Vader to a "new enemy who could destroy" the Empire - Luke Skywalker. Vader suggests turning Luke into a "powerful ally." Palpatine agrees, calling Luke a "great asset" and asks if it can be done. Vader declares Luke will join the Empire "or die."
Instead of taking Luke directly to Yoda, the creature brings him to his hut. Luke insists on finding Yoda immediately, but the small creature says, "Not far. Yoda not far." The figure says Luke lacks patience, but Kenobi's voice says the boy will learn patience if trained. Luke realizes the small green figure is Yoda. Yoda asks Kenobi if he will finish the training he begins, suspecting Luke will succumb to fear.
The next day, while cleaning Mynocks off the Falcon, Solo and his companions escape what is actually the inside of a titanic space slug. Luke begins a rigorous training regime from Yoda, including moral lessons about the dark side. He is told to enter a cave strong with the Dark Side's power. Ignoring Yoda's advice, Luke enters armed. Inside, he envisions himself confronting Darth Vader and beheading him. The severed head's mask breaks apart, revealing Luke's face, warning that Luke will become Vader if he battles without emotional control.
Back on the Star Destroyer, Vader enlists Boba Fett, Dengar, IG-88, Bossk, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss to find the Millennium Falcon for a "substantial reward." An Imperial commander spots the Falcon, leading to another pursuit. The Falcon eludes the Empire by attacking the lead Star Destroyer and then secretly attaching itself to the rear of the cruiser's command tower, which is not extensively covered by sensors.
Days later, while training, Luke is distracted when his X-wing almost completely submerges in the swamp. Luke says he cannot get the ship out, but Yoda says it is "no different, only different in your mind." Luke says he'll "try" to lift the ship, but Yoda says "No, try not! Do or do not, there is no try." Luke tries to use the Force, but fails. Yoda reminds him that "size matters not" and gives him wisdom about the Force. Yoda then uses the Force to lift the ship out himself. Luke is dumbfounded. Yoda senses Luke's failures.
When the fleet disperses, the Rebels wait for the Falcon to dump refuse before jumping, then detach to float away with it. The Falcon's hyperdrive needs repairs, so Han decides to go to Cloud City, a gas-mining colony run by his "old friend" Lando Calrissian. Boba Fett deduces the Falcon's escape method and follows them.
The next day, Yoda reminds Luke of the things he will see in his mind. Luke loses concentration and has a vision of his friends in danger. He wants to leave Dagobah to rescue them, but Yoda reminds him that if he leaves now, everything his friends fought for will be destroyed.
Upon arriving at Cloud City, Han's group is welcomed by Lando Calrissian. The Rebels are suspicious, especially after finding C-3PO deactivated, dismembered, and nearly recycled.
That evening, Luke and R2-D2 prepare to leave Dagobah, warned by Yoda and Kenobi not to end training early. Ben says that if Luke faces Vader, he must face him alone. Luke promises to return and complete his training, and departs. Yoda is disappointed, calling Luke reckless. Ben says "That boy is our last hope," but Yoda answers, "No... there is another..."
A day later, Han and company are betrayed by Calrissian, who was approached by the Empire and threatened to cooperate. They become Darth Vader's captives, who tortures Han and Leia to create a disturbance in the Force for Luke to detect.
Chewbacca attempts to rebuild C-3PO, accidentally putting his head on backwards. After being tortured, Lando informs the rebels that Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO will be confined to Cloud City, and Han will be given to Boba Fett. Leia believes Vader wants them dead, but Lando says he is after "Skywalker." The rebels realize Vader wants Luke and has set a trap. After Lando announces Luke is coming, Han attacks him, but is restrained.
That afternoon, Vader enters a carbon-freezing chamber to freeze Luke. He uses the opportunity for Boba Fett to deliver Solo to Jabba by testing the device on Solo. Han and company enter the chamber. Chewbacca resists, but Han restrains him. Han says goodbye to Leia with a kiss before being frozen in carbonite. Vader hands Han over to Boba Fett for transport to Tatooine to receive a bounty from Jabba. An Imperial commander informs Vader that Luke's starfighter has arrived. Vader orders Lando to take Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO to his Star Destroyer, breaking his deal with Calrissian. However, Lando has other plans.
Luke arrives at Bespin. He walks through Cloud City, spots Boba Fett taking the frozen Solo to his ship, and tries to follow, but Fett notices and opens fire. Luke escapes and runs into Leia, Chewie, and Lando, who have been captured. Luke tries to ambush the Imperials, but fails. Leia yells that "it's a trap!" Luke runs after his friends, but enters the carbon-freezing chamber. There, he meets Vader and the two fight in an epic lightsaber duel, where Luke's skills are no match for Vader's.
Cloud City security overpowers the Imperials escorting the Rebel prisoners, freeing Lando and company. Chewbacca chokes Lando for betraying Han, but Lando says there's a chance to rescue Han at the East Platform. C-3PO reunites with R2-D2. Lando and company arrive too late as Fett's ship takes off, then engage in a battle with stormtroopers.
Luke and Vader continue the duel in the darkened rooms of Cloud City. Luke nearly falls into the freezing chamber, but leaps out with the Force. The fight continues. Vader uses the Dark Side, hurling equipment at Luke. One item breaks a window, creating a vacuum. Luke is pulled out, and the fight moves to the emergency platform.
As the gunfight continues, Lando orders an evacuation of Cloud City before the arrival of the Empire, and the rebels find the Millennium Falcon.
On the emergency platform, Luke and Vader continue the duel. Vader knocks Luke down and invites him to surrender, so he won't be killed like Obi-Wan. Luke continues to fight. During the duel, Luke strikes Vader's right shoulder, damaging his armor. Vader severs Luke's right hand, which is holding his lightsaber, and both are lost. Then he reveals the truth about his father:
Luke accuses Vader of lying, but Vader advises him to listen to his heart. Luke falls into despair. Vader invites Luke to join him to destroy the Emperor and rule the galaxy as father and son. However, Luke chooses suicide and falls down the shaft.
Luke is sucked into an air vent, exits the city, and catches an antenna beneath Cloud City. He tries to climb back, but the hatch closes. Facing death, Luke calls out to Ben Kenobi in vain, then calls out to Leia.
Leia senses Luke's telepathic distress call. Chewie turns the Falcon around at Leia's insistence and returns to Cloud City. Lando catches Luke as he drops to the Falcon, and the ship flees as TIE Fighters race toward them. The Falcon leaves Bespin's gravitational field and is about to escape into hyperspace when the hyperdrive fails. Vader asks for confirmation that the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive was deactivated and orders weapons be set to stun.
As the Imperial forces relentlessly pursue the Falcon, the wounded Luke experiences a telepathic connection, hearing Vader's voice calling out to him. Responding, he utters, "Father...", while Vader's telepathic voice echoes, "Son, join me". Realizing it's Vader, Luke laments, "Ben, why was I not informed?".
Following the Cloud City incident, C-3PO urgently requests R2-D2 to complete his repairs. Displaying remarkable resourcefulness, R2 swiftly reactivates the Falcon's hyperdrive system, enabling the ship to escape into hyperspace just in the nick of time. Disappointed by this turn of events, Vader withdraws to his private chambers aboard his Star Destroyer, disregarding Piett's shortcomings.
Aboard an EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate at the Rebel fleet's designated meeting location, Luke is once again under the medical supervision of 2-1B, which includes the application of a prosthetic hand. Meanwhile, Lando and Chewbacca embark on their perilous mission...the rescue of Han. Lando assures Leia that they will return her beloved. The film concludes with Luke, Leia, and the droids observing the Falcon's departure for uncharted territories, setting the scene for Return of the Jedi.
To craft the screenplay based on his story outline, Lucas enlisted the talents of Leigh Brackett. Brackett completed the initial draft on February 23, 1978, but tragically passed away shortly thereafter. Lucas expressed dissatisfaction with the direction her screenplay had taken. Lacking a writer to make necessary revisions, he undertook the task of writing the second draft himself throughout March. This draft introduced significant alterations to the plot compared to the first, establishing the storyline that ultimately appears in the film. A pivotal change involved revealing Vader as Luke's father. Upon completing the screenplay for Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lawrence Kasdan was brought in to rewrite and refine Lucas' draft. Kasdan produced several more drafts before a script conference was held in November, bringing together George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan, Irvin Kershner, and Gary Kurtz. Following further contributions, the final shooting script was established. Minor adjustments to the dialogue were made by Kershner and the actors during filming, with Lucas' approval.
The majority of the film's concept art and designs were created by Ralph McQuarrie, Joe Johnston, and Nilo Rodis-Jamero based upon Lucas' conceptualizations. The design of the Yoda puppet was the work of British make-up artist Stuart Freeborn. Freeborn stated that he modeled Yoda's face after his own, incorporating elements of Albert Einstein's facial features.
Principal photography spanned from March 5 to September 24, 1979. Certain scenes depicting Hoth were filmed in Norway, specifically in the region extending from the Finse railway station to the Hardangerjøkelen glacier. The scenes set on Dagobah, Cloud City, and within the Hoth Echo Base were filmed at Elstree Studios in England.
During production, the movie faced significant budget overruns and delays. When the film's budget exceeded its initial allocation by $10 million, the lending bank considered withdrawing its financial support. To secure the additional funding required to complete the project, Lucas was compelled to approach 20th Century Fox to negotiate a new agreement. The studio received a larger share of the film's profits, while in return, it guaranteed the loan. Despite these challenges, Lucas successfully retained the rights to the sequel and merchandising.
Following the immense success of the first film (and its acclaimed musical score), John Williams was once again selected to compose the score. Unlike the first film, the specific pieces used for the temp track remain unknown, but Kershner expressed his intention to incorporate works by "Stravinsky and Shostakovich, Hindemith and Copland, Prokofiev [his scores for Sergei Eisenstein's films] and Bliss". Spotting sessions for Empire were held in early November 1979, though the exact date is not known. Attendees included producer George Lucas, producer Gary Kurtz, director Irvin Kershner, editor Paul Hirsch, music supervisor Lionel Newman, and music editor Ken Wannberg. Footage of the carbon freeze scene being spotted can be found in the documentary Star Wars: Music by John Williams, as well as in the Enhanced Edition of J.W. Rinzler's The Making of The Empire Strikes Back.
After the spotting sessions, Williams began composing his score. He reused themes from the first film (Luke's theme, Ben's theme - now known as The Force Theme, and Princess Leia's Theme) and created new themes (Darth Vader's Theme, Yoda's Theme, the Cloud City Theme, and the Han/Leia love theme). The exact time spent writing the music is unknown, but he had at most 8 weeks, assuming the spotting sessions were in the first week of November, because recording started December 27th, 1979.
Herbert Spencer orchestrated the film's score, assisted by Angela Morley, Al Woodbury, and Fred Steiner.
The exact recording schedule for Empire is unknown, but it was recorded on December 27th, 28th, 29th of 1979, and January 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 17th, and 18th of 1980. The score was recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra at Anvil Scoring Stage by engineer Eric Tomlinson, and his assistant Alan Snelling. This time, the score was recorded with an upgraded Neve mixing console supporting 24 channels, that was hooked up to a 24-track 2" MCI recorder using Dolby A. Instead of recording the live mix to the multi-track masters like he had with Star Wars, Tomlinson recorded his live mix for Empire to an 8-track Struder A80 machine also using Dolby A. The first 6 tracks were used for his live surround mix, and the 8th channel had a film synchronization tone. The 7th channel was left empty to prevent cross-talk. No 35mm magnetic film master was created for the Empire sessions, unlike for the original Star Wars.
Similar to its predecessor, the score for Empire has been released in various formats over the years. While many releases are reissues, four releases have unique programs independently mastered from the original session tapes:
Leading up to The Empire Strikes Back's release, cast members appeared on television in character to promote the film; Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew on Jim'll Fix It, Anthony Daniels on Sesame Street, and Daniels, Hamill, and Mayhew on The Muppet Show.
The Empire Strikes Back premiered on May 17, 1980, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (as a Children's World Premiere). A Royal Charity Premiere was held in London at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square on May 20th, dubbed "Empire Day," a play on the British Commonwealth Day holiday (formerly Empire Day), featuring stormtroopers across the city. Other charity premieres occurred on May 19 and 20. The film was generally released in North America and the U.K. on May 21, 1980, with 127 70 mm prints initially, followed by a wider release in June 1980 (mostly 35 mm prints). Star Wars: Music by John Williams, a TV documentary, was released with the film. In September 1980, CBS aired SPFX: The Empire Strikes Back, the official making-of documentary.
In Australian, United Kingdom, and Scandinavian theaters, Black Angel, a short film, preceded The Empire Strikes Back. Roger Christian, the art director for A New Hope, directed Black Angel. Shot in Scotland in Autumn 1979 for £25,000, it was a gift from George Lucas for Christian's work on Star Wars.
Donald F. Glut wrote a novelization of the film, published on April 12, 1980. Marvel Comics adapted the film into comics as part of their Star Wars series, with Archie Goodwin scripting and Al Williamson illustrating issues 39 to 44. (Later, Toshiki Kudo's manga adaptation was released in Japan in 1998 and in the United States in 1999.) Kenner launched a toyline based on the film. Brian Daley wrote a radio drama adaptation, produced for National Public Radio in 1983.
George Lucas released a Special Edition of The Empire Strikes Back in 1997, along with the other original trilogy films, making changes and additions, including altering the closing scene's music.
On September 21, 2004, the original trilogy was released on DVD with minor changes to sound and visual quality. One visual improvement was removing the pink glow from the Cloud City entrance, replacing the Cloud Car with a Tibanna refinery from the 1997 version.
The scene of Darth Vader speaking with the Emperor was altered for the DVD. Originally, Palpatine was portrayed by a masked woman with chimpanzee eyes and an elder male's voice. Clive Revill, Palpatine's voice actor, and Marjorie Eaton, Palpatine's physical portrayal, were replaced with Ian McDiarmid, who played the role in Return of the Jedi and the prequels. Revill remained credited as Palpatine's voice. McDiarmid and James Earl Jones re-recorded the dialogue and added lines.
Temuera Morrison provided Boba Fett's voice, reinforcing Boba's status as a Jango Fett clone.
The trilogy was re-released on separate two-disc Limited Edition DVD sets from September 12, 2006 to December 31, 2006, with the original versions as bonus material. The unaltered versions were from the 1993 non-anamorphic Laserdisc masters, not retransferred with modern standards. The Empire Strikes Back was re-released on Blu-ray in September 2011.
On April 7, 2015, Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm announced the digital releases of the six Star Wars films. Lucasfilm retained digital distribution rights to Episodes I-VI, and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment digitally released The Empire Strikes Back on April 10, 2015.
Despite the Walt Disney Company's 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. and rights to future Star Wars films, Fox retained original distribution rights to Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which they co-produced and co-financed, perpetually worldwide. Fox also retained theatrical, nontheatrical, and home video rights worldwide for the franchise's subsequent five films, produced and financed independently by Lucasfilm, through May 2020, when ownership transferred to Disney. This relationship between Fox and Disney created an obstacle for a boxed set of all nine films. On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company announced acquiring most of Fox's parent company, 21st Century Fox, including the film studio and A New Hope's distribution rights. The deal was completed on March 20, 2019. On April 12, 2019, a 4K remastered Blu-ray box set of the nine Star Wars saga installments was announced for a 2020 release.
Alongside the other Star Wars saga and anthology films, The Empire Strikes Back was released in 4K HDR10 on Disney+. Each film received a new poster, with Episode V's having a light blue color scheme. For The Empire Strikes Back's 40th Anniversary, Lucasfilm commissioned Matt Ferguson to create new official anniversary posters.
In 2010, the film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry.
As General Veers is about to destroy the shield generators, Hobbie, a Rebel pilot, crashes his damaged snowspeeder into Veers's walker. One of Veers's men exclaims, "Look out! He's going to..." Hobbie's fighter crashes into the AT-AT Walker's cockpit, destroying it and killing both Hobbie and Veers. (The Expanded Universe depicts them alive after the Battle of Hoth.) This scene was likely omitted because Veers succeeds in destroying the shield generators, and altering the scene to occur afterward would have been difficult.
The fourth version of The Empire Strikes Back's script includes extra dialogue about wampas and a scene of R2 being chased by one down a hallway while Rebels shoot at it. A Rebel reports, "We got it, sir, but there may be more," to General Rieekan. Alarms sound, and Leia asks if the creature has been examined. The general says they are working on it and are alerted to an Imperial probot. Leia notes that it is metallic, so "it couldn't be one of those creatures," referring to the wampas.
In the scene where Han Solo seeks Luke Skywalker on a tauntaun, a dead tauntaun lies on the floor, examined by 2-1B. Blood is visible on the wall. In the fourth draft, a rebel tells his deck officer, "...I can't imagine, sir. Their necks are broken." (The script mentions three dead creatures.) Wampas have broken into the base and attacked tauntauns. They break in around Han and Leia's argument (as depicted in the comic adaptation) and when C-3PO and R2-D2 walk towards the hangar, discussing the temperature in Leia's chamber. Later, Han finds the Rebels examining the dead tauntaun, unaware of the wampa infiltration. This scenario is present in Star Wars: Battlefront II's instant action mode.
This cut scene with wampas is well-known, with evidence remaining. R2-D2's beeping attracts wampas, like the "Pied Piper." R2-D2 leads the wampas into a room, and the Rebels place a warning sign on the door. This scene was allegedly filmed. Later, R2-D2 and C-3PO pass the wampa pen, discussing the creatures.
During the Rebel exodus from Echo Base during the Battle of Hoth, Han, Leia, and C-3PO rush to Leia's transport, passing a door with a yellow sign with red lettering. Han glances at the door but continues past it (the shot is in the film, after Veers destroys the power generators). C-3PO, running behind, stops and tears off the sign (seen on the "bonus features" DVD and in the Episode V trailer).
After snowtroopers enter the base, they find the door with a small sign piece, open it, and are attacked by the wampas.
Rumors and images suggest a scene in Empire where Luke mans a gun and blasts wampas. Jon Knoles in Star Wars Insider 33 mentions a scene where a wampa breaks into Echo Base and a scene where Luke uses an auto-laser cannon to blast wampas.
Pablo Hidalgo stated that the images of Luke manning a turret were on-set photos with the "Rebel cannon sled" prop. Legends called this vehicle the LC-10bW, while canon calls it the laser-ice cutter.