Almost five decades later, the truth about an iconic villain from the original Star Wars has finally been revealed. Although the upcoming Star Wars movies will be taking the franchise into the future, 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of the story that started it all. As a result, the first Star Wars movie in release order has, naturally, been receiving a lot of focus as audiences prepare to celebrate such a big occasion in a few years.
In June 2025, an interesting event took place that, while separate from whatever plans Lucasfilm has for A New Hope‘s 50th anniversary, proved an adequate way to celebrate George Lucas’ original Star Wars. At the British Film Insтιтute, those in attendance were given the rare chance to view the original, unaltered cut of Star Wars, devoid of the many changes and updates George Lucas has made to it in the last five decades. In doing so, the truth about the conception of one of Star Wars’ most iconic villains was finally revealed.
Greedo Was Originally A MARTIAN, Not A Rodian
Lucas’ Original Plans Were Linked More To Our Galaxy
The villain from A New Hope is Greedo, the bounty hunter sent after Han Solo, who has since become iconic for many reasons. Greedo only has a tiny role in A New Hope, yet has solidified himself in Star Wars folklore, primarily due to being one half of the never-ending “who sH๏τ first“ debate. In 2025, we know Greedo to be a Rodian, native of the planet Rodia, but this was not always the case.
As per a report of the BFI screening by Cinema Savvy, those in attendance got to see the original continuity script that was used on the set of Star Wars. This script was open on the scene involving Han and Greedo, with the latter’s language simply described as “alien.” Next to “alien,” the word “Martian” was written down, indicating that this was the original concept for Greedo. Although Star Wars was always set in a galaxy far, far away, Greedo was originally described as a stereotypical alien from our own galaxy.
Greedo Actually Corresponds With Classic 1970s Martian Designs
Lucas Was Playing On Tropes That He Knew
Greedo, as we know him, is mᴀssively different now as one of Star Wars’ Rodians, but it makes perfect sense that Lucas would initially describe him as a Martian. Greedo’s design is iconic for its bug-like qualities, but it also links to the stereotypical ways people describe aliens or Martians. Greedo has green skin with large, bulbous, bug eyes, which many would attribute to the most classic design for aliens.
It is difficult to see Greedo as anything other than a Rodian, but this original script description as a Martian makes a lot of sense…
When asking most people to draw what their stereotypical view of an alien is, they would come up with something similar. The same was true in the 1970s, with the green-skinned, big-eyed alien design being as common as ever. Greedo was a play on that, with Lucas feeding into the familiarity of that to create a new alien life form. Now, it is difficult to see Greedo as anything other than a Rodian, but this original script description as a Martian makes a lot of sense.
Star Wars Has Replaced Martians With Rodians
A New Alien Race Was Born
While it remains true that Lucas’ design for Greedo likely stemmed from the classic Martian design, the Rodians became something else entirely. Rodians are perhaps one of the most common Star Wars aliens, often being seen in populated locations like the Mos Eisley Cantina, Maz Kanata’s castle, or as random bounty hunters. Despite beginning as Martians, the Rodians were born, showcasing exactly how Lucas built an entire galaxy from scratch.
Many elements from Star Wars are born from our own reality, simply on a more fantastical level. After all, this is what makes Star Wars fall under the sci-fi category, with aspects like the Force adding the fantasy to it. Having the Rodians replace the Martians is emblematic of this approach, with Lucas taking something we all know and adding distinctions to them to make them into the classic aliens, weapons, locations, and ships of Star Wars that we know today.
Star Wars
- Created by
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George Lucas
- First Film
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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
- Cast
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren