Buzz
George Lucas is primarily celebrated for his iconic Star Wars films, while Steven Spielberg has an extensive list of unforgettable cinematic achievements. However, their most successful collaboration is undoubtedly the Indiana Jones franchise.
In a playful tribute to each other’s works, both creators included Easter eggs in their respective films for fans to spot. Among these is a subtle appearance of R2-D2 and C-3PO in Raiders of the Lost Ark... right here on Earth, in a time not so distant.
R2 and 3PO don’t appear just once, but twice during the scene where Indy and Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) venture into the Well of the Souls. The most noticeable instance occurs when they shift a massive stone slab to reveal the Ark. Take a look at the stone pillar just to the left of Indy, and you'll spot two hieroglyphics that bear a striking resemblance to the famous droids.
The second instance is a bit tricky to spot, but it happens as Indy and Sallah lift the Ark from its case in the same scene. Focus on the back wall in the shot where Sallah is on the left and Indy is on the right. There, you’ll notice a large hieroglyph depicting what appears to be Princess Leia uploading the Death Star plans into R2-D2, with C-3PO standing behind them.
The Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises are filled with these subtle references and nods between Spielberg and Lucas. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, the plane Indy uses to escape from Belloq and the Hovitos has the call sign “OB-CPO” along its side, a wink to Obi-Wan Kenobi and C-3PO from Star Wars.
Then, in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indy makes another escape—this time from a Shanghai nightclub named “Club Obi Wan.” You can catch these Easter eggs in the video below:
If you’re looking for even more, Lucas often sneaks in references to his own work by hiding variations of the number 1138—a tribute to his first film, THX 1138—across his movies. For example, it’s the license plate number on John Milner’s hot rod in American Graffiti, cell block 1138 is where Princess Leia is imprisoned in A New Hope, it’s the number of a Battle Droid in The Phantom Menace, and more.
The list of these hidden connections between the films is endless—let’s not even dive into the Wilhelm Scream—showing not only a mutual admiration but an understanding that these movies have transcended their stories, becoming true pillars of modern popular culture.
[courtesy of Wayne Stevens]
