‘Big Bang Theory’ Teams Up With Lucasfilm For Star Wars Episode

The Big Bang Theory, a CBS comedy show, is teaming up with Lucasfilm to produce a Star Wars episode celebrating Star Wars Day, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

The episode tilted, “The Proton Transmogrification” is set to air May 1st and is timed to the annual May 4th Star WArs Day. The Big Bang Theory gang will be getting together to clebrate the annual holiday. During this, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is guided by visions of his childhood idol and mentor, Professor Proton (portrayed by Emmy winner Bob Newhart). Professor Proton appears to the Big Bang Theory genius as his own Jedi master.

Star Wars Day is recognized by many as an actual holiday and is celebrated as such every year on May 4th. The traditional celebratory greeting for the holiday is “May the fourth be with you” – a play on the Star Wars line, “May the Force be with you.” Star Wars fans the world over celebrate the film franchise on Star Wars Day with screenings and special events.

For the Star Wars Day episode on Big Bang Theory, the CBS comedy show joined up with a group of special effects technicians from Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic in order to re-create Dagobah. Dagobah is the remote world of swamps and forest which served as a refuge for Yoda during his exile. Lucasfilm experts also helped out with props for the Big Bang Theory episode – including a light saber. Along with consulting on the episode, the Lucasfilm experts visited the Big Bang Theory set to oversee the actual production.

Lucasfilm actually suggested the collaboration, according to Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre. While the idea for the episode may have come from Lucasfilm, re-creating Dagobah was the brain-child of the Big Bang Theory writers and producers.

Newhart will be appearing as an iconoic Star Wars character during the Big Bang Theroy episode – which character exactly, is still being kept a secret. Newhart siad that he has actually had to “do some research” into Star Wars for the part.

Lucasfilm VFX expert Eddie Pasquarello had this to say about the collaboration with Big Bang Theory, “We at ILM were very excited to do the effects for it. Everyone loves the show there and to have the tie-in to May the Fourth felt like a good synergy and marriage. We jumped at it.”

Star Wars references are definitely not new to the Big Bang Theory; but the Star Wars Day episode will feature an increase in set decoration and wardrobe. For example, the Big Bang Theory cast will be wearing Star Wars themed shirts.

CBS did something rare in March and instead of renewing Big Bang Theory for the usual one season, it renewed the show for three seasons, according to TheCelebrityCafe.com.

Big Bang Theory’s current season has averaged about 19.79 million viewers.

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS. The Star Wars Day episode will air May 1st.