Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace

Trivia: Before production had started on The Phantom Menace, Ron Howard, along with Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, were asked by George Lucas to direct, but all three turned it down. Howard would later direct the Han Solo movie in 2018.

Trivia: Technically this wouldn't count as a mistake since it requires going through frame-by-frame, but there's an amusing little flub in the pod-race. When Sebulba's craft crashes, go through frame-by-frame when his one engine hits the rock formation. The rock formation actually begins to explode a frame or two before the engine strikes it. It's hard to tell it's happening when viewing the movie at normal speed, but you can catch it going frame-by-frame. Just an amusing little slip-up in the rendering.

TedStixon

Trivia: Darth Maul appears for only 6 minutes in the entire film.

Trivia: While appearing on a talk show in London, Samuel L. Jackson was asked if there were any directors he's never worked with, but would like to. Knowing George Lucas was on the verge of making this film, he said he'd like to be in a Star Wars film. Jackson was later in Vallejo, CA, working on Sphere, which was shooting down the street from Skywalker Ranch. He received a message that Lucas heard he was interested in being in this film and invited him to come to the ranch to discuss it.

Phaneron

Trivia: Nathan Hamill, Mark Hamill's son, has a cameo as one of the Royal Guards of Naboo.

Trivia: Qui-Gon Jinn's death was spoiled by the track listing of the film's soundtrack, which was released two weeks before the film.

Phaneron

Trivia: The name "Otoh Gunga" is never said in the film. The city is always called Gunga City or the Gungan City instead.

Trivia: At least 3,000 boys auditioned for the role of Anakin Skywalker.

Trivia: Darth Maul has only 3 lines in the whole film.

Trivia: George Lucas originally intended to film The Phantom Menace with HD digital cameras built by Sony and Panavision, which would have made it the first movie ever to be shot in digitally instead of with film. Unfortunately, Sony and Panavision could not build the cameras fast enough for the shoot, leaving George Lucas with traditional cameras instead. However, Lucas used the digital cameras on Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Continuity mistake: During the podrace, Anakin is in front of Sebulba and has him on his tail. One view looking towards Anakin you can see Sebulba's pod in the background, but the driver's seat is empty. (01:04:10)

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Question: When someone becomes a Sith, they take a different name, i.e. Palpatine becomes Darth Sidious, Count Dooku becomes Darth Tyranus, Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. Does anyone know Darth Maul's non-Sith name?

Answer: No. According to the official sources, Maul was trained in the Sith ways from a very early age - it's quite likely that he himself doesn't remember his original name. Even if he does remember it, it would mean nothing to him any more - the Sith and their ways are his life - and he certainly wouldn't answer to it. According to the non-canon novel "Darth Plagueis", Darth Maul was named "Maul" by his mother before she turned him over to a young Palpatine. He didn't take a new name when he got the title "Darth."

Tailkinker

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