STAR WARS: The Last Jedi

The Star Wars series began in 1977 and so far there have been two trilogies of movies. December 2017 will see the theatrical release of the Episode 8 - The Last Jedi, which has been filmed at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, using British expertise in cast and crew, and the final further episode in this final trilogy will be filmed in the UK.

The new Star Wars film and the previous episodes were made with major British involvement at UK studios. The producers of the new movies decided to return to a British studio and crew whose expertise and professionalism contributed to the success of the earlier films.

Disney’s decision to base production in the UK is a major contributor to the British Film Industry. Not only is it providing employment and exposure for British acting talent, it also employs the British technical expertise of Pinewood studios from set design and cinematography to costume design. In the field of digital special effects, London is already a world centre, and the effects for the new Star Wars film have been created by the London office of Industrial Light and Magic (Lucasfilm’s effects company).

The UK is the third largest market in the world for the Star Wars films, and the new stamps both reflect the passion of the British public for the movies, and celebrate the major British contribution to the film series and the global success of the British film industry.

This product range has been produced with the genuine Star Wars Superfan in mind. Disney and Lucasfilm have been consulted at every opportunity, and the stamps and product range have been personally approved by Kathleen Kennedy – head of Lucas film and iconic film producer. As with the original Star Wars stamps issued in 2015, this range has been crafted by renowned British artist, Malcolm Tween, depicting these well-loved characters in exquisite detail, in compositions that are unique to these stamps.

Brilliantly rendered in exquisite detail by British Artist Malcolm Tween, these 8 stamps depict 8 of the most popular characters featured in the first 8 (Including The Last Jedi) iconic blockbuster films. One of the stamps (Porg) shows characters from the forthcoming ‘The Last Jedi’ Film. Incorporated into each stamp is a secondary character/scene forming unique images that can be found nowhere else.

Ultra Violet Ink

The four ‘droid’ stamps utilise UV ink to emphasise some of the design features of the stamp. These will come visible only under a UV light.

MAZ KANATA

Location: Takodana / Maz's castle exterior
Ships: Kylo Ren's command shuttle / First Order TIE fighters
Secondary character: HURID-32
Deep within the fringes of the galaxy lies a secret castle hideaway presided over by the wise, boisterous figure of Maz Kanata. Over a thousand years old and an ex-pirate herself, Maz holds court within the galaxy’s underworld: smugglers, bounty hunters and thieves. Maz has also been a friend to Jedi, and her castle contains secrets that tell of one Luke Skywalker.

CHEWBACCA

Location: Starkiller Base
Ships: Millennium Falcon
Secondary character: Chewbacca
Faithful co-pilot and companion to Han Solo for many years, Chewbacca was one of the heroes of the Rebellion. Brought back into the orbit of the Resistance after many years of freelance adventuring, Chewbacca witnesses the tragic death of his best friend, Han Solo. All he has left is his ship, the Millennium Falcon, and a new companion, a Force-attuned loner named Rey.

SUPREME LEADER SNOKE

Film: The Last Jedi
Ships: Star Destroyer / First Order TIE fighters
Secondary character: Praetorian Guard*
A shadowy figure who leads the First Order, Snoke trained Kylo Ren in the dark side of the Force. He orders the creation of a giant planet-sized superweapon called Starkiller to destroy the New Republic government and commands Ren to hunt down the last Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker. Next, he issues a chilling command: Ren is ready to complete his training...

PORG

Location: Ahch-To
Ships: Millennium Falcon
Secondary character: Beaks
Small, flightless birds called porgs are native to the remote planet Ahch-To, where Luke Skywalker is living in exile. The planet is covered with water and rocky islands and is home to the ruins of the first Jedi Temple, where porgs have peacefully made their home. The birds are ill-prepared for the arrival of strangers when Rey and Chewbacca land there in the Millennium Falcon.

BB-8

Location: Jakku
Ships: First Order TIE fighters
Secondary character: Luggabeast / Teedo / BB-8
The plucky droid named BB-8 is a loyal companion to Resistance fighter Poe Dameron in the fight against the First Order. Assigned to Poe to provide flight assistance when piloting his X-wing fighter, BB-8 is separated from his master in a deadly battle with Kylo Ren. Forced to seek new allies, the droid runs into a scavenger named Rey and a renegade stormtrooper called Finn.

R2-D2

Location: Coruscant / Grievous's flagship interior
Ships: Jedi starfighters
Secondary character: R2-D2
This trusty little droid has had an adventurous life, first on board Queen Amidala’s ship during the Battle of Naboo, then in the Clone Wars alongside Anakin Skywalker, and with Luke Skywalker in the fight against the Empire. In recent years, R2-D2 has been in

a state of semi-retirement, secretly harbouring the only map that pinpoints the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker.

C-3PO

Location: Tatooine / Jabba's Palace exterior
Ships: Death Star II
Secondary character: Jabba the Hutt / C-3PO
As a boy on Tatooine, Anakin Skywalker built a protocol droid as a helper for his mother. C-3PO became an expert in matters relating to diplomacy, but he was not equipped for a life of excitement, danger and adventure. Thrust into battles during the Clone Wars and the Rebellion against the Empire, this reticent, nervous droid has time and again helped his friends save the day.

K-2SO

Location: Scarif
Ships: U-Wing / X-wings
Secondary character: Pao ##
A reprogrammed Imperial security droid with a bluntly honest way of talking, K-2SO is firmly on the side of the Rebel Alliance in the fight against the Empire. K-2SO’s ability to blend in when doing reconnaissance work behind Imperial lines is a distinct advantage. He can pilot many types of spaceship and scan and access Imperial communications systems