The links between Star Wars and Cumbria are both old and new.

One Barrow man has played a pivotal role in the creation of the more recent Star Wars franchise whilst one Cumbrian location has hit the spotlight more recently.

DAVID TATTERSALL, WORLD-RENOWNED CINEMATOGRAPHER

David Tattersall is now a huge name within the Hollywood film industry as a cinematographer. Born in 1960 in Barrow, and after attending the former Barrow Grammar School, Tattersall has gone on to a glittering career in the film industry.

He was Director Of Photography for the latest additions to the Star Wars saga, Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999); Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (2002) and Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005).

His other credits include Director of Photography for blockbuster films such as The Green Mile (1999); Die Another Day (2002); and The Day The Earth Stood Still (2008).

David's most recent work includes Some Kind Of Beautiful (2014) starring Pierce Brosnan, Jessica Alba and Salma Hayek.

He is currently working on the pilot episode for a new TV drama/horror series called Outcast, due to be aired in 2016.

Top 5 pearls of wisdom from Master Yoda
“Do. Or do not. There is no try.” - The Empire Strikes Back
“Judge me by my size, do you?” - The Empire Strikes Back
“Wars not make one great.” - The Empire Strikes Back“
"Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate…hate leads to suffering." - The Phantom Menace
“When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.” - Return of the Jedi

DERWENTWATER - THE FACE OF A DIFFERENT PLANET?

Last Year, Cumbria became a real talking point for Star Wars fans in the county with reports that the Star Wars film crew had been using the Lake District to shoot scenes and landscapes for Episode VII of the franchise.

It was reported that the crew for the new film had been based in Borrowdale to get aerial shots by helicopter for the face of a different planet in the upcoming film.

Fans noticed it in the trailer released in October, when it appeared to show X-Wing fighters flying over what appeared to be Derwentwater.

It is believed that only the special effects crew were in the area and that none of the film stars were present.

One Star Wars super-fan from Barrow, Rob Halfpenny, a special effects arts graduate, told the Evening Mail back in October: "Hopefully this will bring tourism to the area through the film's huge fan base.

"Usually you have to go to Hollywood to see these scenes but this is in our back garden."

  • Click here  to read about how Cumbria is preparing for the release of Star Wars Episode VII