Phantom Menace Movie Facts, Easter Eggs and hidden details

The lyrics to Duel of the Fates are taken from a Sanskrit translation of a Welsh poem called Cad Goddeu, in which Gwyndion, a trickster sorcerer, animated a tree army to fight for him. The words used were cherrypicked by Williams to fit the melody and don't have any coherence.

George Lucas told Ray Park to keep his piercing because it fit the character. You can also see it clearly in the 3D animated series The Clone Wars.

This shot of the gas leaking into the room with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in the opening scene is the only shot of the movie with no digital modifications.

Episode One: The Phantom Menace (1999), artist Iain McCaig was asked by George Lucas to use the scariest character from his nightmares to design Darth Maul. After being shown this picture, a shocked Lucas suggested McCaig use his second scariest nightmare character instead.

Keira Knightley plays the decoy of Natalie Portman's character. I've always assumed it was Natalie Portman playing both characters.

While being puppeteered by Frank Oz in close ups, this wide shot of Yoda walking was achieved by having a little person in a Yoda costume.

The Droidikas present at the Battle of Naboo have no shields, as the Gungan's own shields would not allow for their shields to enter.

They used a lady's razor to make communications devices

Qui-Gon Jinn uses a high-tech "communicator" device, it's actually a redecorated Sensor Excel Razor for Women. The sound of the hovering battle tanks used by the battle droids was created by running an electric razor around a metal salad bowl then digitally lowering the pitch.

The Droidikas in the battle of Naboo have no shields, as they'd be unable to get through the Gungan's shield

The parade music from the finale is the same melody as the Emperor's theme from Return of the Jedi, just in a major key and higher tempo. This subtly indicates that Palpatine is the one who truly comes out on top by the end of the film.

ET's species can be seen in the senate.

The only time Darth Maul blinks in The Phantom Menace (1999) is right after Obi-Wan Kenobi cuts him in half

One of the Naboo pilots is John Knoll, creator of Photoshop and Oscar winning ILM VFX artist.

A pod from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey can be seen in Watto's junkyard on Tatooine

Lucas used a practical effect for Jar Jar's arm. For one shot of The Last Jedi (2017) Rian Johnson used a practical effect for Snoke's arm. The 2 roles with these scenes in common are portrayed by the pioneers of Motion Capture; Ahmed Best and Andy Serkis

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, E.T.'s species can be seen represented in the senate. This is in response to Speilberg hiding Star Wars easter eggs in many of his films, including E.T.

Saw this "Maz Kanata" statue in Anakin's bedroom in Star Wars Episode 1 (1999)

During the scene when Padme brings up Palpatine should become chancellor, you can see E.T's kind in a pod celebrating

The slave girl to the right is wearing the exact same costume that Princess Leia does in The Return of the Jedi (1983)

the scene where C3PO is first activated the filmmakers used a plastic Xistera from the Indian sport Jal-Alai as a robotic part in the background.

Lucas used a transition between a shot of Anakin and Darth Sidious which foreshadows the entirety of the Prequel Trilogy where the Sith plants the seed of influence to his head which will slowly take over him.

When Queen Amidala announces she is heading back to Naboo, You can see a seemingly concerned senator Palpatine give the slightest smirk right before the scene changes.

The podracing crowd was made up of 450,000 Q-tips being blown around

Jabba the Hutt was an elaborate costume with no actor so they got creative with the credits

Anakin's podracer's brakes are from cheap bicycle v-brakes

After the pod race you can see one of the tracking droids Darth Maul sent to find the queen in the background while Qui-Gon is talking to Watto.

Sidious talks to Maul outside the office of Senator Palpatine.

An extra with a yellow line across his face can be seen in the background of one of the scenes in Mos Espa. This extra was later revealed to be 'Quinlan Vos' an undercover Jedi who was coincidentally on a mission at the same time as Obi Wan & Jinn.

The viewscreen of the Trade Federation is a direct homage to Buck Rogers, one of the serials that inspired George Lucas

A cheap plastic lacrosse scoop was used as a prop on the wall.

At 38 minutes, you can see Anakins doll which is quite clearly Maz Kanata from The Force Awakens.

During the Battle of Naboo, Jar Jar Binks performs some incredible stunts first captured for film in Girl Shy (1924) when Harold Lloyd hangs from a street carriage and in Seven Chances (1925) when Buster Keaton is chased by boulders

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), E.T. recognizes Yoda and 17 years later in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace(1999), we can see E.T's species in the senate!

Anakin Skywalker's unfinished C3-PO exterior droid parts are found in the background of Watto's workshop. You'll also notice the left leg is missing, ultimately replaced for a silver one.

One of C-3PO's first lines in Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace (1999) is a callback to a line he had in the Empire Strikes Back (1980).

The other half of Maul's lightsaber flies away and hits the wall, causing a small fire

Mace Windu can be seen in the background of one shot played by a completely different actor who definitely isn't Samuel L Jackson

Chancellor Palpatine's line "There is no civility, there is only politics" is a corruption of part of the Jedi Code, which has a negative assertion followed by a positive one. For example: "There is no emotion, there is only peace."

Mirrors the ending of Return of the Jedi (1983).

Darth Maul hits Qui-Gon Jinn in the head with the middle of his lightsaber before killing him. In Rebels, Darth Maul try's the same move on Kenobi but Obi-wan was ready for this move and countered it quickly.

The battle droid jar jar knockoff has the serial number 1138 on its back. This is a reference to George Lucas first film THX 1138(1971)

When Qui-Gon is talking with Boss Nass he uses the Jedi mind trick *three* times to get what he wants.

Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace During the Battle of Naboo Plains a Battle Droid (Center Left) Loses His Arm to a Booma, But Continues Marching Nevertheless.

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon is searching replacements parts for the ship,he passes by the EVA pod from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey

Darth Maul's double sided lightsaber is cut in half early in his duel with Obi-Wan. This could be hinting at Darth Maul's death later in the fight.

Darth Maul uses the force to open a door using battle droid parts.

Jamming communication means invasion by the Trade Federation. In Attack of the Clones, when Geonosis is invaded by the Clone Army, they jam communications.

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn states that there's always a bigger fish. This foreshadows Palpatine's role as the hidden overarching villain throughout the trilogy.