Greetings, Rebelscum fans! This week on the site, we’re looking at the Lars homestead where Luke Skywalker grew up. A young Luke and his adopted uncle have been among the characters featured in the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi. Make sure to stay tuned throughout the week for more articles, insights, videos, and merchandising opportunities about this iconic Star Wars location!


One of the key inspirations behind the original trilogy was the classic westerns of John Ford. Ford’s iconic classic The Searchers inspired the desert locations of Tatooine. In order to capture a realistic location, Lucas and the crew headed to Tunisia. It was a grueling shoot for all involved. However, Lucas returned to shoot Tatooine sequences for The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. The Lars homestead was digitally recreated for the final moments of Revenge of the Sith.


Owen and Beru are “moisture farmers” who use their moisture vaporators to collect water in the arid environment. Luke’s familial ties aren’t expressly revealed in A New Hope; ironically, Owen Lars is referred to as Obi-Wan Kenobi’s brother in the original novelization of Return of the Jedi. Attack of the Clones created the backstory of Cliegg Lars, who frees and marries Anakin’s mother Shmi. Owen is only briefly introduced to Anakin, but doesn’t take a liking to him. This tension with the Jedi Order continues throughout the events of Obi-Wan Kenobi.


Rey finally returns to the birthplace of the Skywalker lineage in The Rise of Skywalker. Despite learning that she is the descendant of Emperor Palpatine, Rey takes on Luke’s last name to reclaim herself. She buries Luke’s original lightsaber outside of the homestead as Luke and Leia's Force ghosts watch on.


Since the release of the original trilogy, the Tunisian set has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for avid Star Wars fans who have the ability to travel overseas. Fans have traveled to Ksour, Matmata, Nefta, and Ong Jemal. Future Rogue One: A Star Wars Story director Gareth Edwards visited the original set on a Star Wars themed fan trip. Ever since Lucas shot the original sequences in 1976, many other Hollywood productions have returned to these Tunisian locations. Films like Dune, The Martian, Mission to Mars, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and Prometheus all utilized similar vistas.


The Lars homestead has inspired some of the coolest Star Wars merchandising items of all-time. A limited edition “Disturbance at Lars Homestead” playset was included within The Legacy Collection line in 2008, as a Toys ”R” Us exclusive. LEGO unveiled the Lars Homestead diorama in 2021, and added an exclusive “Aunt Beru’s Kitchen” set in 2022.

What do you think, Rebelscum fans? Have you ever trekked out to Tunisia? Have you managed to get your hands on one of the Legacy Collection sets? Let us know in the forums, and as always, may the Force be with you!

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