May the 4th be with you.
One of the most commonly spoken lines in the “Star Wars” franchise, “may the force be with you,” has since inspired an unofficial holiday.
While many die-hard fans attribute the line to the Jedi — who serve as the saga’s protagonists — the phrase was first uttered by a rather minor character named General Dodonna (played by the late actor Alex McCrindle) in the franchise’s first film “Star Wars: A New Hope” in 1977.
The memorable line was delivered as members of the Rebel Alliance planned to attack the Galactic Empire’s Death Star battle station at the film’s climax.
Since then, the phrase has found its way into different aspects of everyday life.
Lucasfilm, the production company behind the films, claimed the phrase was later flipped in 1978 as a way to greet others on the Fourth of July.
The unofficial holiday also took off and found new meaning after former British Prime Minister Margret Thatcher’s political party took out a half-page ad in The London Evening News to declare her victory in 1979.
“May the Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations,” read the advertisement.
Since then, fans around the world have used the phrase to express their continued love for the films.
The Post reached out to Lucasfilm and George Lucas for comment.
In 2019, California lawmakers voted to make the fan-favorite holiday official in an effort to celebrate the opening of Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge theme park.
Star Wars Day also serves as a day that Disney uses to announce new content for fans.
Last year, the media conglomerate used the day to drop a full trailer for their spinoff series “Obi-Wan Kenobi” which starred Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen.
In true “Star Wars” spirit, it was announced that the late Carrie Fisher — who played Princess Leia in six of the nine major films — would be getting her Hollywood Walk of Fame star on the “holiday.”
“Fans will be over the moon to know that their favorite movie princess Carrie Fisher will be honored with her star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame,” said Ana Martinez, the Walk of Fame’s producer. “Carrie will join her ‘Star Wars’ co-stars and fellow Walk of Famers Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford on this historic sidewalk.”
The ceremony was later marred by a family squabble after it was revealed that Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd, refused to invite her aunt and uncle to the ceremony.
Past and present “Star Wars” actors have also joined in the celebrations
“May the galaxy shine on you. May the stars align,” tweeted Billy Dee Williams, who played smuggler Lando Calrissian in both the original and sequel trilogies. “May the 4th be with you all the time.”
Daisy Ridley, who played the Jedi-in-training named Rey in the sequel trilogy, shared an Instagram story of the cast with the caption “#MayTheFourthBeWIthYou.”
Ridley, 31, announced last month that she will be rejoining the franchise for three more upcoming films.
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