Admiral Motti's Full Name and Canon

[Mike DiCenso]

While reading through the Wookiepedia entry on Admiral Conan Antonio Motti (the guy that Vader Vader Force-choked for dis-believing and mocking the Force in ANH), I found this interesting quote from the behind the scene scenes section:


"Motti was one of the last Imperial characters from the original trilogy to receive a full name. However, Michael Reaves and Steve Perry intended to finally give the character a first name with their 2007 novel Death Star, and had already chosen the name "Zi"—used in the as-yet unpublished novel—when George Lucas created his own name for the character on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Following this, the writers were forced to change the name before printing, although one instance of "Zi" remains in the novel. Motti's full name was given by Lucas on the May 1, 2007 episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, during which Lucas was challenged to a trivia question by a fan—O'Brien Associate Producer Jordan Schlanski—as to the name of this Imperial officer who Darth Vader Force-chokes in A New Hope. Lucas jokingly replied "Conan Antonio Motti,", after O'Brien's full name. Although the character had previously been known only as "Motti," Lucas's statement finally gave a full name to this character. On the day after the episode aired, Late Night posted a blog entry on the NBC website about their surprise at Wookieepedia's quick response in adopting the new name for the character, and their appreciation for Lucas in naming a Star Wars character after O'Brien.[12]

When asked at Celebration IV to confirm the canon status of Motti's first name, Leland Chee said that "It'll be revealed eventually,"[13]. The name was finally confirmed when Sue Rostoni posted the dramatis persona for Death Star on the StarWars.com message boards.[14]"

So even in jest, Luca's word on the canon name for a relatively minor character carries considerable weight. ;-)
-Mike

[Kazeite]

Surely, this means that canonically Anakin got his scar by slipping in the bathtub, and not from the hands of Asajj Ventress, right? I mean, this is what Lucas said, didn't he?

[Mr. Oragahn]

Indeed, the irony!
On the same hand, it is necessary to point out that if Lucas really wanted to fuck up the EU, he could have done it, but instead he rather wrote his story in a way which caused minimal damage. He even went as far as to respect the whole Rebel Alliance's origins background, with Mothma, Organa and so on.

[Mike DiCenso]

Actually, the Rebellion's originating with Mon Motha were already something that existed at least in part with the second-tier canon of the RoTJ and other novelizations. However, that said, Lucas showed no respect whatsoever to the RoTJ novelization's back story on Owen Lars and Obi-Wan being brothers, instead going with Lars and Anakin as step brothers.
-Mike

[Mike DiCenso]

Surely, this means that canonically Anakin got his scar by slipping in the bathtub, and not from the hands of Asajj Ventress, right? I mean, this is what Lucas said, didn't he?

Yes, from a very technical standpoint that is correct, though as I recall the Anakin's scar
quote correctly, Lucas gave an out of sorts that he was more willing to leave the story up to others.
-Mike

[Khas]

Surely, this means that canonically Anakin got his scar by slipping in the bathtub, and not from the hands of Asajj Ventress, right? I mean, this is what Lucas said, didn't he?

Yes, from a very technical standpoint that is correct, though as I recall the Anakin's scar
quote correctly, Lucas gave an out of sorts that he was more willing to leave the story up to others.
-Mike

Heh heh. I can think of a few reasons as to how he got that scar.