TOZEUR, May 19 — The city of Mos Espa - birthplace of the famous Darth Vader - may be fake, but the fans here are very real. Filmed in the Tunisian desert during the 1990s, the Star Wars sagas have their roots in this very real landscape. But after nearly two decades, the sets used to create the childhood village of the “master of the dark side” were in desperate need of The Force.

Wannabe Jedis and tourists are flocking to Mos Espa, birthplace of Darth Vader and where the earlier Star Wars films were shot. — AFP pic

A programme has been launched to promote local tourism, by inviting people to experience the Star Wars sites for themselves. Although they were only recently repaired, tourists are already flocking in. The campaign to save Mos Espa is led by the capital of Tunis. It hopes to attract the attention of movie producers who may want to make future episodes at the original location. Abderrahmane Ameur, President of the Association of Star Wars fans in Tunisia, said, “In episode seven, they have begun work in Abu Dhabi, I do not think they will return to Tunisia. But for episodes eight and nine, we have faith, maybe because apparently it is Peter Jackson who will make movies and maybe it means that they will come back to Tunisia.” It’s hoped wannabe Jedis will keep returning to the movie’s original film set, created a long time ago in a Tunisian desert not so far away. — AFP-Relaxnews