Science Channel looks at science behind Industrial Light & Magic

Mark Hamill, famed for his roles in the Star Wars films, narrates a new Science Channel special that looks at how the amazing visual effects in those movies, as well as in many other films, were created by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) a division of LucasFilm, over the past 40 years.

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Raiders, Raptors and Rebels: Behind the Magic of ILM, looks at the scientific and technological wonders of ILM, and includes exclusive interviews with George Lucas, Joss Whedon, Robert Downey Jr., James Spader and ILM masterminds, including John Knoll and Dennis Muren.

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“The brain-child of director George Lucas, ILM has come a long way since its inception in 1975 when Lucas was armed with one million dollars, an ambitious script and a dream that would become STAR WARS, the worldwide pop culture phenomenon. George Lucas and ILM forever changed the way films are made while inspiring a new generation of both film-makers and scientists who now work to shape the future, both onscreen and off. RAIDERS, RAPTORS AND REBELS features interviews with artists, scientists, technicians, directors and actors as they tell the stories behind some of the world’s favorite movie moments from JURRASIC PARK to STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of this summer’s blockbuster, Marvel’s THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON. … Science has almost caught up with the minds of filmmakers, as their work has done more than just advance entertainment and film; it has created an army of astrophysicists, archaeologists and engineers who have taken ILM’s vision into the real world, from TERMINATOR-inspired futuristic printers, mind-controlled bionic arms like Luke Skywalker’s in STAR WARS and life-saving plastic surgery inspired by THE HULK.”

Raiders, Raptors and Rebels: Behind the Magic of ILM airs on Science Channel July 19 at 10pm ET/PT.