Frank Oz Explains What Makes Playing Yoda Special

Frank Oz might be the master of the Muppets , but the English-born American filmmaker and puppeteer did so much more than puppeteer Yoda in the Star Wars franchise.

Speaking in an in an interview with Adam Savage in the SYFY25: Origins Podcast, Oz decided to draw the line between playing the Muppets and playing Yoda in a majority of the Star Wars original and prequel trilogies.

"The Muppets, I performed, with Yoda, I acted. It's a different situation. One has to stay true to the storyline, the direction you're going, the emotions; just be true to whoever you're working with, as opposed to performing, when you're looking for laughs. It was always geared to the audience, and when you're acting, you're not thinking about the audience. When you're performing, you are."

Performing with puppets can be a difficult task, even more so when you have to add the voice of the character too.

Though George Lucas had initially meant to have Oz simply puppeteer the Yoda puppet, the performer had eventually convinced the father of the Star Wars saga that he'd be able to voice the character well, and ever since his debut in The Empire Strikes back, Oz has been tied to the legendary Jedi Master.

Though the rumors haven't been confirmed, there's been word that Yoda might appear in the latest installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, The Last Jedi.

The Last Jedi is scheduled for release December 15, 2017.

Read: Star Wars: There Are Still No Plans To Have Rian Johnson Direct Episode IX