Stormtroopers

The Stormtroopers are soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Stormtroopers are elite soldiers, working as the marines for the Imperial Navy, under the leadership of the evil Sith Lord and Emperor Palpatine and his commanders, most notably Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin.

They are shown in collective groups of varying organizational sizes ranging from squads to legions and, for some, their armor and training is modified for special operations and environments.

Background
With the falling of the Old Republic and the Rise of the Empire, the Clone Troopers were rechristened as Imperial Stormtroopers. Without the guidance of their Jedi officers, Stormtroopers were "cut loose" to brutally enforce the new Imperial doctrine, to which they quickly built a reputation as merciless, uncompromising soldiers indoctrinated with unconditional loyalty to Emperor Palpatine.

As the Empire went on, many races feared these troopers and were threatened to be arrested or killed on sight if anyone dared tried to mess with them or fight back.

Film Appearance
The Stormtroopers made their debut appearance in the original Star Wars movie A New Hope, originally titled Star Wars back in 1977 until it was renamed in later releases.

A New Hope
The Stormtroopers were involved in search of the plans for the Death Star which were stolen by Rebel Spies, when it was assumed that the princess hidden them in a escape pod that crashed landed on the planet Tatooine, a group of troopers were sent down to search for them and soon realised they were also looking for two droids known as R2-D2 and C-3PO. The Stormtroopers tracked down the same Jawas that sold off the two droids and traced where they sold too, Lars Owen. They slaughtered both the Jawas and Lars and Beru after they were unable to find the droids but they would later spread their search to Mos Eisley where they found and attempted to stop Luke, Ben and the two droids from escaping aboard a ship known as the Millennium Falcon, piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca.

When the Millenium Falcon was captured by the Death Star, Stormtroopers aboard the station were put on patrol and two of them were taken out by Luke and Han and stripped of their uniforms. When Luke, Han and Chewbacca made an attempt to rescue Princess Leia, the Stormtroopers ambushed them in Detention Block AA23, until they escaped down the garbage chute.

The Stormtroopers would soon catch up with Han, Luke, Leia and Chewbacca and attempted to capture or kill them. Han chased a few Stormtroopers down a corridor but soon ran away after he became face-to-face with millions of Stormtroopers. The Stormtroopers chasing Leia and Luke were trapped and unable to extend a bridge to get to the other side of the endless drop below them. But they were able to jam the door behind them for a while and swing across to the other side. Their attempt to capture both the intruders would be in vain as they managed. The troopers who were stationed on the Death Star were later all killed along with the station's destruction.

The Empire Strikes Back
The Stormtroopers accompanied Darth Vader in capturing the Rebels Han Leia and Chewbacca on Cloud City on Bespin. For unknown reasons, they tortured Han and later had him put in place for carbon freezing. After giving Han to the bounty hunter Boba Fett, the Stormtroopers escorted Leia and Chewbacca to Vader's ship but thanks to Lando Calrissian, they were captured, stripped of their weapons and sent to the security area quietly.

As everyone began to evacuate the Cloud City before more Imperials arrive, few Stormtroopers chased after, Leia, Lando, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO as they made their way back to the Millennium Faclon. Again their attempts to capture them were in vain as they were able to successfully escape

Return of the Jedi
The Emperor had his best Troops stationed on the forest moon of Endor guarding the shield generator that was protecting the Second Death Star. As part of the Emperor's plan to rid of the Rebellion, he allowed a small group of Rebels to find the shield generator where a squadron of Stormtroopers ambushed them and were captured. However they were not expecting to face the Ewoks that inhabited the planet and engaged them in a battle throughout the forest. Even though the Troopers had the upper hand in weaponry, they were easily defeated and the Rebels succeeded in destroying the shield generator allowing Lando Calrissian and his fighter squadron to enter the Death Star and destroy it.

The Force Awakens
The Stormtroopers are set to appear in the seventh Star Wars movie The Force Awakens in newly designed armor.

One notable Stormtrooper in the film is known as Finn who crashes on Tatooine and left injured until a mechanic named Rey rescues him. He later deserts the Imperial Army after being nursed back to health.

Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars
The Stormtroopers made an appearance in the Phineas and Ferb special episode, "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars". Alongside, Candace Flynn, Buford Van Stomm and Baljeet Tjinder were Stormtroopers and in the reason Candace joined the Empire because they bring order to the galaxy and she too is about order.

Star Wars Rebels
The Stormtroopers currently appear in the Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels. Set five years before the events of A New Hope, they fight against the Rebels of Lothal, led by Jedi-Cowboy Kanan Jarrus. In the series they are commonly nicknamed "Bucketheads" by the Rebels, because of their bucket-shaped helmets. Even in greater numbers, they always get outwitted and defeated by these Rebels.

Shorts
In the short "Art Attack", Stormtroopers were patrolling a TIE Fighter landing platform and after forcing a civilian out, Sabine Wren infiltrated the area and began to vandalize one of the TIEs with some graffiti art. Two troopers caught Sabine and threatened to shoot her. However she managed to slip away mocking them. Even thought they brought in reinforcements, Sabine still got away and left behind an explosive, and yet colourful surprise for them.

In the short "Entanglement", Two Stormtroopers were interrogating a civilian and when they threatened to arresst him, Zeb the Lasat knocked them out by bashing their heads together. However more troopers showed up and chased after Zeb and engaged him in physical combat. One by one they were easily taken out by Zeb. Soon more showed up and opened fire on Zeb who was on a TIE Fighter. Their random firing caused a leak in the Fighter's fuel tank and one blast from their blasters ignited the fuel, blowing up everything and everyone with it, nearly everyone.

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
Stormtroopers were stationed on Lothal and during a transport of Imperial crates, they encountered the three Rebels, Kanan, Zeb and Sabine. They attempted to kill them but were easily taken out and the Rebels got away with the crates of weapons and food.

Stormtroopers were assigned as security aboard an Imperial Transport ship where the Rebels attempted to board and rescue Wookiee prisoners. they Infiltrated by saying their were brining in an additional Wookiee. Two Stormtroopers arrived at the airlock where Kanan and Sabine presented Zeb as a rare hairless Wookiee. Unfortunately they didn't buy it, only because Zeb didn't give them a chance and took them out with a single punch against their heads. Little did the Rebels know they were walking into a trap and when both ships were captured by a Star Destroyer, a squadron of Stormtroopers accompanied Agent Kallus to board and capture the Rebels. However they got away but with Kallus they were able to capture Ezra, confiscated his belongings and locked him in a cell.

Ezra later escaped from his prison when he tricked two Stormtroopers who were guarding his cell thinking he was passing out while complaining and saying things, like he's the Emperor's nephew. When they came in to investigate, Ezra slipped by them and locked them inside after saying... "Bye guys."

When the Rebels returned to rescue Ezra, Kallus led a suqadron to prevent them from escaping but once again they were outwitted when Sabine exploded a hole in the ship. Several troops were in the vacuum of space.

The Stormtroopers accompanied Kallus to Kessel where they ambush the Rebels trying to rescue Wookiee Prisoners. It was here, they discovered that Kanan Jallus was a Jedi after deploying his Lightsaber and under Kallus' orders focused their attack on him. Again they failed to capture the Rebels after they escaped with the Wookiees and when one Stormtrooper asked Agent Kallus if Kanan was the first Jedi he'd ever seen, Kallus replied by kicking him in the face causing him to fall to his death.

Disney Parks
Stormtroopers appear in Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, at several points throughout the attraction.

They also appear in the show Jedi Training Academy, and many other events also at Star Wars Weekends.

Trivia

 * In the early production of the original Star Wars film, the Stormtroopers were to wield Lightsabers and hand-held shields instead of blasters.
 * Despite what many people think, only the initial batch of Stormtroopers were clones. After a while, the Empire started recruiting.