The Life and Times of the Fighting 501st

In 1997, Albin Johnson took his obsession with the Star Wars Trilogy to another level by founding the Fighting 501st Legion. His small club set themselves apart from other fans by creating meticulously authentic looking costumes of the films Imperial Forces and miscellaneous baddies. Over the next decade his legion of stormtroopers, Imperial guards, bounty hunters and Sith Lords would grow to over 4000 armoured members and its focus had shifted away from the conquest of a galaxy far, far away to charity work right here on planet Earth. The Legions visits to childrens hospitals and extreme acts such as running major marathons in full regalia took them from being a small costumed fanclub to a high profile media sensation.Heart of an Empire follows the ups and downs of Albin and his fanboy army while exploring the motives, obsessions and the public perception of these eccentric philanthropists. We hear from legion members as well as academics, Lucasfilm representatives and actors from the original Star Wars Trilogy who all try and shed light on the phenomenon. But as the story unfolds it takes an unexpectedly tragic twist when Albins own daughter is diagnosed with cancer and his surrogate family must come to his aid and reveal what really lies at the Heart of an Empire.