'REVENGE' BEGINS...

Wrapping up the Classic Trilogy saga was surely going to be a monumental task for writer/creator George Lucas as he put pencil to paper to draft the first script to the originally titled Revenge of the Jedi. A film which, once title announced during publicity for The Empire Strikes Back, had the world more excited than ever for its eventual arrival.

With thanks to Chris Baker.

A SNEAK PEEK FOR ONTARIO!

Sent to the Ontario Board of Film, the Revenge of the Jedi teaser trailer of December 1982 would surely have been a thrilling prospect to see, just as it was for the rest of the world's Star Wars fans of the time. It's always fun to see the original film prints or rolls of Classic Trilogy related items that have materialized for the early-titled film, and this is certainly a special one- an item that was sold a few years back on Ebay.

CLASSIC ART: THE DEFIANT SKYWALKER!

The simple yet emotionally complex battle between good and evil, father and son, rages on in these intriguing poster conceptual art ideas by Tom Jung for Revenge of the Jedi's climactic and iconic finale lightsaber duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: 'FANTASTIC' SPECULATION!

Fantastic Films, the competitive US sci-fi/fantasy magazine rival to the iconic Starlog, loved Star Wars, and they especially loved discussing and speculating (via features and alongside readers input) about what was going to happen next with the finale to the then upcoming Revenge of the Jedi. This classic issue of nostalgia, from 1982, was certainly no exception, its cover of Luke Skywalker guaranteeing good sales at the newsstands!

WHEN 'VARIETY' GOT 'REVENGE'D!

Celebrating their success in having the number one and two highest grossing films at the box office at that point with Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, Twentieth Century Fox and their marketing teams were eager to publicise Revenge of the Jedi - the third chapter of the STAR WARS saga, then in production - in the American Variety entertainment newspaper in 1982, via a special and lavish gate-fold pull-out poster advertorial that has become a lovely collector's item.

CLASSIC MERCHANDISE: PROMOTING 'REVENGE' FOR '83

Recently listed by a seller on Ebay America, this is one of the gorgeous press packs sent out by FOX and Lucasfilm in 1982 to teaser/promote the upcoming Revenge of the Jedi to various magazine and newspaper editorial departments of the territory, especially via tantalizing open-up production painting art by Ralph McQuarrie of the Sail Barge battle on Tatooine, which is beautifully reproduced.

BEHIND THE SCENES: LIGHTS...CAMERA...'REVENGE'!

Revenge of the Jedi makes a striking appearance on a clapperboard used during the filming of General Madine's (Dermot Crowley) ultimately deleted bridge scenes set on his Rebel cruiser, shot at Elstree Studios during February 1982.

THE CLOTHING LEGACY OF 'REVENGE'...

The race is on to complete RETURN OF THE JEDI and deliver it to cinemas and expectant fans during 1983, but the original traces of Revenge of the Jedi happily remain, too, as demonstrated by Unit Production Manager and documentarian talent Miki Herman, alongside George Lucas at Lucasfilm headquarters in 1983.

http://www.thepropgallery.com/revenge-of-the-jedi-crew-sweatshirt

CLASSIC IMAGE: 'REVENGE' OF THE TOYS...

Image: EBAY.

With the third STAR WARS film in the works during 1982, the money-making merchandise was in full-swing preparation alongside it, especially KENNER/PALITOY who'd have confidential access to the concept art and model blueprints. Early toy publicity for the companies would bear their own version of the Revenge of the Jedi logo, too, as seen in this teaser poster for the new line for 1983.