'REVENGE' OF THE EWAKS!

Their appearance deliberately kept a secret for the most part prior to the release of Return of the Jedi, as Yoda had been for The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, some images of the Ewok (first called Ewaks) creatures of the forest moon of Endor, via conceptual designs by Joe Johnston, did make it to specific trusted sources in licensing and advance publicity planning beyond the confines of Lucasfilm, as seen here with these very rare production still duplicates of the furry warriors. We assume that this was when the film was in its post January 1983 locked-in title phase, though some transparancy holders with the titular Revenge of the Jedi were used that still bore that original title.

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'REVENGE' OF THE PRODUCTION STILLS!

Here's a few further great 35mm image slides from Return of the Jedi that went out to media and merchandising companies with Revenge of the Jedi logo captioning either prior to the name change to Return, or regardless uncorrected of either title, during 1982/83.

Art by Joe Johnston.

'REVENGE' OF THE GRAPHIC!

Movie poster art is vitally important in selling any film to the general public either before or during its theatrical release. And when it comes to the evolving Star Wars movie series, just as important in the marketing is each adventure's logo, which goes through many iterations before the final one is locked in for use. Here's an early hand drawn graphic by designer Jay Vigon for Revenge of the Jedi, which has intriguing differencies to the final version used for what would ultimately become Return of the Jedi by 1983.

An image that was part of an online propstore auction from earlier in 2023.

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY, 'RETURN OF THE JEDI'!

Unused poster concept art.

It ended the once publicity described saga of 'a boy, a girl and a universe' in spectacular, noteworthy style, with epic action, amazing special effects, grotesque and humorous creatures, and, in its key storytelling - most importantly - resolving an emotional and highly dramatic personal conflict, ultimately through honour and sacrifice, darkness turned to light, between father and son.

Return of the Jedi turned out to be the emotionally satisfying and rewarding viewing experience we all hoped it would be back on this day May 25th, 1983 onwards...

May the Force be with George Lucas and the cast and crew who made the film such an enduring winner in the Star Wars franchise.

HAPPY 40TH ANNIVERSARY, 'RETURN OF THE JEDI'! 

THE 'REVENGE'-ING REBELS OF DAC!

The return of our Classic Trilogy heroes with each sequel was always welcome, but so too was the promise of new heroes, villains and aliens in the story alongside them. With Revenge of the Jedi, the film would be packed with all-new creatures in particular, but one of the most important would be rebel leader Admiral Ackbar, given some worthy special advance coverage in 1982 by The Official Star Wars Fan Club's all-important Bantha Tracks newsletter, but with a planet of origin that would change by the film's publicity/merchandise release of 1983.

A NOTICE FOR 'REVENGE'!

The important notification for US cinema projectionists from FOX for the accompanying eagerly awaited Revenge of the Jedi trailer showing with the 13th August 1982 limited re-release of the original Star Wars, which now had the opening crawl extra subtitling of Episode IV: A New Hope.

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!

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.

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FAMILY REUNION!

Newly arrived at the Shield Generator base on Endor, Darth Vader meets an Imperial party bringing in a young Rebel that has deliberately surrendered himself to the enemy, in a production painting created by Ralph McQuarrie used in mid to late 1982 onwards publicity for the then REVENGE OF THE JEDI.

DELETED SCENE: DROID OF THE STORM

Artoo Detoo cuts a lone figure as the Tatooine sandstorm around it and the Millennium Falcon continues, in this great filming image from the start of production of EPISODE VI, for what was originally titled REVENGE OF THE JEDI.

CLASSIC ART: THE CREATURES OF ENDOR!

From 1981, when RETURN was REVENGE OF THE JEDI, an interesting shot of an early Ewok (or Ewak as it was first known) riding one of the second originally planned races of Endor- the long stilted leg creatures the Yuzzum, very near to being seen on screen but ultimately abandoned, before reconceptualized to a shorter, singular creature, for the Jabba's Palace monster menagerie by January 1982. We presume the art is by either Joe Johnston or Phil Tippett.

Image: via PROP STORE website auctions.

BATTLE READY HEROES!

The legacy of REVENGE OF THE JEDI continues with this terrific unused poster concept art by John Alvin, which certainly shows Luke and Leia in a more impressionistic light, though Harrison Ford remains near faithfully intact, as the lightsaber wielding evil of Darth Vader draws near.

JAPAN GOES 'REVENGE'!

A selection of pages from a Japanese magazine promoting REVENGE OF THE JEDI with a very cool blue logo, alongside some great classic imagery. If anyone knows the magazine title and the exact publication date, please get in touch. We assume its from 1983, and even though the title had already changed to RETURN, as many of these published photos weren't released officially until nearer the film's theatrical dates.

With thanks to Chris Baker for image restoration.

THE IMPERIAL CITY OF 'REVENGE'

Art by Ralph McQuarrie.

RETURN OF THE JEDI's climax heavily concentrated its planetary storytelling on the forest moon of Endor and the second Death Star, but in the original 1981 drafts of REVENGE OF THE JEDI, a lot of drama and action would also have been set on the Imperial City, later named Coruscant, of which George Lucas (apparently albeit reluctantly) also used the Expanded Universe's devised planet name for the Prequel Trilogy.

An Imperial Shuttle flies the skies. Art by Joe Johnston.

As well as Joe Johnston, Ralph McQuarrie was heavily involved in early concept work, recalling to STARLOG magazine in October 1983: "The biggest thing left out of RETURN OF THE JEDI was the planet for the Imperials. We worked on this Imperial City a long time, but its never used in the film. George decided to just have everything taking place in space. It's elaborate and quite pretty. But I don't want to reveal what it looks like because George might use it in the future." 

Some of McQuarrie's images would later find a home as part of 1996's much-loved EPISODES V and VI bridge in Shadows of the Empire, and the concept art for the Imperial City would indeed be revisited by Lucas for the Prequels.

BEHIND THE SCENES: PATCHY YODA!

Its hard to believe that George Lucas seriously considered that the little green Jedi wonder Yoda might never came back for REVENGE OF THE JEDI, especially after all the costly production difficulties and delays it had cost to bring him/it to life during THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Thankfully, incoming director Richard Marquand, a big supporter of the character, knew the importance of the Jedi Master's return to the saga, basically for what would be a limited but story confirming role, and then be killed off to join the netherworld of the Force.

As much as Vader had been the emblem for EMPIRE, so too would be Yoda's inheritance of the patchwork insignia for REVENGE/RETURN. Below are the variations.

With thanks to Chris Baker