New ‘Star Wars’ Series Reminds Us of Lucas’ Original Plan for ‘Return of the Jedi’

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As a gamer with over two decades of Star Wars fandom under my belt, I can confidently say that the Ewoks are as much a part of the Star Wars universe as lightsabers and the Millennium Falcon. While some may argue that their inclusion was a misstep, I find it hard to deny the charm they bring to the story.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at George Lucas’ extraordinary Star Wars franchise, a beacon in modern science fiction that transcends time and space. Originally conceived as a daring space opera endeavor, this phenomenal creation has grown into one of the most financially successful and beloved franchises ever. For over four decades now, Star Wars has been a constant, captivating generations of fans like me and continues to stand tall among the best fictional worlds ever crafted.

Although most fans generally appreciate the Star Wars films, even the original trilogy wasn’t without its flaws and drew criticism. While it might be argued that The Empire Strikes Back is a perfect Star Wars movie, George Lucas faced critique for all his other productions as not everyone was fond of every aspect in these films.

In this analysis, we’ll delve into “Return of the Jedi,” specifically re-examining the debate-worthy characters known as the Ewoks. The reason? The recently released “Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy” animated series has rekindled memories of the climactic fight from “Episode VI.” It jogged our memory that George Lucas’ initial ideas for this trilogy were significantly different.

If you’ve watched the latest LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy animated series, the character Sig Greebling incorrectly recounts the events of Return of the Jedi, claiming that the Wookies were the ones who helped the Rebellion defeat Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, not the Ewoks. This is a humorous reference to Lucas and the original script of the film, as Sig Greebling quickly corrects his mistake afterward.

Initially, it was intended that Wookies would be present during the final battle instead of Ewoks, but Lucas opted for the cute little bears to aid the Jedi against the Empire instead. The Ewoks have since become an integral part of Star Wars lore, yet they were initially met with disapproval because they seemed too childish in a primarily adult-oriented franchise; this same criticism was leveled at Jar-Jar Binks when “The Phantom Menace” was released.

But Lucas defended his decision to include the Ewoks in a most interesting way:

When performing the third task, they commented, “Those look like stuffed bears. This seems more suited for children, we prefer something more adult-oriented.” I replied, “Indeed, it is intended for children. It has always been marketed as a kid’s film.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

In the Prequel Trilogy, Jar-Jar Binks was also used in a way that followed the same reasoning. Now, whether or not George Lucas is correct in this matter can be debated, but since he is the creator, his opinion carries significant weight. After all, if he believes the Ewoks were a better fit for the movie, who are we to disagree? Regardless of personal opinions, the Ewoks have become an integral part of Star Wars lore. The LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy series even humorously acknowledged this controversial history.

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2024-09-15 17:43