The original trilogy of Star Wars is one of the most beloved films both in science-fiction and cinema, but because it pioneered many of the tropes and film tricks that are used today, many behind-the-scenes moments continued to change and adapt before each film’s premier, including the narrative changes that would constantly occur between each film. For example, what would cause George Lucas to change the title of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, not once but twice?
Much like the entire franchise, each title in the Star Wars Skywalker saga has had a deeper meaning that further touches on each entry’s themes. For Return of the Jedi, the name made sense as it represented a new dawn for the galaxy and the need for a Jedi to return to put an end to the Empire. In the grand scheme, the title has even carried a mythic quality, as the prequels showed just how influential the Jedi were and how important even one of them returning could be. However, even with all of the spectacle and excitement that came from the title, it was still nearly titled Revenge of the Jedi and flipped between titles at least twice, even being used in marketing for the film in a trailer, which was narrated by James Earl Jones.
Return of the Jedi was officially announced in 1980, but it was sold as Revenge of the Jedi for posters, and the explanation for why these changes were made was further explored in The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by the late J.W. Rinzler. At first, the film was going to be titled Return of the Jedi, based on Lucas’ earlier drafts of the film.
He had even approached Lucasfilm Vice President of Production Howard G. Kazanjian about it, where he stated, “The title of Episode VI is Return of the Jedi,” but Kazanjian felt that the title may have been a bit weak, and Lucas returned only a couple of days later, where he stated that the film would instead be titled Revenge of the Jedi. Although it would later explain why revenge wouldn’t work for the film, the rapid change was also a testament to Lucas’s flexibility and creativity. Lucas even signed off on the title only five months after the film’s announcement, and it would remain Revenge of the Jedi until merchandising would get ready to ramp up.
In terms of marketing and film production, Lucas came back at the last minute, claiming that the film would revert back to its original title of Return of the Jedi and clearly showed the divide between the art and business that has made up the movie industry for over a century. When asked by the film’s director, Richard Marquand, he stated, “…We had always wanted to call it ‘Return.; Philosophically, it’s correct… A Jedi Knight can’t understand that as a concept of behavior.” Lucas would later double down on this when the time came to officially change the title for the last time.
Lucasfilm Senior Vice President Sidney Ganis stated that Revenge was a much better and catchier title, but Lucas put his foot down and claimed that “Jedi don’t take revenge.” Ultimately this would prove correct but created quite a spectacle for the many people working on the film as they had to rework the title across all of the marketing, hence why there’s still some Revenge of the Jedi merchandise out in the world.
The title change would continue on in history, and while it has since made for a great story, it also informed the later Jedi concept for decades to come. Now, it’s become clear that to be a Jedi Knight meant to tackle their negative emotions and overcome them. Because of this, revenge is something that rarely, if ever, overcame a Jedi.
Perhaps the most famous example of this failing was when Anakin Skywalker murdered the Tuskens for killing his mother. However, his act of revenge would later lead to his descent to the Dark Side, further showcasing why the concept of taking a life in anger should never be in a Jedi’s creed. In the end, the constant name changes managed to benefit Lucas and the overall franchise well.
Return of the Jedi will always be one of the best final chapters in the Star Wars trilogies, and even more than that, it helped pave the way for a new era thanks to the trials and errors that took place behind the scenes. While a Jedi never sought revenge in that film, the concept would once again return in the better fitting, Revenge of the Sith, which both enhanced the story and also paralleled Episode VI, which could be viewed as a sunrise to Revenge of the Sith’s sunset. All in all, the repeated name changes have gone on to show that even the best things need some time to be ironed out, and it can sometimes lead to chaos but would always lead to greatness.
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