Key Takeaways:
– The 1983 movie Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was filmed under a false title, Blue Harvest, to avoid increased production charges due to the franchise’s popularity.
– The makers intended to maintain the anonymity of the movie’s production, but when the main cast arrived on set, it was hard to disguise.
– The original working title was Revenge of the Jedi, which was changed just before the movie’s release to avoid media attention and potential leaks.
Star Wars Trilogy’s Third Chapter’s Hidden Identity
The Star Wars trilogy, a globally renowned piece of fictional media, concluded with Return of the Jedi, where familiar characters triumphed over the Empire. But, did you know this iconic movie operated under a quite different and deceptive disguise? During an interview, the film’s production designer, Jim Bloom, revealed some behind-the-scenes secrets.
The Third Installment’s Name Change: Why Blue Harvest?
Return of the Jedi, the final chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy directed by Richard Marquand, hit the theaters on May 25, 1983, enjoying a successful commercial run. Amidst the documentary Empire of Dreams, Jim Bloom unveiled the initial title under which the movie was filmed: Blue Harvest: Horror Beyond Imagination. As surprising as it sounds, there’s a quite reasonable explanation.
The Star Wars franchise, famous worldwide, had its implications. Bloom explained that at various junctures, the production was priced heavily due to the name’s popularity. Therefore, he came up with an uninspiring title to distance the film from the Star Wars’ fame, which also enabled Lucasfilm to cut some overhead expenditures.
However, this scheme only lasted until the major cast, including Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher, arrived on set. Their presence made it difficult to continue the ploy as people got a whiff of the new Star Wars movie being made.
Flashback to Another Former Title
While the Star Wars saga maintained secrecy under the Blue Harvest title, there was more in the name game. Lawrence Kasdan, the co-writer of the screenplay, thought Return of the Jedi was weak, leading to another choice: Revenge of the Jedi.
George Lucas explained in Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays by Laurent Bouzereau that Revenge of the Jedi was never the plan. This temporary diversion was created to lessen the media’s attention, ensuring that no plot details leaked in advance. But, some promotional materials carried the title Revenge of the Jedi. A few months prior to the film’s launch, the production switched back to the original title. Revenge of the Jedi still maintains a notorious reputation as one of the diversionary tactics used to shield the movie from unwanted spoiler leaks.
Behind the scenes, these maneuverings of the original Star Wars trilogy not only add an interesting dimension to the film’s history but also highlight the clever tactics used by film crews to protect their projects. With the Star Wars movies now streaming on Disney+, you can enjoy these iconic movies while remembering the intriguing trivia about the unforgettable Return of the Jedi.
PS: If you’re an ardent Star Wars fan and wishing to delve into the intergalactic world once more, you know where to tune in. Happy streaming!
