Hey there,
Rebelscum fans! This week on the site, we’re exploring the history of the climactic battle that ends the original trilogy in
Return of the Jedi. While perhaps in another week we’ll look at the throne room duel between father and son or the epic space battle outside of Death Star II, this week we’re looking at the conflict on the lunar sequence, and in particular the role of the Ewoks. Make sure to check out our “
Expand Your Mind” segment first to hear about the behind-the-scenes development, but stay tuned throughout the week for more articles, videos, and merchandising spotlights.
Ewoks remain some of the most popular figures for
Star Wars collectors, and due to the heavy amount of Ewoks spinoff projects in the 1980s, they’ve developed their own universe of adventures. Here are some Force facts about Ewoks, Endor, and
Return of the Jedi’s ending battle.
- Warwick Davis’s next lead role was in George Lucas’s fantasy adventure Willow, which he claims is set within the Star Wars universe. Similar to how Star Wars originated from Lucas’s failed attempts to gain the rights to Flash Gordon, he began developing Willow after he was unable to make his version of Lord of the Rings.
- A long persistent rumor that Ewoks were decimated by debris from Death Star II originated in an issue of Star Wars Tales, but has been deemed non-canon.
- The 2011 Blu-Ray release of the entire saga added blinks to the Ewoks that were impossible to add during the original production of Return of the Jedi.
- None of the Ewoks are referred to by name in Return of the Jedi, and fans were only able to determine their differences based on the names given in the original Kenner line of action figures.
- Teddy bear like dolls that were popular in the 80s actually make a cameo appearance in Star Wars Resistance.
- Sound designer Ben Burtt heard the Kalmyk language, a Mongolic language spoken by the Kalmyk people of Russia, in a documentary that inspired him to create Ewokese.
- Return of the Jedi director Richard Marquad cameos as one of the AT-ST drivers that Chewbacca throws out.
- The Blurrg creatures from the Ewok television films later appeared in both The Clone Wars and The Mandalorian.
- Cindel Towani, the young child co-star of the Ewok television films, becomes a journalist in the New Republic era, appearing in the 1996 novel Tyrant’s Test.
- Sanyassan Marauders from Ewoks: The Battle for Endor also appear in the Star Wars Galaxies MMOPRG.
What do you think,
Rebelscum fans? What are some of your favorite Ewok moments in canon and Legends? What Ewok-related merch are you waiting on?
Let us know in the forums, and as always, may the Force be with you!
