New ‘Star Wars’ Series Reflects Lucas’ Original Vision for ‘Return of the Jedi’

George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise stands as a cornerstone of modern science fiction. What began as an ambitious space opera has evolved into one of the most successful and beloved franchises in history. Over several decades, Star Wars has captivated multiple generations and remains one of the most well-crafted fictional universes ever created.

While the films are largely adored by fans, even the original trilogy faced criticism and issues. Although The Empire Strikes Back is often hailed as the franchise’s flawless installment, Lucas’s other films received their share of criticism from fans and commentators.

This report will focus on Return of the Jedi, particularly its most controversial element: the Ewoks. The new animated series Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy revisits the pivotal battle from Episode VI and reminds us that Lucas’ original plans were quite different.

If you’ve watched the new LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy animated series, you might have noticed a humorous mix-up by the nerf herder Sig Greebling. He mistakenly claims that Wookiees, not Ewoks, helped the Rebellion defeat Vader and Palpatine. Although he quickly corrects himself, this gaffe serves as a playful nod to Lucas and the original script of the movie.

Originally, the plan was indeed to feature Wookiees instead of Ewoks in the final battle. However, Lucas opted for the charming Ewoks, who ultimately played a key role in the defeat of the Empire. Despite their significant place in the lore, Ewoks were initially controversial, viewed by some as too childish for the otherwise mature franchise—much like Jar-Jar Binks was received when The Phantom Menace was released.

Lucas defended his choice to include the Ewoks in a particularly interesting way:

When I did the third one it was the Ewoks: ‘Those are little teddy bears. This is a kid’s movie, we don’t want to see a kids’ movie. I said: ‘It is a kids’ movie. It’s always been a kids’ movie.’

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

This same reasoning applied to the Prequel Trilogy with Jar-Jar Binks. While we might debate Lucas’s choices, as the creator, he ultimately has the final say. If he decided that Ewoks were the better fit for the movie, then it’s his vision we must respect. Regardless, Ewoks have become an integral part of the lore, and the LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy series offers a humorous nod to this whole backstory.

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