The Original Ending of Return of the Jedi: Lucas's Coruscant Change

The action-packed finale of Return of the Jedi was originally planned to take place on Coruscant, but George Lucas and Richard Marquand decided to change it. George Lucas had always envisioned the Empire being based on a city-planet known as an ecumenopolis. However, Coruscant was not introduced until the 1991 novel Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn, which was later included in the 1997 Star Wars Special Edition of Return of the Jedi.

Coruscant only made a brief appearance in the Special Edition. The finale of Return of the Jedi was actually set on the Forest Moon of Endor, where the theme of "nature versus the unnatural" was portrayed through the Ewoks, who helped the rebels defeat the technologically advanced and larger Imperial forces. It is interesting to note that the original plan was for the finale to take place on Coruscant, leading to a much larger scale battle.

Had Abbadon: Coruscant's Original Incarnation

Concept art of Coruscant Imperial Palace - Had Abbadon: Coruscant's Original Incarnation

The capital of the Galactic Empire was first named Had Abbadon. In an early version of the story for Return of the Jedi, there were plans for two partially-built Death Stars and a forested moon called “Jus-Endor.” These ideas were later changed to the Death Star celebrations in the final film. However, the idea of the Empire being based on a planet covered entirely by a cityscape persisted. In the Star Wars universe, the planet Had Abbadon was eventually renamed Imperial Center during the Empire's rule.

There were also plans for Coruscant to appear in the sequels, with the First Order originally intended to destroy the planet using Starkiller Base.

The finale of Return of the Jedi was changed for a specific reason.

The planet Endor in Star Wars - Why Return of the Jedi's Finale Was Changed

The original ending for Return of the Jedi was planned to be set on a city planet and a forest moon, featuring two Death Star stations that were only partially completed. However, this idea was deemed too visually complex and costly due to the limitations of Lucasfilm's budget and special effects technology at that time. Despite this, elements of the original concept were retained, such as the Forest Moon of Endor playing a crucial role and one Death Star being present. Instead of the Emperor's lava-filled throne room envisioned by McQuarrie, the final script had Palpatine on the Second Death Star, observing the space battle taking place above Endor.

How Would The Rebels Have Won On Had Abbadon?

Had Abaddon concept art for Return of the Jedi featuring two Death Stars - How Would The Rebels Have Won On Had Abbadon?

Where The Had Abbadon Concept Was Repurposed In The Star Wars Franchise

If Return of the Jedi had kept its original ending, the rebels would have faced a more challenging victory. With two Death Stars still in play, their superweapons would have posed a significant threat, resulting in greater losses for the rebels in space battles. Moreover, the shield generator locations on Jus-Endor and Had Abbadon would have required urban warfare on the Galactic Empire’s capital world to take down one of the shields. While it would have been difficult due to limited resources, there could have been a scenario where the Rebels took control of one Death Star to eliminate the other, possibly disabling the captured battlestation afterwards.

The Emperor's Throne Room in concept art for Return of the Jedi - Where The Had Abbadon Concept Was Repurposed In The Star Wars Franchise

Even though Return of the Jedi's ending was altered, some of its original ideas still influenced other parts of the Star Wars series. The character Abbadon, for example, was not in the movie but made an appearance in the Star Wars: Legacy comics set in the Legends era. The concept of Palpatine's throne room was also reused in different ways - in The Last Jedi, it belonged to Supreme Leader Snoke, and in The Rise of Skywalker, the Sith throne itself was featured. Despite the changes made to the movie's finale, elements like Coruscant continued to show up in various Star Wars stories.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides an intriguing glimpse into the evolution of the Return of the Jedi finale. The original plan to set the climax on Coruscant, later renamed Had Abbadon, would have resulted in a visually stunning and epic battle. However, the limitations of technology and budget forced Lucas to alter his vision. Despite this, elements of the original concept were incorporated into the final film, such as the Forest Moon of Endor and the presence of one Death Star.

The hypothetical scenario of the rebels facing off against the Empire on Had Abbadon is tantalizing. With two Death Stars in play, the rebels would have faced an even greater challenge, requiring them to employ innovative tactics and strategic brilliance to achieve victory. The urban warfare on Had Abbadon's cityscape would have added an intense and claustrophobic dimension to the conflict, showcasing the rebels' determination and resilience. While the original ending may not have been realized, its influence can be seen throughout the Star Wars franchise, from the character of Abbadon to the iconic throne room designs.