Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of its original release, a limited time return for the original Star Wars trilogy’s finale — “Return of the Jedi — has been announced at Star Wars Celebration Europe. This release is one of several major developments for the Star Wars franchise made at the celebration, including the first confirmation of new feature-length films in years.
The limited time run in theaters begins April 28.
‘Return of the Jedi’
“Return of the Jedi” begins one year after Han Solo was captured and frozen in carbonite at the behest of Darth Vader. The first portion takes place on Tatooine and primarily concerns Han’s rescue and the defeat of Jabba the Hutt with the assistance of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and friends. After the group’s escape, they discover plans and construction for a new, ultimate Death Star weapon under the direct supervision of the Emperor.
While attempting to destroy an energy shield protecting this updated Death Star on the nearby forest moon of Endor, the main protagonists encounter and eventually befriend a tribe of Ewoks. Han, Leia, the Ewoks, and the rest of the Rebel Alliance focus their attention on the destruction of the weapon and Empire at-large, while Luke Skywalker must confront the Emperor, duel his father, and reckon with the inner struggle between his righteous Jedi trainings and temptations from the dark side of the Force. Darth Vader is also faced with a critical choice: lead his own son down a fruitless path of evil that may seal both of their fates, or defy the Emperor in one final act of redemption and balance.
This sci-fi space adventure capped off the original Star Wars story, one that transformed cinema and has endured for decades as one of the highest-grossing phenomena in human history. Its return to the big screen will likely attract crowds of longtime fans and introduce some newcomers for the very first time.
What is your favorite Star Wars film? Let us know in the comments.
Be sure to check out these other major announcements from Star Wars Celebration Europe:
- The first trailer and release window for “Ahsoka,” a new series on Disney+.
- The first footage for “The Acolyte,” another Star Wars series coming to Disney+.
- An announced release month with new clips for season two of the popular “Andor” series.
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