Return of the Jedi (radio)

Return of the Jedi is a six-part audio reimagining of the motion picture Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. It represents the concluding chapter of the Star Wars radio dramatizations which adapted the original trilogy. HighBridge Audio, the organization that previously distributed the initial two series on cassette and compact disc, produced the audio drama in partnership with Tom Voegeli Productions and NPR's L.A. Theatre Works. It was transmitted across the US on National Public Radio during a six-week period in the latter part of 1996.

The audio drama was created more than a decade following the release of the first two radio series, Star Wars (1981) and The Empire Strikes Back (1983). Due to federal funding reductions, NPR was unable to produce the trilogy's third installment; however, robust sales of the first two audio dramas convinced HighBridge to produce a new radio adaptation. Lucasfilm once again contributed the rights and authorized the utilization of the film's sound effects and John Williams' musical composition. The majority of the cast and crew from the first two audio dramas were able to participate again, but Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams, actors from the Star Wars films, were unable to return, leading to their roles being recast. The script served as the final endeavor for Star Wars writer Brian Daley, who passed away on the final day of recording.

Because the Return of the Jedi audio drama was created thirteen years following the movie on which it was based, it was able to integrate numerous allusions to recent aspects of the Expanded Universe. Among these are a cameo appearance by Mara Jade disguised as Arica in Jabba's Palace and references to occurrences from Shadows of the Empire. Similar to the other radio dramas, Return of the Jedi includes supplementary scenes and dialogue to content derived from the movie.

Development

Conception

The creation of the radio adaptation of Return of the Jedi experienced a 13-year delay due to Congressional decreases in funding for public broadcasting. NPR lacked the financial resources to produce the audio drama, but strong sales of the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back radio dramas in CD and cassette formats persuaded Highbridge Audio executives to undertake the production of the Return of the Jedi audio drama through their studio.

The majority of the production team and the principal cast from the initial two audio dramas were able to return, including scriptwriter Brian Daley, director John Madden, and producer Tom Voegeli, along with Anthony Daniels, Perry King, Ann Sachs, Brock Peters, Paul Hecht, Bernard Behrens, and John Lithgow. However, two of the series' three actors from the Star Wars films did not reprise their roles. Joshua Fardon assumed the role of Luke Skywalker, while Arye Gross portrayed Lando Calrissian. Ed Begley, Jr. was selected to provide the voice of Boba Fett, while Ed Asner, using only grunts, made a guest appearance as Jabba the Hutt.

Brian Daley was battling pancreatic cancer when work on the audio drama commenced, so HighBridge engaged John Whitman to handle the inevitable revisions that would arise after the director and cast began working with the script. Whitman possessed experience in composing audio dramas for the Star Wars Expanded Universe, including Dark Empire and Tales of the Jedi. However, upon Madden and the actors commencing their readings of Daley's script, they discovered that minimal rewriting was required and that his original script would suffice in the majority of instances. Whitman is credited as a co-writer solely for the first two episodes. One noteworthy revision involved a conversation between Threepio and Boba Fett that provided exposition about Jabba's Palace. These scenes portrayed Fett's character as excessively amiable, leading to the bounty hunter being replaced by Timothy Zahn's character Mara Jade, disguised as the dancer Arica.

Production

Return of the Jedi was recorded at the same rate as its two predecessors: one episode per day, for a total of six rather exhausting days. The cast and crew returned to Westlake Audio Studios in Los Angeles, where the first Star Wars audio drama had been recorded.

Tom Voegeli once again managed the sound mixing from his home base in St Paul, Minnesota. He and his team once more had access to the sounds and music from the films. The dialogue for Chewbacaca, Artoo, Nien Nunb, and the Ewoks originated from Ben Burtt's sound library and were integrated into the newly recorded dialogue during post-production. The musical score featured the songs "Lapti Nek" and "Ewok Celebration," which were later replaced in the Special Edition the following year by "Jedi Rocks" and "Victory Celebration".

Release

NPR broadcast the inaugural episode, "Tatooine Haunts," on November 5, 1996, with subsequent episodes airing weekly on Tuesdays. The concluding episode, "Blood of a Jedi," aired on December 10. Certain local stations adhered to different schedules. Before the year's end, HighBridge released a Collector's Limited Edition of the entire radio trilogy.

The audio drama's original script was published in Return of the Jedi: The National Public Radio Dramatization, also in December 1996. Anthony Daniels filled in for Brian Daley to compose the introduction. Alongside Daley's script, the book encompasses production photographs, pertinent concept art from the film, and a transcription of the get well message that the cast created for Daley on the final day of recording.

Episodes

Media

Editions

Cover gallery

Credits

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Notes and references

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Appearances