We all have our favorite movie from the Star Wars franchise. However, today if you’re trying to find out where was Star Wars Return of the Jedi filmed, then read this article till the end. I’ll let you in on some interesting facts about his popular movie along with its filming locations.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi or Star Wars: Episode VI was released in the final week of May 1983. In order to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of this epic sci-fi film, a spin-off has been released recently.
The story of the original Star Wars: Return of the Jedi revolves around Lucas Skywalker and his challenging quest to bring back Vader from the Darkside. The plot thickens when the Rebels attempt to destroy the second death star after rescuing Han Solo.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi stands as the sequel to The Empire Strikes Back and the sixth chronological film in the Skywalker saga. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was a massive commercial success. This action-adventure movie won 23 prestigious awards and collected several nominations.
If you are wondering where was Star Wars: Return of the Jedi filmed, then without stalling any longer, let’s dive right in.
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Where Was Star Wars Return Of The Jedi Filmed? Let’s Know This Epic Movie Closely!
I suggest we discuss first things first. The filming locations, which I am going to share with you, were primarily used to shoot the first Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which was released in 1983.
Even though Richard Marquand directed the latest version of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, with the same actors as the original version of the film, the shooting locations are absolutely different from the original version of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
Alright, now that we’ve straightened up the confusion which might bug your mind, let’s focus on the filming locations of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
The outdoor scenes of this action-adventure movie were filmed in America. To be more specific, Richard Marquand and Lucas decided to shoot scenes of the planet Death Star in and around the states of California and Arizona.
The remaining interior sequences of the movie, along with some other scenes depicting the intergalactic travel, were all filmed inside a well-equipped film studio. Although, in this case, Marquand and Richard thought it would be best to shoot these scenes in England instead of America.
Since the film studios in England at the time were much more advanced and offered a number of facilities for the filmmakers, Marquand was heavily inclined towards filming there. The principal photography of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi began in the second week of January 1982 and continued till the third week of May.
Most of the outdoor scenes were captured in America, specifically in and around California and Arizona. Whereas a few minor outdoor sequences of the movie were also filmed in England, along with all the interior scenes.
The shooting process of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi went on smoothly for the most part, as all crew and cast members had previously worked together in the prequels. Marquand was quite confident about his work after directing two blockbuster films from the same franchise.
The director didn’t shy away from using his original and unique ideas during the filming process. Which eventually turned out to be quite efficient and successful.
Now let’s discuss where Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was filmed.
California, Arizona | USA
The movie’s opening sequence, where we see the character of Hans Solo for the first time, was filmed in California. The sequence where Hans Solo gets rescued by the brave soldiers of the Rebel group was filmed near Morrison Creek, Smith River.
Other important outdoor scenes were captured in Buttercup Valley and Death Valley National Park in California. After filming these scenes, the production members moved to the next filming location.
Additional outdoor scenes from the first half of the movie were captured in and around the state of Arizona. The production members filmed in Castle Dome Peak, Yuma and Blue Canyon, and Hopi Reservations during the second phase of shooting.
Other Filming Locations | England
The final phase of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi filming was done in England. After filming the outdoor scenes in Arizona and California, the production members traveled overseas to the UK.
The remaining outdoor scenes were shot in the non-metropolitan County of Hertfordshire. Interestingly enough, the Elstree Studios, which is located in the same County, was also used to film all the interior scenes of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
The shooting process of this film ended by the third week of May 1982, after which the production members returned to America. The post-production process began the following month and continued until the final week of January 1983.
And now, let me walk you through the plot of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Meanwhile, you can also read The Story Of Us, Sicario, and The Gray Man.
Plot Of Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi | What’s It About
The story of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi revolves around the character of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, two brave members of the Resistance Army. At the very beginning of the movie, the soldiers of the Rebel clan rescue Hans Solo from Jabba the Hut.
On the other hand, Luke Skywalker prepares to defeat the Empire and free the universe from the clutches of the evil emperor. However, when Luke faces Darth Vader, the commander and chief of the Dark Side, he is not able to kill him.
Watch Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and find out how Luke forces his will over the dark power of Darth Vader.
Final Words
Friends, we’ve reached the end. I hope now you finally know where was Star Wars Return of the Jedi filmed, If you’d like us to cover the filming locations of any other movie or show, let us know in the comments.
