LAUNCHING THE LEGEND. PIC THREE: 'RETURN OF THE JEDI' 1982

In the run up to commencement of EPISODE VII's PINEWOOD STUDIOS principal photography, apparently slated for May 14, 2014, STAR WARS AFICIONADO presents a key image from the first day's shootings of the previous six films of the saga.

January 11th, 1982. Deciding to do a challenging scene first so as to prove to George Lucas and producer Howard Kazanjian that he can stay on schedule and budget, newcomer to blockbuster directing Richard Marquand opens up the four-month long UK filming of REVENGE OF THE JEDI on a memorable note: a Tatooine sandstorm sequence featuring the last appearance of the specially built prop Millennium Falcon that, in an environment with huge fan controlled dust particles flying everywhere, proves difficult for the returning, bittersweet main cast reunion to act in. The scene is indeed completed on time and budget, but ultimately proves unrewarding- quickly becoming one of the earliest deleted scene casualties of the film's eventual editing.

As fans wait with baited breath for news on the filming of the concluding chapter of the Classic Trilogy, keen to discover the ultimate fates of now iconic heroes and villains after the cliffhanger to THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, a telex is sent out by LUCASFILM informing the world's press that principal photography is now underway...