The Star Wars franchise existed in a few different forms over the years. George Lucas previously revealed that "films never get finished, they get abandoned," which seemed to have led to his return to the original trilogy. In 1997, the original trilogy was re-released for a whole new audience to enjoy.

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The Special Edition re-release of the original Star Wars trilogy featured several new shots and sometimes controversial changes. This led many fans to question the integrity of the new versions, making the original cuts even more valuable to collectors. A few of the biggest changes from the Special Edition sparked ongoing discussions with fans for years.

Updated on October 2, 2022 by Scoot Allan: Disney+ released a trailer for a new documentary that featured footage from the original theatrical cut of the Star Wars original trilogy. It only continued to highlight some fans' desire to see a re-release of the original trilogy without the many changes made to the 1997 Special Edition re-release. Moments like Greedo shooting first instead of Han and young Anakin Skywalker's Force Ghost remain some of the biggest changes fans haven't stopped discussing for years.

12 Cleaned Up The Special Effects To Match The Prequel Trilogy

Cloud City of Bespin in the Star Wars universe

The Special Edition of the Star Wars original trilogy was re-released in theaters starting in 1997 in order to debut the new cuts of the films. It also served to hype the upcoming release of the prequel trilogy's first film, Episode I: The Phantom Menace. However, technology had changed in the 25 years that separated the releases.

New effects and CGI overlays were added to the original trilogy to make the movies look like they were from the same universe. The Special Edition updated the matte background paintings with digital effects and erased any defects that were easily improved using modern technology.

11 Additional CG Aliens & Ships Were Added In Various Scenes

Stormtroopers searching the desert of Tatooine

The population of the Star Wars universe was greatly enhanced for the Special Edition. This included adding more alien creatures to almost any scene where they made sense. The Mos Eisley spaceport featured new comical scenes of Jawas and other aliens that weren't included in the original trilogy.

Additionally, several additional ships were added to various scenes, some of which were taken from later media releases like Shadows of the Empire. Existing vehicles like the Millenium Falcon received a CG overhaul to improve their look and movement on-screen. Creators also enhanced heroic moments from the Star Wars original trilogy, like the Battle of Yavin, with more CG ships.

10 Additional Stormtroopers Were Added To Make Han Solo's Retreat More Epic

Han Solo running from stormtroopers in A New Hope

During the Millennium Falcon's brief infiltration of the Death Star in A New Hope, a few minor details were fixed and changed. Most of the special effects alterations were because of lightsaber issues. However, a huge change was made to Han Solo's assault on the stormtroopers during the heroes' attempted escape back to the Falcon.

In the original series, Han Solo bravely charged down a hallway where he encountered a few stormtroopers and Imperial officers who forced him to retreat. The Special Edition increased the numbers of that battalion, which made Solo's retreat even more epic.

9 Alternate Dialogue Takes Were Used Across The Various Re-Releases

Darth Vader screaming no in Revenge of the Sith

Fans were quick to notice some subtle changes in dialogue that were included in the Special Edition. Creators also altered several sound effects to fit with Lucas' final vision for the original trilogy. Changes included the rerecording of Boba Fett's dialogue by Temuera Morrison following his debut as Jango Fett in the prequel trilogy.

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Dialogue continued to be altered over the years with additional re-releases and cuts of the movies. The Return of the Jedi added an out-of-place "Noooooo!" from Darth Vader in his final confrontation with the Emperor that called back to his Revenge of the Sith debut. The most recent dialogue change altered Greedo's last words to say the random and unexplained "Maclunkey!"

8 Han's First Shot Was Controversially Changed To Greedo Shooting First

Han Solo vs Greedo in Star Wars A New Hope

The bounty hunter named Greedo became the center of a few different controversies regarding the ongoing saga of Star Wars re-releases. His dialogue alteration wasn't the only change made. The Special Edition featured a monumental change still talked about by fans. Han Solo first encountered Greedo at Mos Eisley, who was sent by Jabba the Hutt.

After some of Han Solo's usual funny quotes, the original trilogy depicted Han shooting Greedo first. However, the Special Edition changed the timing and adjusted the footage so that Greedo shot first, with Han awkwardly moving his head out of the way. This moment got altered again in a later release to make the shots almost simultaneous, but fans knew Han originally shot first.

7 Jabba The Hutt Was Added To A New Hope Using A Deleted Scene

Han Solo and Jabba in the Star Wars Special Edition

One of the biggest and most unnecessary additions to the original trilogy in the Special Edition was the inclusion of Jabba the Hutt in A New Hope. This happened shortly after Han Solo's encounter with Greedo and much earlier than the Star Wars original trilogy character's later full appearance in Return of the Jedi.

Using a deleted scene that featured a human actor in place of Jabba the Hutt, CG animators reworked it to feature Jabba's new alien form. Unfortunately, the dialogue largely repeated Han's encounter with Greedo and featured some awkward film manipulations to account for the character's tail, which was jarring to viewers.

6 Biggs Darklighter Appeared Earlier Which Made His Death Pay Off

Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter from A New Hope

Fans of the original trilogy's theatrical release were briefly introduced to the Rebel pilot Biggs Darklighter. However, a scene between Darklighter and Luke Skywalker that was removed would've further teased their shared history on Tatooine. The Special Edition added the deleted scene back into A New Hope, giving fans more of Biggs Darklighter.

The scene featured Biggs Darklighter's happy reunion with his old friend Luke Skywalker as they prepared to go into battle against the first Death Star. Thanks to the extra details regarding his friendship with Luke Skywalker, Biggs' death in the ensuing battle hit much harder, making this one of the best changes to the original trilogy.

5 Jabba's Palace Got An Extended Musical Number With A New Band

The band at Jabba's Palace in Star Wars

The original trilogy featured a small musical number from a band of aliens known as the Max Rebo Band. The lead singer Sy Snootles was brought to life by a puppet for a brief performance of the Huttese song "Lapti Nek." The song perfectly set the mood for Jabba's Palace, much like Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes did at the Mos Eisley Cantina.

The Special Edition gave this sequence a complete overhaul with a new CG Sy Sootles who could sing and dance, unlike the previous puppet. She also sang a new song called "Jedi Rock" that played over Oola's extended death scene, but it wasn't as well-received by fans.

4 The Design Of The Sarlacc Pit Got Altered For Return Of The Jedi

Original and special edition versions of the Sarlacc Pit

There were many subtle changes made to some of the alien designs in the Special Edition, since improvements in technology allowed for alterations to better achieve George Lucas' original vision for the franchise. The changes led to a new updated design for the dreaded Sarlacc Pit that seemingly took Boba Fett's life in Return of the Jedi.

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While the pit was originally a large sandy hole with rows of teeth, the Special Edition added more tentacles and a beak to increase the Sarlacc's danger. Of course, Boba Fett still made his escape and return for The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, which explored his escape from the Tatooine monster.

3 A Better Wampa Was Built For The Empire Strikes Back's Special Edition

The Wampa from Empire Strikes Back

The original version of The Empire Strikes Back featured a vicious attack on Luke Skywalker without his lightsaber by an alien creature known as a Wampa. Unfortunately, Lucas wasn't satisfied with the original creature's design and limited the shots of the actual creature during the attack.

Using updated techniques and improvements in technology, a new version of the costume was created for the theatrical re-release. The upgraded Wampa scenes featured a vast improvement over the original Jaws-style of filmmaking. The creature's attack on Luke Skywalker intensified and stood out among the other CG additions.

2 Anakin's Elderly Force Ghost Was Replaced With Hayden Christensen

Anakin Skywalker Force Ghost split image comparing original and special edition

Another controversial change made to the original trilogy actually came in a later DVD re-release of the Special Edition in 2004. This version came after the prequel trilogy. The franchise's most realistic character, Anakin Skywalker's path to becoming Darth Vader carried the prequel trilogy.

The Special Edition re-release of Return of the Jedi portrayed a redeemed Anakin Skywalker's Force Ghost, originally played by Sebastian Shaw, replaced with the younger Anakin, played by Hayden Christensen. His presence made little sense when standing next to Alec Guinness's Force Ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi, especially since the younger Ewan McGregor didn't appear.

1 Coruscant Was Added To The Live-Action Franchise For The First Time

Coruscant in the Star Wars special edition

In yet another nod to the prequel trilogy, the final celebration scene of Return of the Jedi underwent a few changes. It added more celebrating aliens on the various planets following the defeat of the Emperor, as well as the first live-action look at the city-covered planet of Coruscant.

Coruscant would feature heavily in the prequel trilogy as the seat of the Galactic Republic and home of the Jedi Council. However, it didn't appear at all in the original trilogy before the Special Edition brought the party to the important planet. Thankfully, it wasn't as controversial as the other changes and blended the original and prequel trilogies together even further.

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