You'd be forgiven for thinking George Lucas always had a definitive plan for Skywalker Saga, but the truth is the filmmaker was essentially making it up as he went.
Yes, there were certain characters and ideas that remained a constant, but both his trilogies changed a great deal while they were being made. That's all part of the filmmaker's creative process and Lucas has said on a number of occasions how important editing is when it comes to reshaping his movies into what he wants them to be.
When he first started working on Return of the Jedi - which was originally titled Revenge of the Jedi - Lucas had a very different ending in mind, and it's one we can't help but think might have ended the trilogy on a better note. Well, for the most part.
In the Star Wars Archives - Episodes IV - VI, 1977 - 1983 book (via SFFGazette.com), it's revealed that the final duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader once took place in the Imperial capital city of Had Abbadon. In the Emperor's throne room, set above a lava lake for some reason, we'd have once again seen Luke cut off his father's hand and refuse to kill him in the midst of a lightsaber duel.
Palpatine would have proceeded to torture the young Jedi with his Force lightning, only for Vader to leap towards his Master, saving his son, and sending them both into the lava below where they'd have instantly died (Lucas scrapped the idea because he felt the lava was a dead giveaway for one or both villains hurtling into it).
Interestingly, an excerpt from Revenge of the Jedi's script reveals the game-changing moment which followed.
Luke looks up and sees Ben move out of the darkness into the moonlit glade. He is not a shimmering image, but real flesh and blood.
Luke stands in surprise.
LUKE: Ben, you've come back!
BEN: My need to stay in the netherworld has been resolved. Your father turned to the good side and I was able to disrupt his journey.
Luke turns to see an old man emerge from the darkness of the forest.
BEN: Here is the good Skywalker. My old friend and your father.
Luke rushes to his father and embraces him. Yoda steps into the glen and looks up at them.
YODA: A reason for celebration this is...
Yes, the plan had been for Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Anakin Skywalker to have all been resurrected, suggesting those connected to the Force could perish and willingly return from the afterlife (we're assuming that option was off the table for a Sith Lord such as Emperor Palpatine).
Had this happened, Disney's divisive sequels would have looked a lot different, though we know Lucas later decided - during the production of his prequels - that the final few movies he had in mind would focus on Luke, Han Solo, and Princess Leia battling a returning Darth Maul (find more about that by clicking here).
Do you think this was a better ending for Return of the Jedi?