The ruse was so successful that it worked until the actors playing Han, Luke, and Leia arrived on set, at which point it became obvious to bystanders that this was not a low-budget horror film, but the next Star Wars film.
The "Blue Harvest" moniker was a clever, "horror beyond imagination" prank that allowed one of the biggest film franchises in history to shoot under the radar.
from the making of Return of the Jedi . Other working titles used by Lucasfilm. 1. Blue Harvest
While Return of the Jedi was released in 1983, the term "Blue Harvest" lived on in Star Wars lore.
The name is synonymous with the secrecy of the era and has been honored in fan publications and at Star Wars Celebration events. The ruse was so successful that it worked
The goal was to make the project sound boring and uninteresting to the public and the press. According to producer Howard Kazanjian, all production materials—camera slates, invoices, call sheets, hotel reservations, and even crew apparel—read "Blue Harvest". The Ruse in Action
The production crew wore hats and T-shirts featuring the "Blue Harvest" title, which have since become prized collectibles, representing a fun piece of behind-the-scenes history. Other working titles used by Lucasfilm
The 2007 Family Guy episode, which parodied A New Hope , was titled "Blue Harvest" as a nod to this history.