Deleted Wampa scene - canon?

Since it's recounted in the ESB novel and comic adaptations and has been integrated into several video games, it is part of SW continuity and thus canon ("C-canon").

However, if it's considered top-level canon ("G-canon") might be up to debate since it was actually cut from the film itself.

 

I'm not completely sure what happens, but I think the Wampas break into the base and hassle some rebel troops and kill a few tauntauns. I know there's pictures floating around online of rebel troopers setting up guns to hold off the Wampa attack.

You can even find evidence of this scene still in the film. When Han speaks with the deck officer about Luke, you can see 2-1B treating a tauntaun in the background that was injured by the Wampas. And since this little tidbit still exists, I have to say that this scene is canon.

 

There wre a couple scenes part of the deleted wampa subplot.

First, a Wampa arm would break through the wall after Han and Leia argue in the hallway ("I just as soon kiss a wookiee", etc).

Next, dialogue about something killing a tauntaun (look in the foreground of Han talking to the rebel officiers about going after Luke in the tauntaun pen- 21B is examining a dead one.

Next, there was dialogue between Han and Leia as they watch Luke in the bacta tank about something nasty getting him.

Then, Artoo would be wandering down a hallway, noticing he was getting strange looks from Rebel troopers passing by- then Artoo would look behind him to see a Wampa following him. Artoo would scream and run as rebel troopers opened fire with their guns and an artillery weapon.

There'd be a report to command baout how they got it, but there could be more.

Then, as Luke recovers, between "so good to see you fully functional again" and Han walking in, 3po would explain that the creatures were attracted to high pitch noises like R2 makes, so they used that to lure all of them into a holding pen.

Then, during the escape from Echo Base, 3PO would rip the warning label off of the holding pen (this can be seen in an early ESB trailer) - Han even gives that door a serious look in the final fiolm, just before the hallway caves in.

Then, Imperials would go through the door and you'd hear sounds of a battle. Later, Vader would arrive and see some of the mauled troopers and ask what happened to them- Rebels? "I don't think so sir." a trooper would reply.

and thats basicly what the wampa subplot is :

For pics, scripts and video, check out this link:

http://www.starwarz.com/tbone/cut_scenes/ep5/

 

Easy, just change a number...

http://www.starwarz.com/tbone/cut_scenes/ep6/

Or hit the white text that says ROTJ under "CUT SCENES- EPISODE V" header.


I don't think the Wampa scenes would have been distracting- they essentially acted as the secondary conflict for the first half hour of the movie that's in each SW film (droids lost in desert/jawas, wampas, jabbas palace/rancor, "get to theed" and assassination/speeder chase).

But I can also understand them wanting to get to the Hoth battle faster...kinda wish they had done the same thing with TPM and gotten to the podrace faster.