Page "The Dark Phoenix Saga" Paragraph 14

Shooter, during a conversation with Claremont, suggested a scenario where Jean would be permanently imprisoned as a compromise, and Claremont responded that such a scenario was unfeasable since in his opinon, the X-Men would want to continually try to rescue Jean from imprisonment.

During a heated argument between Shooter and Claremont, Claremont reportedly then suggested that Jean either be killed or die by her own hand, and that the death be permanent.

Although Shooter claims that the suggestion was a bluff by Claremont, playing on the unwritten rule that main characters were not to be killed permanently, he accepted the idea.

Ultimately, it was decided by Byrne and Claremont to have Jean commit suicide after her Dark Phoenix persona resurfaces at the climax of the fight against the Imperial Guard.

The original ending ultimately saw print in 1983 in a special edition reprint of Uncanny X-Men # 137 called Phoenix: The Untold Story.

Besides reprinting Byrne and Claremont's original version of Uncanny X-Men # 137, it featured a transcript of a round-table discussion between ( among others ) Claremont, Byrne, and Shooter, discussing the story behind the original ending and why it was changed.

The interview is also important for an exchange which shows how early Byrne had hatched plans to resurrect Jean.