Brad Bird is one of those directors I'd love to see make a Star Wars movie one day! At one point he was rumored to be directing Episode VII, but he's currently developing his new sci-fi film Tomorrowland. In a recent interview with Esquire, comedian Patton Oswalt recounted a conversation he had with Bird about how he would have opened Return of the Jedi, and it would have been badass! Bird has obviously given some thought as to how he could make Star Wars better, and this is his idea according to Oswalt,
I was talking with [director] Brad Bird one time, and he said it's like the beginning of Return of the Jedi. Luke shows up and he's a badass. He said they should've opened it with Luke in the swamp saying to Yoda, "You said 'Don't go.' I said 'Fuck you, I'm gonna go help my friends.' I went and got my hand cut off and my friends are in even worse trouble because of what I did. I fucked up everything." And then Yoda should have gone, "Now you're a Jedi. Now you're beyond the fear of failure. Now you're ready." That would have made it even cooler.
I'd love to see that scene play out! It would have set the tone for a much better Star Wars film. I mean, I loved Return of the Jedi, but let's face it, the way the movie was made so Lucas could sell more toys and merchandise.
What do you think of this alternate opening? Do you think it would have set a different and better path and tone for the story?