How Brad Bird would have opened Return Of The Jedi

Brad Bird’s name came up a lot as a possible director for what is now J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII. For good reason too, he’s a great choice. I’d love to see him make a Star Wars movie one day! In a recent interview with Esquire, comedian Patton Oswalt talked about a conversation he had with Bird about how he would have opened Return of the Jedi, and it would have been pretty awesome. Bird has obviously given some thought as to how he could make Star Wars better, and this is his idea according to Oswalt.

Esquire: But you can learn so much from an early failure.

“It’s weirdly important. 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 F 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 F-ed 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 better Star Wars film in my opinion. I mean, I love all the Star Wars films but Return of the Jedi is easily the weakest of the original trilogy.

What do you think of Bird’s idea for an alternate opening? Do you think it would have set a better path and tone for the story, given how fear leads to the Dark side?

Now how to fix the rest of it? ( I kid. )