By Rob Bricken in
Movies
Thursday, Dec. 10 2009 @ 9:47AM
It's a reasonably well-known fact among Star Wars nerds that George Lucas offered Return of the Jedi to renown director/crazy person David Lynch, who turned it down. Lynch, speaking recently with something called Fora TV, finally explained what happened, and it involves Lucas taking him to a shitty restaurant that only served salads. Also, Lynch wasn't the biggest fan of Wookiees (although I wonder if he means Ewoks... or if George was talking to him when the ending still involved Wookiees instead of teddy bears). Anyways, it's fascinating. Thanks to my buddy Alex for the tip.
Tags: George Lucas, Star Wars
21 comments
Comments
davesnothereman said:
I love that guy and all his films. yes, even dune. maybe especially dune, which to my mind is the first real steampunk movie. i don't throw around the word genus lightly, but he's a genius.
Hibiscus replied to davesnothereman:
I'm ambivalent toward Lynch's movies (with the exception of Eraserhead, which I had to stop and come back to three times to finish only to wish I had never bothered), but every time I see the guy give an interview I'm reminded of the unpleasant fact that he's a truther. That's permanently stained my opinion of him.
Oh, and may I be the first to say that it's most likely a good thing Lynch turned down Jedi. Dune proved that he was never really capable of handling that kind of project.
Bill said:
This amusing story confirms to me that George Lucas is the kind of guy that would frequent a restaurant that serves only salad. (I bet Lucas secretly owns the place!) God, I HATE salad!
Just for the choice of restaurant choice alone, I don't blame David Lynch for declining the offer. ick.
Ramone said:
Great interview, finally we have some answers! Thanks for posting!
Djangogogo said:
Aaaah, David Lynch. I love you so.
Capsulesn'Coffee said:
Great post. I'm a fan of Lynch and have always wondered what ROTJ would have been like if he ended up directing it. It was interesting and quite humorous to hear Lynch himself describe what really transpired between him and Lucas. By the way, who the fuck would dine at a restaurant that only served salad?
Geoff said:
How would Lynch have gotten around the DGA problem that prevented Spielberg from taking the job? Was he not a guild member at the time?
Nicnac said:
Now let's have the explanation for why Lucas directed episodes 1 - 3...
Greg replied to Nicnac:
That can only be explained by narcissism combined with a crew of people around him that blow sunshine and rainbows up his ass all day.
introverted one said:
I had always heard that Lynch was offered the director gig for Empire Strikes Back. Maybe whatever forgotten source that was was wrong. And salads are not a meal! Even if it is a big salad!
Geoff replied to introverted one:
Speak for yourself, my girlfriend makes a kickass Cobb Salad.
Mind you, that's entirely because a good Cobb salad is about 10% lettuce and 40% bacon and she abides by that rule.
Bob said:
Meh, putting down George Lucas is getting as old as baiting the Catholics.
Lynch just didn't like it because the story MADE SENSE and actually WENT SOMEWHERE.
(To be honest I love Wild at Heart, Blue Velvet and the titty scene in Mulholland Drive)
And here's an idea, get up away from your monitor, walk upstairs, go outside, breathe some fresh air, experience the sun, and EAT A SALAD, cholesterol boy!
Nicnac replied to Bob:
+1: salads are goooood... as a side... or with grilled chicken on top...
MeatPopsicle said:
So now I can blame David Lynch for putting the idea into Lucas' head to direct the prequels.
Frito at Tinagra said:
The Simpsons were true.
You don't win friends with salads.
LiterOne said:
The only thing that makes me sad about him turning it down, is the fact that we missed out on Dennis Hopper in the Vader outfit at the end, sucking on an oxygen tank tank telling Luke, "Don't look at me. Don't you fucking look at me!"
craig said:
I'm surprised Lynch doesn't like Ewoks, given his penchant for casting "little people" in his movies.
Also: Can you imagine how much more twisted the Emperor would have been in Lynch's dirty little hands? Magnetic levitation for starters. Also heart-plugs, and probably a vigorous dose of homosexual lust.
Vadar would have been a gas-freak.
Glad it didn't happen, actually. Certainly no Dune in the ROTJ/Lynch timeline. Probably no Blue Velvet either.
Mount_Prion said:
I love the one hesitant clapper after he finishes. I imagine Lynch is used to that kind of crowd response.
Chris "The Body" Ward said:
Oh, Wookies give David Lynch a headache? That's too bad. You know what gives me a headache? EVERYTHING DAVID LYNCH HAS EVER FUCKING DONE.
cKHAVIKk said:
Vader is the Kwisatz Haderach?
AdmiralSnackbar said:
Wow, he has the nerdiest voice ever. And is a gigantic misogynist.
Lynch made one good movie (Eraserhead) in like three decades, except normal people don't even like it and I can't blame them. Straight Story's decent too, but I can't figure out where Lynch comes in with it. Anybody could've made that one.
