7 things you may not know about ‘Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi,’ 40 years later

Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg all nearly directed “Return of the Jedi.”

While George Lucas directed 1977’s “A New Hope,” he didn’t sit in the director’s chair for “The Empire Strikes Back” or “Return of the Jedi.” And when it came to the end of the trilogy, there were some surprising names on the candidate list before Richard Marquand took the reins.

“Jurassic Park” director Steven Spielberg, “Twin Peaks” creator, David Lynch, and horror maestro David Cronenberg were all in the running.

Lucas originally offered Steven Spielberg the job, but because Lucas had left the Director’s Guild of America over moving the “Empire Strikes Back” director’s credit to the end of the film (via Variety), the “Jaws” director wasn’t allowed to take the job.

The creator also met with Lynch about the sequel, but he recalled to the Hudson Union Society that he had “next door to zero interest” in the movie. He even recounted getting a migraine after Lucas talked to him about Wookiees and other “Star Wars” aliens.

Cronenberg was also asked if he would be interested in directing the sequel, but unfortunately “The Fly” director told Entertainment Weekly that he responded to a phone call with “youthful” arrogance.

“‘Well, I’m not used to doing other people’s material,'” Cronenberg recalled saying. “And there was like a stunned silence and then ‘Click’ — hang up. Basically, that was as close as I came to that.”

This post was originally published on Insider