Mark Hamill Reveals The Original Opening Of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The rumours were true.
There were stories about what would happen. And now, thanks to Mark Hamill, we know it was true. All of it.
Before the first teaser for The Force Awakens landed, a rumour started circling that the film would open not with a shot of a spaceship, but with a severed hand falling through space. Not just any hand, mind you, but the one Luke Skywalker lost on Bespin, still clutching the lightsaber.
The role of Luke's saber was said to be the MacGuffin of the film, and indeed that's something that seems to have remained in place until fairly late in the day, hence the lack of explanation for how Maz comes to be in its possession. While we're probably going to have to wait until Episode VIII for that answer, Hamill has now confirmed the alternate opening of the film, telling the Sun (via BirthMoviesDeath):
I can tell you now that in the original opening shot of 7, the first thing that came into frame was a hand with a lightsaber, a severed hand that enters the atmosphere, and then the hand and bone burns away and goes sticking into the surface of Jakku. And this alien hand comes in, dont know if it was Maz but it was an alien hand who takes the light saber way, and then the movie proceeds as you see it. [] One website had the first 15 minutes of The Force Awakens totally accurate.
Aside from confirming the rumour about the opening shot, it's further confirmation that Luke's lightsaber was intended to have a much bigger role in things. You could argue it would've been a strange way for a Star Wars movie to open, but there's no doubt it would've been interesting, to say the least, and (slightly) help clear up one of The Force Awakens' mysteries.
What do you think: should they have kept the hand shot, or do you prefer it the way it is? Let us know in the comments.