16. Steven Spielberg Almost Directed
Lucas never intended to direct Return of the Jedi. He’d talked to his pal Steven Spielberg about directing Return, but Spielberg declined. Lucas kicked around a few other names, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg, but landed on Richard Marquand. Unfortunately, Marquand did not work out well. Production fired him before the movie wrapped, forcing Lucas back into the director’s chair. By that point in the film, Marquand had completed most of the filming, but the movie was such as mess, Lucas had to rework it.