Visual effects expert Phil Tippett has revealed why a bizarre alien design failed to make the cut in Return of the Jedi. With a career at the forefront of filmmaking, Tippett's background in incredible VFX work has seen the moviemaker work on a vast array of movie delights, including the original Star Wars trilogy. Tippett, who recently released his magnum opus and stop motion delight Mad God, was an integral part of Return of the Jedi's production, running the movie's impressive creature shop.
While Star Wars has consistently demonstrated an expansive selection of aliens, Return of the Jedi boasted perhaps the most impressive array of species across the franchise. The movie introduced viewers to several now highly recognizable species, including Twi'leks, the terrifying Rancor, and Gamorrean Guards. Return of the Jedi also introduced viewers to the deadly but adorable Ewoks, the first of several species to split Star Wars fans' opinions over the years. Throughout the movie, Tippett, and co. worked hard to create realistic-looking aliens without heavy CGI. The film used an astonishing amount of practical effects to bring its creatures to life, making it one of the finest examples of creature work in movie history.
But one alien species never got the chance to become a beloved Star Wars creature, and now, Tippett has revealed a simple reason why. In response to a Twitter post about the mysterious Lightman alien, Tippett said the reason why the creature didn't show up in the final cut was that it "looked just like that" and "everyone laughed" in response to seeing the monster in action. Accompanying the original post, a short clip gives credence to Tippet's comments, showing the monster in all its glory. Check out the Tweet below:
Check out the post on Twitter.
While Star Wars rarely boasts a bad creature design, the now infamous Lightman could have broken that tradition. The silly, light-bulb-covered bodysuit, tentacle-like arms, and awkward movements don't feel very Star Wars at all, making the creature a miss for Tippett and his team. Return of the Jedi has an incredible array of alien species on offer, but, as Tippett said himself, Lightman wasn't one of those.
A major criticism of the sequel trilogy was its lack of recognizable Star Wars species, with the movies focusing on new creature designs instead of iconic Star Wars critters. It's a criticism corrected during the franchise's recent TV outings, with The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett both including plenty of iconic Star Wars oddities, the latter in particular doubling down on its recognizable creatures. Star Wars has teased fans with fantastic unused designs in the past. Unfortunately for Return of the Jedi's laughable Lightman, it's unlikely the creature will be considered a missed opportunity for the galaxy far, far away anytime soon.
Source: Phil Tippett/Twitter