Mark Hamill Just Confirmed 'The Force Awakens' Almost Had a Much Different Beginning

Star Wars rumors emerge thick and fast on the internet, and now one about The Force Awakens has been confirmed by Luke Skywalker himself.

Mark Hamill, who first played the iconic Jedi knight in 1977's A New Hope, was on hand when an UberFacts post informed Twitter: "The original script for The Force Awakens opened with Luke Skywalker's severed hand floating through space, still holding his lightsaber."

Related: Star Wars' Mark Hamill defends the prequel trilogy

"Fact Check: TRUE," the actor wrote in his retweet. "As my hand hurtled through the stratosphere, the flesh & bone burn away & the lightsaber impales the surface of an unnamed planet.

"Just imagine: Had this sequence been retained, I would've had bookended cameos, plus TWICE the screen time! #UltraTrivialTrivia."

Although the final cut's opening features the mighty Max von Sydow's retired adventurer Lor San Tekka, we can't help but pine for that original (yet grisly) concept.

Related: Star Wars icon Mark Hamill thanks The Mandalorian for "unexpected opportunity"

Elsewhere, Hamill previously explained why his character's new introduction during Disney+'s A New Hope cut is an improvement.

"There are a couple of things that are good for the character. No. 1, he is ridiculed roundly by his peers. So he's not particularly cool or popular. Koo Stark is the only other female actor in the movie... and she calls me 'Wormie'. So I am not popular.

"And then I bump into Biggs Darklighter, played by Garrick Hagon, and I go 'Wow!' You can see we're good friends. He's dressed in an Imperial uniform and I'm going, 'Wow! That's so great! I can't wait until I can get off the dump of a planet and join with you.' And he takes me outside and says, 'Luke, as soon as I get the chance, I am going to jump ship and join the Rebels.'

"The only reason that is interesting to me is that Luke has no political persuasion. He thinks it's great he is in the Empire! Luke wants to be in the Empire if it will get him off the farm! So he is completely pure in that he is not politically motivated in any way, shape or form," he added.

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