The Nightmare Before Christmas needs no introduction. Neither does Sir Patrick Stewart. With the tragic news of the acting legend’s passing today, my social media feed has been filled with loving tributes to the man…including, it turns out, his original role in the Tim Burton classic.
Yes, Patrick Stewart was initially going to be the film’s narrator, and had recorded rhymes to open and bookend the story of Jack Skellington. Ultimately, they went in a different direction (Danny Elfman would end up providing the narration), but Burton enjoyed Stewart’s deliveries so much that he included them on the movie’s soundtrack.
And so here they are. First we have the prologue, which is a longer version of the one used in the final release. Perhaps more notable is an entirely abandoned epilogue, in which the narrator recounts an encounter he had with an elderly Jack…who now has kids!
Have the power tonight, y’all! Be safe, be well, be you!