J.J. Abrams Reveals He Initially Wanted to Decline ‘The Force Awakens’: “When Kathy Kennedy called, I fully intended to say no”

As a huge Star Wars fan, I can’t help but be in awe of the incredible journey that J.J. Abrams took to become a part of the beloved galaxy far, far away. The Star Wars universe has been an integral part of my life since I was a child, and the prospect of a new director taking the helm of such an iconic franchise was both exciting and nerve-wracking.


Star Wars is undoubtedly one of the most important franchises of all time. The world of Star Wars is a truly amazing and exceptionally large fictional universe, and despite the fact that Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm led to a larger revamp of the canon and non-canon works, most fans still rely on the old distinctions, which is far more inclusive and expansive than the current, official canon which has been significantly reduced by Disney.

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I must acknowledge that there’s been some grumbling within our community about the current state of the franchise. However, let me assure you, the success of Star Wars projects is far from waning, and the future looks brighter than ever. Now, let’s take a brief journey back in time.

As a hardcore gamer diving back into the galaxy far, far away, let’s revisit the film that ignited the new era of Star Wars – none other than “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens,” masterfully directed by J.J. Abrams. In an exclusive chat with /Film, our director shared his behind-the-scenes story on how he became part of this epic journey and confessed that he nearly turned down the chance to helm the movie.

In an interview with /Film, J.J. Abrams talked about his journey into Star Wars, focusing on his past work on the Star Trek revival series. Given that the Star Trek films were of high quality, production challenges seemed to affect Abrams’ decision at the time, as he nearly refused to direct the movie.

As a fan, I would recount it this way: When Kathy Kennedy reached out to me with an offer to direct a film, my initial response was a polite decline. With a history of working on sequels, I felt content in sticking to that pattern. However, upon receiving the call from Kathy, I couldn’t resist. It was ‘Star Wars,’ after all!

Source: /Film

Absolutely, “The Force Awakens” struck a chord and undeniably revitalized the “Star Wars” universe, even though not everyone’s completely content with where things went afterwards. Nevertheless, J.J. Abrams made an indelible impact on the franchise in a thoroughly positive manner. Intriguingly, during the movie’s production documentary, he admitted that it was the character of Rey who ultimately convinced him to rethink his original choice.

As a gamer, I remember that fascinating conversation we had, and there was this one instant when goosebumps took over. A young woman’s backstory was shrouded in mystery. I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where is Luke Skywalker hidden this time?” The idea of an unknown heroine stumbling upon a beloved character was so captivating. It truly felt like the perfect setup for an engaging story.

Source: /Film

In summary, that’s about all there is to tell regarding Abrams joining the Star Wars franchise.

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2024-07-30 14:44