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

Star Wars is undeniably one of the most influential franchises of all time. Its expansive and captivating universe has enthralled fans for decades. Although Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm led to a significant overhaul of the canon, many fans continue to embrace the original distinctions, which are far more inclusive and expansive than the streamlined official canon introduced by Disney.

Despite frequent complaints from fans about the franchise’s current direction, Star Wars projects continue to thrive, and the future looks promising. However, in this report, we will take a journey back in time.

Specifically, we will revisit the movie that reignited the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams. In an interview with /Film, Abrams revealed how he became involved with the project and that he nearly declined the opportunity to direct it.

In particular, we will revisit the film that reignited the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams. In an interview with /Film, Abrams shared how he got involved with the project and disclosed that he almost turned down the chance to direct it.

“When Kathy Kennedy called and asked if I’d be interested in directing this film, I fully intended to say no, because I’ve been involved in other movies that were sequels, and I just thought I didn’t want to do that again. But it was ‘Star Wars,’ and I knew Kathy.”

Source: /Film

The Force Awakens was indeed a success, revitalizing the Star Wars franchise, though not everyone is pleased with what followed. Nonetheless, Abrams left a significant and positive impact on the series. He also revealed in a documentary about the movie’s production that the character of Rey was what ultimately motivated him to reconsider his initial decision.

“When we were discussing it, there was this one moment that I instantly had the chills considering, which was: a young woman, what her story is, I had no idea. But saying, ‘Where’s Luke Skywalker?’ It was so titillating, the notion that this character who we all know would be discovered by some new young heroine. [It] was incredibly intriguing. It just felt to me like that was a great starting point for a story.”

And that, more or less, sums up how Abrams became a part of the Star Wars franchise.

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