Did you know that J.J. Abrams, the guy behind the popular Star Trek reboot and Star Wars sequel trilogy, almost said ‘no thanks’ to directing a Star Wars movie? Let’s get into why, and what made him change his mind.
J.J Abrams and His Early Doubts About Star Wars
Abrams tapped into the power of The Force when he directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This ignited the sequel era for our favorite space opera. He also took the reins for the trilogy’s finale, The Rise of Skywalker. But Abrams confessed, there was a time when he had some serious doubts about boarding the Star Wars starship.
In an intriguing chat shared in The Secrets of The Force Awakens documentary, Abrams opened up about his initial hesitation. When Lucasfilm’s top boss Kathleen Kennedy first approached him, he was thinking ‘Maybe I shouldn’t.’ Why? Well, he had some worries linked to his past work with other big franchises, especially sequels.
Abrams’ Star Trek Roots And Their Influence
Before it was all about Star Wars, J.J. Abrams was a TV legend, writing and directing some of our favorite shows. His first big screen director gig came in 2006 with Mission: Impossible III. That’s Tom Cruise’s hit spy series, by the way.
Afterward, he ventured into space. The final frontier. Abrams helmed the 2009 Star Trek reboot and its 2013 sequel Star Trek Into Darkness. Both movies flew high with audiences and critics alike.
Besides these, Abrams’ resume is filled with franchise sequels, except for the 2008 standalone sci-fi thriller Super 8. Now, remember how Star Wars and Star Trek are both set in space and have star-studded casts? Imagine how Abrams felt about directing another major franchise. No wonder he paused.
Abrams Says Yes to Star Wars, but Why?
Despite his understandable jitters, Abrams was eventually seduced by the Star Wars universe. His friendship with Lucasfilm’s President Kathleen Kennedy is what tipped the scales in Star Wars’ favor.
Ultimately, his Star Trek experience wasn’t enough to keep him away from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. By the way, did you know it turned out to be the top-earning film in the entire franchise?
Abrams’ decision to put his fear aside demonstrates that taking on challenges can sometimes lead to epic results. Like, galaxy epic.
So, there we have it. J.J. Abrams certainly had his doubts about directing a Star Wars film but boldly went where many filmmakers would love to. The result? Some seriously memorable chapters in the Star Wars universe.
Want to relive all the magic Abrams brought to Star Wars and Star Trek? Check out Disney+ for the Star Wars series and switch to Paramount+ for the Star Trek movies. It’s time to get lost in some far-out galaxies!
For more details, visit Project Casting Blog on https://www.projectcasting.com/blog/news/j-j-abrams-almost-said-no-to-directing-star-wars-the-force-awakens/