J.J. Abrams joined the galaxy far, far away when he helmed the first installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Abrams took the director’s chair for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which launched the franchise into a new era with new heroes taking center stage for this phase of the saga.
During a behind-the-scenes documentary, Abrams spoke about crafting the story for the film, settling upon a plot point centering on Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker. Abrams explained how this particular plot point pushed him to accept the offer to helm the film. However, the plot point remains a sticking point for fans several years after the movie’s release.
One Mark Hamill Plot Point Convinced J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set several years after the events of the original trilogy and introduces the fans to a bunch of new characters. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker, the primary hero of the original trilogy is conspicuously absent for most of the movie.
In The Secrets of The Force Awakens, a behind-the-scenes documentary about the film, director J.J. Abrams revealed that the plot point of exploring who Luke Skywalker was during this era of the franchise from the perspective of new characters intrigued him the most.
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.
Abrams made the above statement (via /Film), explaining that during discussions with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, he was intrigued by the idea of rediscovering Mark Hamill‘s Luke Skywalker from Rey’s perspective.
The filmmaker added that the idea serves as a great starting point for the story, which eventually developed into a major plot point for The Force Awakens. The film reveals Luke to be in hiding and having given up on the Jedi Order, following a tragic event, leading to Hamill having a small role in the movie.
J.J. Abrams’ Treatment of Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker Still Triggers Star Wars Fans
Abrams introduced the plot point of excluding Luke Skywalker for most of the runtime in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, the decision proved extremely controversial for loyal fans of the franchise, especially those who grew up with the original trilogy.
Fans criticized the sequels for mistreating Luke while trying to deconstruct the character. Fans felt that the sequels ripped off the aspects that made him resonate with the audiences in the first place. Furthermore, fans felt that the sequels had tarnished the legacy of the originals.
Ultimately, Abrams’ decision to make Luke’s absence a major plot point in the first installment set off a chain reaction that led to a decline in the reception of the sequels.
While The Force Awakens received positive reviews and emerged as the franchise’s highest-grossing film, the critical reception and box office numbers saw a downtrend. Hence, it is easy to understand why the plot point still triggers fans.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is streaming on Disney+.
