J.J. Abrams holds hands up over ‘Star Wars: Episode VII’ mistake

Director admits that meaning behind scene involving Princess Leia and Rey was not clear

This story contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Director J.J. Abrams has admitted to making a mistake in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Since the film was released in December 2015, fans have discussed one particular scene involving Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca, and Rey (Daisy Ridley).

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The scene comes after Han Solo’s death. When the crew of resistance fighters return to Starkiller base to break the news to the others, Leia pushes past Chewbacca and hugs Rey. Fans have suggested that this was strange, as she had only recently got to know Rey yet has history with Chewbacca.

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Speaking to Slashfilm about this scene, Abrams admitted this was a mistake and not intended to comes across as Leia snubbing Chewy.

“That was probably one of the mistakes I made in that,” Abrams said. “My thinking at the time was that Chewbacca, despite the pain he was feeling, was focused on trying to save Finn and getting him taken care of. So I tried to have Chewbacca go off with him and focus on Rey, and then have Rey find Leia and Leia find Rey. The idea being that both of them being strong with the Force and never having met, would know about each other — that Leia would have been told about her beyond what we saw on-screen and Rey of course would have learned about Leia. And that reunion would be a meeting and a reunion all in one, and a sort of commiseration of their mutual loss.

“Had Chewbacca not been where he was,” Abrams added, “You probably wouldn’t have thought of it. But because he was right there, passed by Leia, it felt almost like a slight, which was definitely not the intention.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be released on DVD next month (April). The DVD and Blu-Ray release will be packed with extras including an in-depth documentary shot behind the scenes of J.J. Abrams’ film plus deleted scenes and interviews with the cast and crew. A UK release date is set for April 18.

Since its release in mid-December, J.J. Abrams’ film has raked in over $2 billion at the global box office, making it the third highest-grossing film of all time behind James Cameron’s Avatar and Titanic.

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