The Last Jedi inspired J.J. Abrams to be more daring with Rise of Skywalker

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, J.J. Abrams was not only faced with introducing new characters in the opening chapter of a brand-new STAR WARS trilogy, but the director also had to deliver something which felt like the classic films. Although some may have felt as though THE FORCE AWAKENS was a little too familiar, it was very successful in launching the Disney-era of the franchise. Abrams had never intended on returning to STAR WARS after THE FORCE AWAKENS, but once Colin Trevorrow exited as director of what would become STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER, Abrams was brought back in to complete the saga.

In an interview with Total Film, Abrams discussed how making THE RISE OF SKYWALKER compared to THE FORCE AWAKENS.

On this one, I let myself be, at least in the way I was approaching the thing, freer. In Episode 7, I was adhering to a kind of approach that felt right for Star Wars in my head. It was about finding a visual language, like shooting on locations and doing practical things as much as possible. And we continue that in Episode 9, but I also found myself doing things that I’m not sure I would have been as daring to do on Episode 7.

Following in the wake of STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI, a film which remains divisive among some fans, presented J.J. Abrams with several options; He could course correct and steer THE RISE OF SKYWALKER back to what audiences were expecting, or take a cue from THE LAST JEDI Rian Johnson and chart his own course. Abrams chose option two. "Rian helped remind me that that’s why we’re on these movies – not to just do something that you’ve seen before. I won’t say that I felt constrained or limited on 7, but I found myself wanting to do something that felt more consistent with the original trilogy than not," Abrams explained. "And on 9, I found myself feeling like I’m just gonna go for it a bit more."

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is set to hit theaters on December 20, 2019.