J.J. Abrams Discusses “Mistake” in The Force Awakens

Although Star Wars: The Force Awakens received generally favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike, many die hard fans have naturally nitpicked several scenes. While talking to Slashfilm to promote 10 Cloverfield Lane, director J.J. Abrams discussed one problem with The Force Awakens that even he regrets. If you’re among the five people on the planet that still haven’t seen the record-breaking blockbuster, keep in mind that the following contains SPOILERS:

Near the end of the film, the resistance fighters return from blowing up Starkiller Base. Although their mission was a success, Han Solo lost his life in the process. Considering that Han and Chewbacca were best buds, you’d think that Leia would immediately comfort him. Instead, Leia decides to give Daisy Ridley’s Rey a hug.

“That was probably one of the mistakes I made,” Abrams confessed. “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.”

Abrams went on to explain, “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 onscreen 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.”

The director added, “Had Chewbacca not been where he was, 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.”

What do you think? Should Leia have hugged Chewie or Rey? In either case, we’re still picking up a copy of The Force Awakens on Blu-ray in April.