J.J. Abrams On The Tone Of STAR WARS: EPISODE VII

J.J. Abrams On The Tone Of STAR WARS: EPISODE VII

Director J.J. Abrams talks Star Wars: Episode VII. " I remember reading a thing somewhere, someone wrote about just wanting [the new film] to feel real; to feel authentic. I remember I felt that way when I was 11 years old when I saw the first one."

By MarkJulian - Sep 19, 2013 07:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: EW

While promoting his latest television effort, Almost Human, director J.J. Abrams fielded a couple of question on Star Wars: Episode VII. The ever evasive Abrams declined to say which films from the original trilogy most inspire his upcoming take on the sprawling space saga. Said Abrams, “Impossible for me to say because it’s going to be an evolving thing. I would say we are working really hard to make a movie that feels as emotional and authentic and exciting as possible. Whatever your favorite Star Wars movie is and how to compare it is really sort of subjective.”

Thus far, there's been a lot discussed and rumored about Episode VII but has Abrams seen anything that he's taken to heart? "It’s been nice see that how important it is and to be reminded how important it is to so many people. We all know that [creator George Lucas'] dream has become almost a religion to some people. I remember reading a thing somewhere, someone wrote about just wanting [the new film] to feel real; to feel authentic. I remember I felt that way when I was 11 years old when I saw the first one. As much of a fairy tale as it was, it felt real. And to me, that is exactly right.”

JJ Abrams Star Wars VII tone


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Mrsinister
Mrsinister - 9/19/2013, 7:49 PM
Can't wait! He's perfect for the job!
jerryblake
jerryblake - 9/19/2013, 7:53 PM
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 9/19/2013, 8:01 PM
Realistic is a tone when discussing a scifi film. Don't be a dick.
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 9/19/2013, 8:02 PM
I would like Star Wars to go darker, but it shouldn't lose the fun that has made the series so famous.

And if they can make Star Wars "emotional", I would be totally on board with that. But don't kill off Luke, I just can't take that.
thewonderer
thewonderer - 9/19/2013, 8:02 PM
Even though I like the prequels, it's funny seeing JJ and those involved in the new film avoiding the topic of its quality all together.
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 9/19/2013, 8:04 PM
@thewonderer Probably because they know how the majority of fans will feel about that.
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 9/19/2013, 8:05 PM
I didn't hate the prequels myself. But when I go back and watch them, I wonder how Star Wars could get worse, and not too many things come in to mind.
WhiteSAMURAI
WhiteSAMURAI - 9/19/2013, 8:06 PM
It seems he has a pretty good grip on what Star Wars is about. I'm glad he isn't saying much about the movie (or anything at all really). I like to be suprised sometimes.
AlertTheSus
AlertTheSus - 9/19/2013, 8:07 PM
I hope this new direction is going to be worth the wait. still 2 years away and I have so much excitement for this movie. I would love to see an Old Republic type movie just all out war of jedi and sith
EpitomeofAwesome
EpitomeofAwesome - 9/19/2013, 8:08 PM
I was skeptical with him at first, but I'm warming up to the idea of him
Havenless
Havenless - 9/19/2013, 8:10 PM
I agree with this. The new trilogy felt too fantasy-ish. None of the characters were normal people. Luke was normal. Han was a little crazy, but he had a normal personality. Leia was a crazy bitch, which is apparently normal for women.

No one in the new trilogy was normal. In Episode I: Obi, Qui-Gon, and Padme were Keanu Reeves quality in how wooden they were portrayed. Jar Jar was ridiculous, and the kid ruined the entire movie. And it just got worse from there.
MarineBoy
MarineBoy - 9/19/2013, 8:12 PM
I was 12, and it didn't just feel real to me. It was more than that. After the opening scroll ended, I very quickly lost the sense that I was watching a film at all. I was no longer in a theater. It felt as though I was inside the movie, experiencing it directly--as if the story was taking place inside my imagination. I'd never experienced anything like that before. Star Wars made my childhood a better place to be.

I hope this new film means that much to some child some day.
Havenless
Havenless - 9/19/2013, 8:14 PM
@thewonderer

That's entirely subjective. None of them are 'Transformers 2 bad', but they don't meet most people's expectations for Star Wars. I would much rather watch a new trilogy movie than Batman Forever.
Manhunter
Manhunter - 9/19/2013, 8:15 PM
I think Disney has him taking classes on how to give non answers.

What if he was like "Oh my favorite is AOTC for sure!"
ABH1979
ABH1979 - 9/19/2013, 8:16 PM
I'm very much looking forward to VII, and the sequels, but I'm almost more excited for the idea of the spin-off movies, because that's where you can really experiment with genre.

The episodic SW movies will always be about the Skywalkers and friends, and mostly about the force, but the spin-offs can explore other, darker corners of that universe. There is room for interstellar crime dramas, sci-fi horror, and so much more.
santoanderson
santoanderson - 9/19/2013, 8:21 PM
Ultimately the prequels were tremendously overhyped and far too reliant on one man's creativity (Lucas) and now-outdated technology. Sure, digital Yoda looked amazing in 2002; that stuff was state of the art, but 11 years later, all those digital effects look like average videogame cutscenes.

Nobody was willing to call Lucas out on his shit. On the original three movies, he was a pretty insecure guy surrounded by very smart, very talented people who weren't afraid to tell George 'No'. Then the guy took an 16 year hiatus from filmmaking, grew used to people calling him a genius, and when time came to make the prequels, his collaborators were all spineless yes-men, unable to criticize George's dumber ideas.
ahhmynuts
ahhmynuts - 9/19/2013, 8:24 PM
you will never see a dark toned movie from disney so get over it. probably the same guys that thought iron man 3 was gonna be dark. no way its gonna happen. especially with abrams
teinen
teinen - 9/19/2013, 8:28 PM
Abrams is shi...

Where's bender?
Hellboy6666
Hellboy6666 - 9/19/2013, 8:39 PM
I hate on the prequels now but each one was an awesome time at the theater. Be a kid first, then go all adult on it later. I heart Star Wars forever.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 9/19/2013, 8:48 PM
[frick] yes. Too bad it won't erase the prequels
NightBoyWonder
NightBoyWonder - 9/19/2013, 9:20 PM
What Abrams needs to work on is the capturing the "awe" of the Lightsaber. What pissed me off is that the Prequels were not Star Wars it was just [frick]ing Lightsabers: The Phantom Lightsaber, Lightsaber: Attack of the Lightsaber, & don't forget Lightsabers: Revenge of the Lightsabers. I've said it so many times it's annoying, just as annoying as the fact that they whipped them out so many [frick]ing times it was ridiculous.

My parents raised me up watching the first Star Wars films of the original trilogy and I remember each time I got excited to see a lightsaber or something Jedi related. The most badass thing ever! The prequels took that away and just made it for [frick]ing toys!
Egg
Egg - 9/19/2013, 9:33 PM
Being old enough to remember the original trilogy, I can understand what he's saying. One thing that was UNHEARD of at the time was the appearance of the rebel's ships & gear. Up until then, in Sci-Fi, everything was pristine, white, & shiny. I loved seeing scortched, burned, dirty ships & gear being used by the alliance. There were plenty of small details that were appreciated in the late 70's that viewers take for granted these days.
Visualiza
Visualiza - 9/19/2013, 9:53 PM
I'm really glad that Abrams is on board for this. I'm not a Star Wars nut, but that's the point, as I'm similarly indifferent to Trek but I love what he's done with that franchise. Looking forward to this primarily because of his involvement.
Mike89
Mike89 - 9/19/2013, 9:54 PM
The fact that George Lucas is not involved(at least not directly) is what has me exited for Star Wars Episode VII.
tumpai
tumpai - 9/19/2013, 10:03 PM
Am I the only one that hates J.J.'s face?
titansupes
titansupes - 9/19/2013, 10:12 PM
@spideyboy - You're right.
robster
robster - 9/19/2013, 10:27 PM
Never see a dark toned movie from Disney?! I thought The Black Hole was kinda dark. And I actually liked it,at the time,lol! Yes,cute robots an'all.

J-R!
preacher
preacher - 9/19/2013, 10:57 PM
@spideyboy-my thoughts on the lightsabers being so prevalent in the prequels, and they were only seen in the original trilogy at key moments is because Obi-Wan/Vader/Luke/Yoda and Palpatine are the only remaining Jedi (unless I'm forgetting someone-Leia has the Force strong in her but she's not a Jedi at this point). The prequels is about the time when their were HUNDREDS (if not more) Jedi in the galaxy. Hence, many more lightsabers.

I understand that by seeing so many of them in the prequels they lose their wonder. But, that's most likely the reason why their were so many on view.

As far as the newest trilogy goes, my problem with the prequels, other than the acting, was that it was chock full of plots within plots within plots, technology out the yin yang (there wasn't that much technology in the original) enough political talk to make me wanna swallow a bullet and ludicrous characters. What makes the original trilogy so endearing was it's simplicity. A sci-fi fairy tale. Straight up good vs evil, an emperor, a king, a prince/princess, a knight, wizards, monsters. That's it. And it appealed to our baser instincts.
OcciferPing
OcciferPing - 9/19/2013, 10:58 PM
Yeah... He really didn't say anything about Episode VII or the tone of it. Reminds me of those Joss Whedon opinion articles that are treated as news.
sephiroth211
sephiroth211 - 9/19/2013, 11:29 PM
Practical effects please.
Wolf38
Wolf38 - 9/19/2013, 11:36 PM
@robster I was going to bring up the same thing - The Black Hole. Disney does not turn everything they touch into cutesy.

Regardless of how any of us feel about the prequels, they were different from classic Star Wars. The original trilogy started all of this, and so many people loved it, but by the time of The Phantom Menace, George Lucas was someplace completely different in his mind.

It is a wise move for JJ (who has already been using Star Trek to make his own personal Star Wars, in the case of many scenes and elements) and Lucasilm/Disney to try to recapture the original feeling. George Lucas was not going back there, but audiences would like to.
Wolf38
Wolf38 - 9/19/2013, 11:39 PM
(Re: The Black Hole. There were some cute robots, but there was also a dark, almost demonic robot who went on a very dark trip at the end, as well as plenty of other ominous stuff. So yeah, it was dark.)
patriautism
patriautism - 9/20/2013, 12:29 AM
I can't wait for even the smallest bit of confirmed information about this movie. I think he will do an awesome job.
SaxoWolf
SaxoWolf - 9/20/2013, 1:13 AM
SuperSpidey
SuperSpidey - 9/20/2013, 3:13 AM
Well you know how to make it feel real...practical sets not all green screen and dialogue that a person would actually say.

CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 9/20/2013, 3:26 AM
Look at it like this.

People complain about his Star Trek movies because he made them glorified action films. Well Star Wars was always centered around action more than Star Trek. Abrams is a much better fit for Star Wars.

When I was watching Star Trek Into Darkness, and then went back and re-watched Star Trek, all I could think how awesome the action scenes were and how badass it is going to be to see his style of sci-fi get brought to Star Wars.

I can't wait.
Ichaos
Ichaos - 9/20/2013, 3:30 AM
If he goes insane with the lens flares like he did in the Trek films, I swear I will track him down and shine a mag light in his face until he stops.
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