WhileStar Wars: The Force Awakenswas shrouded in secrecy all throughout production, we do know that the film underwent reshoots. How significant those reshoots were vary depending on who you’re speaking to, but every major blockbuster film undergoes additional filming nowadays, andStar Warswas no different. As it turns out, one of those reshoots actually came about from some notes thatSelmafilmmakerAva DuVernaygaveJ.J. Abramsafter watching an early cut of the movie.
On a new clip from the upcoming “Collector’s Edition” Blu-ray release ofStar Wars: The Force Awakens, we hear a snippet from Abrams’ audio commentary where he reveals the moment that was altered after DuVernay’s suggestions. It’s actually a pretty big scene—the lightsaber fight between Rey and Kylo Ren—but DuVernay told Abrams that Rey needed “one really cool moment” before the tables turn and she kicks Kylo Ren’s ass.
The result is pretty seamless. There’s only one shot where it’s fairly obvious it was taken during reshoots, but the rest of the scene plays out incredibly well—probably due to the fact that this was shot on a soundstage in the first place. But it’s interesting to hear that DuVernay was one of the people Abrams showed the movie to during editing, and indeedin Collider’s own interview with DuVernayfor her Netflix doc13th, she revealed that Abrams is one of her filmmaker friends that she turns to for notes/advice on her own films.
While DuVernay is currently gearing up to shootA Wrinkle in Timefor Disney, I’d be surprised if she hasn’t already been approached by Lucasfilm about directing aStar Warsmovie. We already know she was offeredBlack Pantherby Marvel, so if afterA Wrinkle in Timecomes out we learn that DuVernay is directing a newStar Warsanthology movie, don’t be too surprised.
Listen to the snippet in the clip below (viaVulture). Abrams’ full audio commentary is exclusively available on the double-dip Blu-ray release ofForce Awakens, which is available on November 15th.
