Tuesday, December 8, 2015

JJ Abrams Discusses Why Leia Isn't a Jedi in 'The Force Awakens'

19 comments
By: Dominic Jones

At the end of Return of the Jedi, it was strongly implied that Leia would go on to become a Jedi Knight.  The books and novel of Legends went down that road, but in Star Wars: The Force Awakens she appears to not be one.  IGN's Terri Schwartz asked director JJ Abrams why Leia did not become a Jedi and Abrams explained the thought process behind this decision, including the fact that both George Lucas and Carrie Fisher had input on it.  Check out Abrams' answer below,
I really like this response.  As Qui-Gon says, "training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge" so it makes sense that someone like Leia, who has committed her life to the military, would not want to take time away from that to lift rocks with her mind in a swamp.  

Nine days to go....


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19 comments:

Chris E. said...

I think it was stupid for her to have the potential, but not to go that route. Missed opportunity.

Unknown said...

I feel that Leia's own sensitivity to the Force is what allowed her to become the political and military leader she was. Jedi were not all warriors. They were sent for their diplomatic and negotiating skills too. Hence Obi Wan and Qui Gon's Trade federation assignment and Grievous' greeting to an older Kenobi where he acknowledged the Jedi's reputation as a negotiator. Leia may not have trained, but her Force sensitivity certainly impacted her life.

Unknown said...

Even in the Legends canon, Leia was not able to focus on the path of the Jedi because of her political duties. She didn't pursue training until later in life. I think it is very natural that she would continue using her advantages in the arena she knew best - politics and military leadership.

Unknown said...

One book I read, she had a resentment against the force because Vader was her father. I believe she was an ambassador.

Unknown said...

No its whats again, disney doing what it wants and throwing previous canons out the window, it would have been logical for lei to become a jedi and could created aloh of story opportunities.

Unknown said...

Leia as a Jedi knight to me was always bullI am madly in love with Jar Jar Binks... dont tell anyone but I have an engagement ring in my dresser, one of the crappiest things in the old EU. She is a politician not a Jedi warrior good for Disney great decision that old story was I am madly in love with Jar Jar Binks... dont tell anyone but I have an engagement ring in my dresser

Vader the White said...

It makes sense. And those who are complaining against those using the Legends material as why they agree, please stop. It does show that Leia not becoming a Jedi after Episode VI makes sense. It actually correlates with multiple individuals' takes on the character. It does make sense that Leia would focus on what she has been focusing all her life and it indirectly relates to the job of a Jedi: she's trying to bring justice to the galaxy.

corey said...

I am going to Sued Disney!

Unknown said...

well the real reason is because her only teacher left to go be a hermit for some reason

W. Hawatky said...

OF COURSE IT MAKES SENSE.

She has a choice just like everyone else. Just because you're force sensitive doesn't mean you go and join a holy crusade or a cult of monks. For starters, she clearly was in love with Han, at least at one point, and probably still; we already know how that fits into the Jedi code.

And as we know from both the OT and later in the EU, she is and has always been a political figure and had dedicated her life to public service... being a Jedi Knight would require her to abandon that post to train and focus on the Jedi path. It's so implausible that it isn't even fun to talk about it lol

Really... Leia as a Jedi Knight makes about as much sense as Luke being Kylo. smh.

Now Rey on the other hand... now there's a chick I can see being a badass Jedi Knight...

Unknown said...

I think she will use the force to an extent in TFA. If only for diplomatic reasons

Unknown said...

Carrie Fisher as a jedi in Awakens would have been ridiculous. Thank you Disney!

Unknown said...

Carrie Fisher as a jedi in Awakens would have been ridiculous. Thank you Disney!

Unknown said...

its bullI am madly in love with Jar Jar Binks... dont tell anyone but I have an engagement ring in my dresser lucas apporved the line that leia did train an did become a jedi that makes it cannon an should be apart of her part in the movies. F U disney

Anonymous said...

I's sorry, but this is stupid in so many ways.

1. You can train a Jedi anywhere, and her brother being the Jedi doing the training, you'd think he could work around her schedule.
2. So, he he trying to say Force Powers wouldn't be useful in a military career? Sorry, Force awareness, enhanced reflexes, greatly increased combat capability, enhanced physical prowess, not a good use of her time.
3. Is he saying girls are less capable than boys? Her twin brother managed to become a Jedi with less than a year of actual training under a Jedi. Guess girls just aren't as smart, or maybe she's just lazy.

But then EU Leia was only a General, Chief of State, Mother, Diplomat, and Jedi.

Nclshorexmgr74 said...

we know she could be Jedi type if needed in the time between ROTJ and Force Awakens but agree with most others on this thread that she is Force sensitive and uses it in political and military uses. i think she will invoke her knowledge with the new characters that will emerge in this new Trilogy.

Unknown said...

What is OT and EU :/ I'm LOST and CONFUSED :P

W. Hawatky said...

the hell, chris evans?

do you even know what a jedi is? she doesn't have to be a jedi to be force sensitive and working for the light side of the force. she would use all those force powers as a diplomat and a chief of state as well as a mother and all those other things, too. a jedi is basically a samurai monk...

being a jedi isn't a designation and not everybody and anybody just becomes a jedi. yoda spoke extensively on the jedi commitment... you know.. the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. luke has made a lifelong commitment to being jedi knight which would explain why he isn't trying to start families (rey is not his daughter) or even lead a normal life (he may very well be in self-imposed exile in order to continue on the jedi path)

this also has nothing to do with the fact she's a girl. there have been plenty of force sensitive women that have either been jedi, sith or neither (adi gallia, shaak ti, asohka tano, luminara, depa baliba, barriss, asajj ventress... and it looks very highly likely, Rey, too).

in other words, no not stupid.

Unknown said...

I think it is simply because she was just like her mother (which is not a jedi), and Luke was just like his father (which is you know who).

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