By: Benjamin Hart
Entertainment Weekly is continuing their amazing coverage of
Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens with a
brand new article focused on one of the most talked about, and seemingly non-existent stars of the film; Luke Skywalker.
First off, Abrams confirms that “No one forgot about him!” in response to those who have pointed out that lack of Luke Skywalker in the promotional material for the film. He adds:
"We were hoping people would care, but there are a lot of things that are not on the poster, as busy as the poster is. Certainly Luke is a very important aspect of the story.”
While no one in the real world seems to have forgotten about Luke, it appears many in the Galaxy far, far away are unfamiliar with the Jedi and other heroes of the Original Trilogy. Abrams explains:
“It was the thing that struck me the hardest, which was the idea that doing a story that took place nearly 40 years after Jedi meant that there would be a generation for whom Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia would be as good as myth. They’d be as old and as mythic as the tale of King Arthur. They would be characters who they may have heard of, but maybe not. They’d be characters who they might believe existed, or just sounded like a fairy tale.”
He also speaks specifically about Rey's backgrounds and what they may know about these "legends".
“To someone who is living alone and struggling without a formal education or support system, who knows what that person in the literal middle of nowhere would have ever heard about any of these things, or would ever know, and how much that person would have to infer and piece together on their own. So the idea that someone like that would begin to learn that the Jedi were real, and that the Force exists, and that there’s a power in the universe that sounds fanciful but is actually possible, was an incredibly intriguing notion.”
John Boyega chimes in to discuss Finn's side of the story:
“For Finn, he’s been raised from the ashes of the Empire. He’s been taught about Luke Skywalker, he knows about his history. For him it’s like joining the army and then learning about one of the great enemies of your country. It has that effect on him. But in terms of the Force, and the magical stuff that happens, that is the point where Finn kind of questions what is what. What is the Force, what part does Luke Skywalker play in all of this?”
And when it comes to Han Solo, Boyega adds that the Smuggler is not someone Finn as familliar with:
“To a stormtrooper they’ve probably been given a watered down bit about Han Solo or something. It doesn’t feel as magical and mythical and historical, so you know. It’s quite fun playing that not really knowing who these people are.”
EW hints at both character's backstories, mentioning that Rey was "abandoned on the desert world of Jakku as a child" and that Finn was "raised from childhood to be a stormtrooper for The First Order."
Later EW spoke with Mark Hamill about his character, asking, "What’s the best or most interesting piece of insider direction that J.J. gave you as you got back into the character you created?" Hamill replied:
“I’d like to answer that, but it would give away the secrets of Episode VII."
They also quizzed him on which questions fans should be asking, to which he responded:
“None! There should be no questions. You go in and it’s a brand new fresh approach at a franchise that we’ve known all our lives."
Be sure to
go here to check out the full article which reveals much more! And stay tuned for even more The Force Awakens goodness from Entertainment Weekly coming tomorrow!
Source: EW
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