Star Wars: The Force Awakens Isn’t as Safe as You Remember

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A decade ago, Star Wars exploded back onto the scene with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It was the biggest movie of the year, and it truly delivered on the excitement. The film broke box office records, earning over $936 million domestically, and received some of the best reviews a Star Wars movie had seen since The Empire Strikes Back. It was even named one of the top ten films of 2015 by the American Film Institute. When The Force Awakens premiered, fans were thrilled – Star Wars was back, and director J.J. Abrams successfully brought back the magic that made the galaxy so beloved.

While The Force Awakens was a huge hit, many viewers pointed out its similarities to the original Star Wars: A New Hope. It reused some familiar plot points and character developments, leading some to believe the film was overly cautious as it began a new chapter for the franchise. Although The Force Awakens does share elements with A New Hope, director J.J. Abrams also took significant creative chances that ultimately worked. In reality, the film wasn’t as predictable as some people remember.

The First Act Is Entirely New Characters

A major draw of The Force Awakens was the return of the original Star Wars heroes: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher. The marketing campaign heavily emphasized this, with the now-iconic line “Chewie, we’re home” from the trailer at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2015 tapping into fans’ love for the classic films. While Lucasfilm kept plot details under wraps (famously hiding Luke Skywalker’s face in promotional materials), they made it clear the beloved original actors were back. After decades since Return of the Jedi, fans were eager to see Luke, Han Solo, and Princess Leia reunited.

Fans waited a long time to see the original Star Wars heroes again, and The Force Awakens made them wait a little longer still. The film doesn’t feature any of those iconic characters in its first act. While Luke and Leia are talked about, they don’t actually appear on screen. Director J.J. Abrams took a big gamble by introducing a completely new set of characters – Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, and Kylo Ren – and relying on them to kick off the story. It was a risky move, as the success of the entire sequel trilogy depended on whether audiences would connect with these newcomers. These fresh faces were thrown into the spotlight without the support of familiar characters like Han Solo, Chewbacca, or R2-D2.

I was really relieved to see that Abrams’ risk with the new Star Wars cast totally paid off. Right from the start, Oscar Isaac felt like a natural as a cool, confident pilot – he faced off with Kylo Ren (and that mask!) without even flinching. The connection he immediately had with John Boyega’s Finn was fantastic, reminding me of the fun, adventurous spirit of the original films. And Adam Driver? He quickly made Kylo Ren a seriously compelling villain – powerful, unpredictable, and clearly troubled. It’s obvious Kylo is meant to echo Darth Vader, but he’s distinct enough to feel like a fresh, unique character in the Star Wars universe.

Daisy Ridley, in her breakout role, immediately captivated audiences as Rey. Her introduction on Jakku is brilliantly done, using visuals to quickly establish the world and her character with very little dialogue. Within minutes, we understand what Rey is struggling with and what she hopes for, setting her up for a classic hero’s story. Like Isaac, Ridley had fantastic chemistry with Boyega, and their scenes together during the fast-paced escape from Jakku were a highlight. While BB-8 was always likely to be a popular character, there was some uncertainty about his fellow leads. However, those concerns were quickly put to rest in the opening moments of The Force Awakens. The film does such a good job of making us care about these new characters that the delayed appearance of Han and Chewie doesn’t feel like a problem.

Saving Luke for the Very End Was the Best Choice for The Force Awakens

After Return of the Jedi, Star Wars fans were eager to see Luke Skywalker become a Jedi Master. Although there was a lot of material outside the films showing Luke’s continuing journey, fans really wanted to see it play out on screen. The Force Awakens seemed like the perfect chance, but Luke ended up having a very small part. He famously appears only briefly and without speaking at the end of the film, leaving viewers wondering what would happen next. Ultimately, fans had to wait several more years to see Luke return as a more prominent character.

J.J. Abrams showed remarkable self-control in this situation. Knowing The Force Awakens might be his only Star Wars film, he realized it was his single opportunity to feature Luke Skywalker. As a longtime fan, it would have been simple to indulge in nostalgia and give Luke a large part. However, he prioritized what was best for the overall story, even if it meant taking a chance that could have disappointed viewers.

Originally, Abrams and his team considered making Luke Skywalker the central character, but they realized he dominated every scene he was in. The story quickly became focused solely on what was happening with him. Because of this, they decided to make finding Luke the main goal of the narrative – he became the thing everyone was searching for. The Force Awakens centers around the mystery of his disappearance after a personal tragedy. Han Solo served as the primary supporting character, setting a pattern for the sequels where each returning hero would have a more significant role in the following film. Before Carrie Fisher’s passing, Leia Organa was also planned to have an even larger part in Episode IX.

As a fan, I always thought keeping Luke Skywalker on the sidelines in The Force Awakens was a really smart move. It meant we got to see Han Solo get the emotional goodbye Harrison Ford had always hoped for. More importantly, it gave Rey, Finn, and Poe the space they needed to make a huge first impression. Honestly, if Luke had been there too, I think J.J. Abrams would have been overwhelmed trying to balance everyone’s story. It was already tough juggling Han’s arc with introducing so many new faces! Adding Luke would have been a disaster – no one would have gotten the attention they deserved. It was a risky decision to leave out the biggest hero of the franchise, but looking at how amazing the movie turned out, it clearly paid off.

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2025-12-18 00:15