J.J. Abrams Explains Why Chewbacca Didn't Hug Leia At The End of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was praised a lot by fans and critics upon its release, but there's one scene that left some viewers scratching their heads. When the Millennium Falcon landed back on the Resistance Base at the end of the film, you'd notice that Chewbacca exits the Falcon and awkwardly walks past Leia while tending to Finn. Leia then gives Rey an emotional hug. Due to the scene closely following Han Solo's death, many questioned why Chewie and Leia did not even embrace each other after the loss of someone who was close to both of them.

Director, producer and co-writer J.J. Abrams spoke with /Film about the scene, and gave some insight on why it happened that way:

"That was probably one of the mistakes I made in that. My thinking at the time was that Chewbacca, despite the pain he was feeling, was focused on trying to save Finn and getting him taken care of. So I tried to have Chewbacca go off with him and focus on Rey, and then have Rey find Leia and Leia find Rey. The idea being that both of them being strong with the Force and never having met, would know about each other — that Leia would have been told about her beyond what we saw onscreen and Rey of course would have learned about Leia. And that reunion would be a meeting and a reunion all in one, and a sort of commiseration of their mutual loss... Had Chewbacca not been where he was, you probably wouldn't have thought of it. But because he was right there, passed by Leia, it felt almost like a slight, which was definitely not the intention."

It's good to hear him admit that it was a mistake. I didn't really notice it at first, but I could see why fans would find that awkward. I think it's just a minor blemish. Hopefully, Episode VIII will make up for it.

Star Wars: Episode VIII will be released in theaters on Dec. 15, 2017.

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