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J.J. Abrams Says Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Backlash Stems From Fans “Threatened” By Women


Star Wars: The Last Jedi may have seen critical and commercial success, however, the film also became the most divisive installment in the Star Wars franchise. While some had nothing but praise for The Last Jedi's boldness, the film received quite the backlash from fans who weren't too pleased with how fans decided to subvert fan expectations and play around with Star Wars lore.

However, while most of these Last Jedi protesters were against the film turning Rey into a nobody and Luke into a bitter and jaded hermit, others expressed their ire against the film's female characters like Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) and Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern).

Sitting down to speak in an interview with Indie Wire, Force Awakens and Episode IX director tries to explain The Last Jedi's backlash, saying that the problem lies with fans who feel "threatened by women."

"Star Wars is a big galaxy, and you can sort of find almost anything you want to in Star Wars.If you are someone who feels threatened by women and needs to lash out against them, you can probably find an enemy in Star Wars. You can probably look at the first movie that George [Lucas] did and say that Leia was too outspoken, or she was too tough. Anyone who wants to find a problem with anything can find the problem. The internet seems to be made for that."

While there has been a very loud and vocal minority in the Star Wars fanbase who's been petitioning to have The Last Jedi erased from official canon, Abrams says that fans complaints won't impact the future of the franchise in the least.

"Not in the least. There's a lot that I would like to say about it, but I feel like it's a little early to be having the Episode IX conversation … I will say that the story of Rey and Poe and Finn and Kylo Ren — and if you look, there are three men and one woman, to those that are complaining that there are too many women in Star Wars — their story continues in a way that I couldn't be more excited about and cannot wait for people to see."

Everyone has their opinion of how Star Wars ought to be run, but fans have to realize that they don't own the franchise and that ultimately, the direction of the saga lies in the hands of Lucasfilm.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is finishing up its run in cinemas.

Read: A Star Wars Toy Forced Director Rian Johnson To Tweak A Scene In The Last Jedi

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