Mere weeks before the December 18 release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, JJ Abrams caused a minor uproar Monday when, during an appearance on Good Morning America, he appeared to say that he considers Star Wars primarily for boys. “Star Wars was always about … it was always a boys thing and a movie that dads take their sons to,” Abrams said. “And though that’s still very much the case, I was really hoping that this could be a movie that mothers can take their daughters to as well. So I’m looking forward to kids seeing this movie and to seeing themselves in it, and seeing that they’re capable of doing what they could never imagine was possible.”
Unsurprisingly, the comment didn’t go over very well, and Abrams has received some fierce criticism from a sizable sector of geekdom. Today, however, as the cast and crew of The Force Awakens conducted a Q&A on Twitter, the film’s director and co-writer was able to clarify things a bit. When asked about the remarks, he bashed himself for being “stupid” and explained that he actually meant to say the exact opposite:
Given the effort Disney and Abrams have made to put together the most diverse cast as any Star Wars film has had, that explanation actually makes a lot more sense, particularly as Daisy Ridley’s Rey appears to be, despite emphasis on co-star John Boyega in marketing, the film’s protagonist and center of the story in much the same way Luke was the center of the original Star Wars. And it jibes with big boss of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy’s thinking as well, as she said during the Q&A when asked about being a role model for other women striving to break into Hollywood.
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But, speaking of Ridley’s character, to explain why I think she’s essentially the Luke of the new trilogy would require me to admit that I’m fully read up on all the spoiler-leaks that have made their way online, and I won’t do that. But I will let Harrison Ford do some of the work for me. Joining Abrams in perhaps misspeaking a bit, Ford — when asked what his favorite action scene in the film is — revealed something that hasn’t been featured in any of the film’s marketing. You might want to stop reading now if you don’t want to know.
Oy vey
JJ reveals that he’s still a douche.
Go do a thousand interviews and see if you can do it without saying something stupid at some point.
JJ and KK have twittered.
Move along.
I said oy vey because this whole thing is ridiculous. People are shocked, shocked, because JJ Abrams acknowledged the truth that most sci fi fans in 1977 were boys? And this is horribly sexist? STFU.
So what if Star Wars is for boys, not girls? There are movies made for boys, and there are movies made for girls. Girls like Frozen and Tangled, not a movie about an intergalactic civil war. Duh.
Trying to please everyone always results in pleasing no one.
Really? Star Wars is as much for girls as it is for boys. Join the 21st century.
Ever looked at the User Ratings on IMDb? It’s a handy indicator of popularity broken down by demographics. The original Star Wars has the following rating votes split by gender:
Males 559,281
Females 85,562
So men have voted on it by a factor of 6.5 times more than women.
Still think Star Wars is as just for girls as it is for boys?
Politically Correct is rarely reality or truth correct
Swifty, numbers are so sexist. You need to explain it in a medium that is pleasing to women, like in a musical number on a broadway play!
Are you ready for Star Wars with a Lifetime for Women twist?
No ones preventing anyone from seeing the film or being a fan. But denying reality you see everyday say whos actually buying stuff at a toy store or seeing sexism in everything is yes. ’21century’ and proof why said century is proving to be the plot from Idiocracy. Abrams should not apologize for people too dumb to see he used the word “WAS” or looking to be offended.
“Join the 21st century.”
Translation: “You are going against the narrative of the herd and we will stamp our feet and toss our hair and shame you until you repent publicly of your BadThink and abase yourself before your feminist SJW politically correct masters.”
If boys have a thing for intergalactic civil war, then we do have a culture problem.
War sells I guess.
Boys being into space ships and war toys is news to someone?
Seriously drop the pc over sensitivity, its become a cliche
Enough with fake controversies.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound fake. This sounds up there with the casting news of Daniel Craig as James Bond. These film greats get so used to receiving deference at every second of a filming, they seem to forget they are mere mortals to the general public, later, when they speak about it. It sounds like a great film. It got Harrison Ford back on board!
JJ really messed up and I am outraged. I think everyone should boycott the movie. Otherwise this news story is all it will ever be remembered for.
Surely you’re being sarcastic. Otherwise your overly sensitive and I’d imagine making it though a standard day for you without being “offended” must be impossible.
Why messed up? The husband loved Kill Bill I, so a female action person is ok with the male world, in general. (him being my barometer to unfathomable guy nuances). Maybe it would be mothers who work out, but clueless is not messed up.
I’m offended! Boycott the world!
Definitely this man is a cultural marxist. Boycott star wars vii
He’s the guy in high school who gave everyone a rash (Chicago-ese)
Good for JJ. Star Wars is and always was for everyone.
Now, if somebody could just clue Disney’s marketing and licensing folks in on that…
Kylo and Rey was shown in the end of the last trailer. Thats not a surprise
This was frankly obvious to anybody with basic listening comprehension skills. I had no idea this was such a controversy but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
His original comment seems positive to me. Yes, the original was more aimed at boys and hardly has any women in it, and yes, this one is more inclusive and acknowledges that the fan base is diverse and more verifiably so than it used to be.
The Rey and Phasma figures are still the hardest to find, after all.
It’s not diverse enough! Where are the transvestite jedis? I don’t see representation of the disabled either, no wheelchair jedis? The disabled can be jedis too! So they added a black lead but the supporting actress is still a white woman (why not asian?).
Really all this shows is that the left is pleased to give people an A+ for effort, so long as you prostrate yourself before them, not any genuine diversity.
This is anecdotal but most women I know have not even seen the movies all the way through and are critical of the content anyway. Yes, it was traditionally for dads and their sons. That’s okay. And if women and girls want to participate, that’s welcome too, but let’s not subtract the significance of Star Wars from young males in order to be inclusive. Just be inclusive. And furthermore, this world is anything but sensitive. Time to develop thicker skin. They cast great minority leads. Isn’t that enough?
What, seriously? Women that haven’t seen the film all the way through? I mean I’ll give you the criticism, because lord knows everyone loves to be a critic – and fans more than anyone, to be honest. But I’ve only known one girl who’s seen all of the original trilogy less than five times (she had seen it zero times) and after a particularly embarrassing Halloween for her – a tiny storm trooper came to the door and she couldn’t figure out what the kid was supposed to be – we sat her ass down and had a girls night where we watched them. Who are these women who haven’t seen Star Wars, and what happened in their lives to make them a cultural anachronism? It’s like being unfamiliar with the constitution or the bible – possibly even worse. I mean shit, as a kid the only VHS tapes I owned were the trilogy and Roger Rabbit. I mean, I’m sure these are real women you’re talking about, it’s just so far distant from any person I’ve ever met, it blows my mind.
Jesus… look, if you’re gonna lie at least make it somewhat believable.
” I’ve only known one girl who’s seen all of the original trilogy less than five times (she had seen it zero times) and after a particularly embarrassing Halloween for her – a tiny storm trooper came to the door and she couldn’t figure out what the kid was supposed to be – we sat her ass down and had a girls night where we watched them”
LOL. And then you had a pillow fight in your Star Wars jammies? It’d be more realistic if you said Mark Hammil turned up at your door with his kid for trick or treating.
Dear Frank… I hate to break it to you, but females are NOT a minority.
I really don’t understand the controversy. Star Wars has indeed, in the past, been a male-oriented franchise. Female characters like Leia and Padme were kind of one-dimensional and passive, for the most part. That’s not Abrams’ fault. He was just being honest in the interview. Good for him for recognizing a fault of the previous trilogies and placing a strong heroine at the forefront of the new trilogy.
I suppose because Star Wars is such a phenomenon, even if women were a smaller part of that fandom they still number in the tens of millions, and it is likely enough of these women have never considered Star Wars to be not for them for the backlash to make enough of a dent
Bob, you are the problem.
How were Padme and Leia passive characters? Both often showed up the boys around them and were certainly depicted as being as strong willed as their counter parts.
Hold it wait… you [really] mean the male characters were *not* one-dimensional?
Only non-passive male character in all the old series was Ford, hence why the heavy emphasis in this one (aside from the newbies) and the spin off movie and heck, likely in VIII.
As another article said (which included James Bond), the audiences love the MWJ.
Really? When I saw Leia grab the blaster and got her “rescue” on the road, I saw an active, multi-dimensional character. We had Queen Elizabeth the First as our model. It’s not passive to let others make a [stupid] first move, btw. To do what is needed is not passive.
ALL of the Characters were one dimensional. We’re not talking art films here.
And for the record, I’m a Male and I’ve always seen and known a lot if Females in line and in Conventions. The ridiculous arguements here are ‘sound and fury, dignifying…”
Oh
My goodness people are stupid. I saw the interview before the uproar and knew exactly what he meant. It’s a sad day when someone has to apologise and humble himself for absolutely nothing. I hate this overly sensitive pc society we live in.
It is clear that many people believe that their contribution to the cultural conversation is entirely about finding something to complain about.
So. . . I guess nobody will go see it, now.
The students at Tattoonie University have announced a boycott of the film over JJ’s comments and are demanding Disney remove his name from the credits and replace him with a trans Wookie of color.
Absolutely ridiculous that he even had to ‘explain’ himself after saying that. Get some real problems people, or just move along.
If STAR WARS is/was a “boys thing” — why is that bad? Is ANYTHING okay to be a “boys thing” in 2015? Disney has basically ripped the balls off any male character that’s appeared in any of its modern animated films, and turns out more “girl power” stories whether’s it’s FROZEN or MALEFICENT or whatever than any other company in existence. Even this film has that with the lead character being a female.
Personally STAR WARS has always been for kids and Leia and Padme are both heroines girls were attached to, but this is one more PC controversy this site seems to get all excited about. Hopefully Abrams will hide his head in shame, take a gender-studies class and understand the power of using the proper verbiage immediately from the kind of enlightened asshole that’s sending this whole country into the dumper.
If you were offended by that, you have no critical thinking skills. Seriously, you should present yourself to the Department of Education as proof that the US school system is failing.
LOL…even in it’s very basic terms…what JJ expressed was CLEARLY an opinion and nothing more. So, to those of you who can’t tell the difference please spare the rest of us your ignorant hate speak that fraudulently comes under the guise of “equality” but only serves to express the “misandry” in your hearts.
Had Abrams understood that Disney intends to add Princess Leia, Padme, & Rey to their highly successful Princess line in 2016, he would never have made this blunder. Disney see’s Star Wars women as more valuable than Marvel ones.
His E7 can’t possibly live up to expectations so I expect both Rogue One & Abrams E8 to fall hard after this.
What else about the future can you share with us oh wise one of unforeseen knowledge? Clearly you have all the answers.
WHAT??? I was one of the many girls who saw the original SW in theaters so many times I am afraid to admit the actual number. I would rather reveal how many men I have slept with than admit how many times I have watched SW. I loved these characters and they invited everyone along for the ride. Great guys, a kick ass princess, cool wookie, robots. What else does any one need, except for the obvious and serious lack of diversity back in this 70’s version. My ENTIRE WINTER PROM GIRL POSSE went to see Empire Strikes Back instead of going out with the boys that had invited us, and no we were not dogs, or lesbians. We just made the choice to be the first to see last movie our beloved series. I will never forget that night, it was great I was old enough appreciate the importance of having good friends. I am sad to hear J.J. is so out of touch with the original fan base who started it all!
I totally get it. It’s fairly simple, actually. Guys love killing things. Beheading, burning alive, swords, bombs, bullets — and that’s just here on earth. Yes, that’s what we teach our young boys that being a man is all about. Then when everything on this earth is tortured, controlled, or killed, we move on to intergalactic brutality and conquering. Same old bullshit, different galaxy. Most women are not entertained by slaughter and brutality. But hey, I hope that all of you intellectual Neanderthals enjoy yourselves…
We will. Dragging our female mates to the theater by their hair, coz that’s the only reason they’ll go, right? SMH
But hadn’t Star Trek worked out plotting with an intergalactic peace organization in charge, plus they were working to keep wars from happening, etc.? I read, almost, every science fiction story ever written before 1972, and none of them had all that “stuff”. Scifi was more thoughtful, then, and the mood is still there today, even with the more exciting, graphic and tough stuff. It looks to make a future better, whether planet wide or individual consciousness. just saying