A new rumor has surfaced claiming that Disney actively sabotaged J.J. Abrams and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The rumor comes from Reddit user EgoShoppe on the SaltierThanCrait subreddit.
EgoShoppe details that a source that worked on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker detailed to him that the individuals who leaked The Rise of Skywalker plot are directly tied to Disney and have an agenda.
That agenda is reportedly to bring down J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot’s stock following his multi million dollar deal with Warner Bros. Bad Robot is Abrams’ production company.
In fact, EgoShoppe indicates that The Rise of Skywalker was sabotaged by Disney in order to hamstring Warner Bros. so they cannot reinvigorate their DC Comics film franchise.
EgoShoppe details:
“Disney was one of the studios who were in that Bad Robot bidding war last year. Disney never had much interest in BR as a company but they did in JJ because they saw WB (who JJ went with in the end) as a major threat.”
He continues:
“WB wants Abrams for some DC projects. My source said that this generation’s Star Wars is the MCU, and Marvel’s biggest threat is a well operational DC. They want to keep DC in the limbo that they’re in right now. Abrams jumpstarting that franchise with something like a successful, audience-pleasing Superman movie makes them nervous. Their goal is to make JJ look bad to potential investors/shareholders.”
As for what the actual sabotage was, EgoShoppe indicates Disney radically altered the story and did it behind Abrams’ back leaving him feeling “devastated and blindsided.”
Disney reportedly made the changes in post-production and even rerecorded and altered audio without Abrams’ knowledge. These changes reportedly cut the film time. EgoShoppe explains that Abrams’ original cut of the film in November was 3 hours and 2 minutes long, and that in January 2019 he had even suggested turning the movie into two films.
Writer Chris Terrio made headlines recently when he spoke with Awards Daily indicating that he too also wanted the movie to be broken into two films.
When asked if they ever discussed breaking the film into two parts, Terrio stated, “I wish we could have done that.” He added, “Speaking for myself and not on the part of the studio, I do wish there could have been a “Part 1” and a “Part 2.””
While the film would obviously not be broken into two parts, Abrams apparently did approve of a cut of the film that was 2 hours and 37 minutes long. However, that cut would not make it to theaters. The theatrical version was only 2 hours and 22 minutes long.
One of the scenes that was cut was an end scene that EgoShoppe’s source described as an “ending that will blow your mind.”
This ending reportedly featured Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson, and other actors as Force ghosts, who surrounded and protected Rey from Emperor Palpatine and the Sith.
Related: Alleged Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Leaks Detail Changes Made in Reshoots
This information does seem to back up previous rumors that a number of Force ghosts would protect Rey similar to how Harry Potter’s parents protect him from Voldemort in the Goblet of Fire film.
As for why the Force ghosts were apparently removed, the source believes it has to do with China. However, they indicated it was merely “office talk of sorts.”
The Force ghosts being removed was apparently the tipping point for Abrams. After they were removed, Abrams allegedly yelled in a meeting “something along the lines of ‘Why don’t you just put ‘directed and written by Lucasfilm’ then?”
He was also displeased with the ridiculous “They fly now” scene. After viewing it in November, Abrams reportedly cringed, groaned, and even laughed at it on screen.
This scene was reportedly included simply because Disney wanted to sell merchandise most likely flying Stormtrooper toys.
Other scenes that were apparently cut included the opening of the film that featured Rey training with BB-8 and damaging the droid. Rose jokes that Poe would kill her for damaging the droid. As Rey attempts to figure out what happened, the Falcon lands and the two women who kissed at the end of the film are seen holding hands before running to the Falcon.
Related: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cast React To End of Film
The scene with Kylo Ren on Mustafar was apparently 2 minutes longer and it features a moment where Kylo becomes dizzy and his vision blurred. During this brief moment he hears Vader’s breathing. He quickly shakes it off and continues the fight against the locals.
The lightspeed skipping moment with Poe Dameron apparently featured Kashyyyk, Naboo, and Kamino. That was all cut.
Instead of leaving Jannah’s ancestry open to debate at the end of the film, she was apparently revealed to be Lando’s daughter.
The battle between Kylo Ren and Rey on the Death Star actually killed Kylo Ren. The source details that Rey actually kills Kylo Ren, but heals Ben Solo.
And apparently Ben Solo’s vision of Han Solo was created by Leia using Ben’s memories to create a physical manifestation of Han Solo. And like Luke Skywalker, creating this physical manifestation wore her out and ultimately she died from the experience.
The source describes it as Leia making “the ultimate sacrifice for her and son.” Disney executives apparently didn’t get it, and thus cut it out.
There were also some other Rose Tico scenes, but Disney felt those scenes were “too risky” and thus they were axed.
Related: Brief Same-Sex Kiss Scene in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Cut from Singapore Screenings
When Finn wanted to tell Rey when they were falling through the sand, he was apparently supposed to tell her that he was Force sensitive.
EgoShoppe explains that Finn’s Force powers are shown while he and Jannah are attacking the Star Destroyer. He uses the Force to open a lock. This was replaced with BB-8.
Scenes of Kylo Ren and Rey reflecting individually were also cut. Rey reflected on the idea that there was something sinister about her past while the Kylo Ren scenes showed his inner turmoil. The Kylo Ren scenes are described as “especially amazing because of Adam’s performance and how he managed to portray that inner turmoil.”
This scene allegedly “provided much more context and added deeper meaning to both his battle with Rey and the final redemption arc at the end.”
The scene where Kylo Ren dies towards the end of the film was also apparently “at least 4 minutes longer with more dialogue.” He does detail that Ben “was always supposed to die.”
However, the Reylo kiss was not Abrams idea, but was “Disney’s attempt to please both sides of the fandom.”
He also details that Abrams attempted to include the FinnPoe ship in the film, but Disney executives overruled him.
Oscar Isaac has openly spoken about his desire to see that ship come to fruition.
In an interview with Variety, Isaac stated:
“Personally, I kind of hoped and wished that maybe that would’ve been taken further in the other films, but I don’t have control. It seemed like a natural progression, but sadly enough it’s a time when people are too afraid, I think, of… I don’t know what.”
He added, “But if they would’ve been boyfriends, that would have been fun.”
After all these changes were made to the film Abrams was reportedly “gutted over the final result.”
EgoShoppe writes:
“A source said that this is the one franchise and the one piece of his work that he didn’t want to mess up and instead it turned into his worst nightmare.”
He goes on to detail that when he found out that Disney blindsided him Abrams said, “What the F***??”
Abrams expressed his displeasure when he responded to critics after the film released. When asked if there was a problem with the fandom, Abrams responded saying, “No, I would say that they are right. The people who love it more than anything are also right.
J.J. responds to fans critism of the film #TheRiseOfSkywalker pic.twitter.com/RYeHvF8vry
— kaila ren (@ar1aster) December 21, 2019
The source indicates Abrams was not joking in this interview, but being brutally honest.
EgoShoppe also reveals that despite Abrams public words about Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi film, he was really not happy with where he took the story.
He also notes that there is a J.J. Abrams cut of the film that exists. However, “we mots likely will never see it unless ‘someone accidentally leaks.'”
EgoShoppe concludes by writing:
“Many people, JJ included, came to the realization during this production that the story really is told by shareholders/investors instead of the creatives or anyone at Disney specifically.”
You can see the full Reddit post below.
What do you make of this rumor? Do you think this alleged version of J.J. Abrams’ cut would have fared better? What do you make of the idea that Disney allegedly sabotaged Abrams in order to drive his stock down?