10 Things That Almost Changed 2015's Biggest Movies
9. J.J. Abrams Originally Turned Down Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It is now on its way to becoming the highest-grossing movie of all-time, and has been met with an overwhelming amount of praise (considering the hype). It's hard to think of anyone else pulling off Episode VII in the way that J.J. Abrams did.
And, indeed, it was Steven Spielberg who told producer Kathleen Kennedy to hire him. A major compliment coming from one of the world's most respected filmmakers, that's true... but it didn't stop Abrams from turning down the initial offer. Really. When he was first asked to continue the saga, J.J. Abrams said no. In his own words:
"The reality is, I didnt want to be the guy who does sequels. When Kathy called, I did something I dont normally do, which is look at my career. I really did feel like, That sounds like the wrong idea. 'Ill be nearly 50 when this movie comes out. Is that what I want to spend those years working on?'"
Abrams eventually came around to the idea, presumably as a result of being a huge Star Wars fan and in glimpsing the potential for his future career prospects. Had he said no, though, we might have ended up with someone from the whole host of other directors who were also approached, from Brad Bird to David Fincher.