10 Times Hollywood Pissed Off Fanboys (And Then Proved Them Wrong)
3. When J.J. Abrams Was Announced As The Force Awakens Director
When news broke that J.J. Abrams would be directing Episode VII, there was an online meltdown similar to that which occurred when Disney bought out George Lucas. Not only were fanboys opposed to him on the grounds that he was involved with the recent Star Trek reboot, but most feared the approach the LOST creator would take to a Star Wars film.
His heavy use of lens flair was often cited as a concern, and many wondered whether he would take a CGI-heavy approach to the first film in the new trilogy. In the end, the director relied on his own flair as a filmmaker and the use of as many practical effects as possible. Abrams went out of his way to invoke the feel of the original trilogy, mimicking the way sets and creatures were handled back then and trying to shoot in-camera as much as the story would allow.
After the disaster that was the prequels, Abrams' task was certainly an unenviable one. For his tenure to get off to a good start, he needed to simultaneously pay homage to the original trilogy while setting up a brand new one, and he managed the balancing act perfectly. Perhaps the biggest reason fanboys have to be grateful to him, however, is his refusal to listen to George Lucas.
While the idea of a new director ignoring the wishes of the franchise creator might have riled the prequel-apologists, Star Wars fans able to remove their Lucas-tinted glasses for a moment saw that this was indeed a good thing. Lucas wanted Episode VII to be based on a group of teenagers, though Abrams and Disney feared that would lead to another Phantom Menace and respectfully declined, much to the benefit of the film and continuing series.