Another The Force Awakens Main Character Was Supposed To Die
By Elaine Tveit
According to one of the new cast members, another main character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens was supposed to die.
In the initial stages of the script, another important character in the new movie was supposed to die. In an interview from GQ, quoted below, Oscar Isaac recalls an exchange he had with J.J. Abrams in Paris about his character, Poe Dameron, before he agreed to take the part.
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"“He’s amazing!” said Abrams.“Sounds good!” thought Isaac, whose first experience in a movie theater had been seeing The Empire Strikes Back.“He opens the whole movie!” said Abrams.“Sounds great!” thought Isaac.“And then,” Abrams went on. “He dies.”“Oh,” thought Isaac."
Oscar is familiar with playing the set-up role; GQ says he did it in Bourne Legacy. He went home to New York and thought about the offer, and finally wrote to J.J. Abrams agreeing to play Poe, even knowing he’s only have a few minutes of screentime. But then J.J. replied and said,
"“Never mind. I’ve figured it out. You’re in the whole movie now.”“I was like, ‘Holy shit! Alright, cool,’ ” Isaac says."
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As to why Abrams changed Poe’s overall role in the movie, he only said, “Let’s say that it was in that conversation [in Paris] that we began to see a way that being in the movie would be worth his time and the audience’s.”
It seems Oscar’s charm works on everybody, including directors. And it’s a good thing, because Poe Dameron has quickly become a beloved character. His wit and humor put him up there with Han Solo and Obi Wan Kenobi as an endearing, wisecracking personality.
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Now, let’s just hope he doesn’t get killed off in Episode VIII.