Star Wars: What was J.J. Abrams approach to Episode IX?

J.J. Abrams is taking a different approach to Star Wars: Episode IX than he did VII – one that’s all his own.

Coming into the Star Wars franchise comes with a lot of history. George Lucas created amazing films that resonated deeply for more than 40 years.

Perhaps J.J. Abrams’ first time around, he seemed to be worried so much about that legacy – and admitted as much in the Vanity Fair preview article.

But for Episode IX, Abrams is taking a different approach. His thought for what he should do for The Rise of Skywalker can be simplified in two words: “F*** it.”

He told Vanity Fair:

"“Working on nine, I found myself approaching it slightly differently,” he says. “Which is to say that, on seven, I felt beholden to Star Wars in a way that was interesting—I was doing what to the best of my ability I felt Star Wars should be.” But this time something changed. Abrams found himself making different choices—for the camera angles, the lighting, the story. “It felt slightly more renegade; it felt slightly more like, you know, F*** it, I’m going to do the thing that feels right because it does, not because it adheres to something.”"

For the last Star Wars movie in the Skywalker Saga, Abrams is sticking to what he has done well for decades. It seems he is moving from creating what he thinks something should be to what he wants it to be.

While Star Wars was created in George Lucas’s vision, it was a crazy story that worked because it was done the way he wanted.

Why this approach will make for a good movie

When I read Abrams’ quote I gave a hearty cheer – on the inside. Trying to emulate someone else’s vision is difficult. Trying to guess how someone else would do something is even crazier. Then add in that you’re trying to make something for millions of fans that can’t agree on anything.

So Abrams is throwing all of that out of the window and working on a movie the way he wants it to be told. So far, he’s touched all the right buttons and has said all the right things.

Things have worked out despite impossible challenges such as having the previous footage of Carrie Fisher, getting the blessing from her family, and bringing on fantastic new characters that have already created buzz.

I expect an amazing story with fantastic visuals to arrive for Episode IX. Everything that Abrams has said has given me a lot of confidence for The Rise of Skywalker.

It’s going to be a fantastic movie and I can’t wait.

Star Wars: Episode IX premieres on December 20.