Star Wars was always a boys thing and a movie that dads took their sons

December 7, 2015 7:07 PM

So says JJ Abrams in an interview with Good Morning America. Reactions have been swift (for example: 'No JJ Abrams - Star Wars was never "a boy's thing"). And Twitter certainly perked up. And in the recently concluded #TwitterAwakens Q&A, he finally clarified, that he was stupid and exhausted. Star Wars have certainly been very committed in bringing girls and women in official representation, with Lucasfilms president Kathleen Kennedy insisting that the new Star Wars female character 'extremely significant'. And what's this, Captain Phasma was gender-swapped because of fan pressure?. But some merchandising partners probably did not get that memo.
posted by cendawanita (3 comments total)

I didn't think I could burn out even more on that franchise than I had during the prequels but here we are.
posted by sandettie light vessel automatic at 7:10 PM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]

Seems like jumping on a guy for saying the right thing in the wrong way, no?
posted by anazgnos at 7:19 PM on December 7, 2015 [2 favorites]

Since I'm in the middle of Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed, and I know how relentless press junkets can be for huge movies like this, and JJ has already clarified his statement... I vote that this not be a thing. JJ seems like a good guy who's fought the good fight with many strong female characters, including kick-ass Sydney Bristol.
posted by bluecore at 7:28 PM on December 7, 2015 [1 favorite]