J.J. Abrams: Episode VIII Script is So Good, I Wish I Were Making it!

Greg and JJJ.J. Abrams’ best buddy Greg Grunberg, who plays X-Wing pilot Snap Wexley in Star Wars: The Force Awakens revealed what are J.J.’s thoughts on Rian Johnson’s script for Episode VIII. Read on for the details…

 

From TheWashingtonPost:

 

“He [J.J. Abrams] read it [Episode VIII script] and said something he never, ever says,” Grunberg, who plays pilot Snap Wexley in the new film, tells The Post’s Comic Riffs. “He said: ‘It’s so good, I wish I were making it.’

“He may have said something one time on ‘Lost,’ with Damon [Lindelof, the co-creator],” continues Grunberg, whose credits on Abrams series include “Lost” and “Felicity,” “but I never hear him express regret like that.”

Grunberg also notes that for his own scenes during the climactic action of “The Force Awakens,” he was given a list of lines to say while sitting in his pilot’s gimbal. “It was lines like,’ ‘He’s on my left!’ and ‘I got him!’ and ‘Poe!’ I was told to also say, ‘I’ve been hit!’ but I refused to. I wasn’t going to go down.”

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This is not the first time we hear good things about Rian Johnson’s script. A few days ago Daisy Ridley also praised Johnson’s work on the story of the highly anticipated sequel to TFA. As we know Johnson watched closely the production of TFA and was in constant contact with Abrams. The movie will be pivotal as it is expected to shed some light on several aspects of the story that were left open in The Force Awakens.

 

Star Wars: Episode VIII starts filming in late January for a May 2017 release.

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

59 thoughts on “J.J. Abrams: Episode VIII Script is So Good, I Wish I Were Making it!

  • December 23, 2015 at 5:07 pm
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    Yes…. but is it original?

    • December 23, 2015 at 5:08 pm
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      … or full of lazy plot holes?

      • December 23, 2015 at 5:13 pm
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        Wouldn’t be Star Wars without some plot holes…the real question is will someone get something cut off.

        • December 23, 2015 at 5:38 pm
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          Poe loses an ear in a shaving accident. Ouch!

          • December 24, 2015 at 3:27 am
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            LOL then he receives a cybernetic ear 🙂

        • December 23, 2015 at 6:03 pm
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          I dunno, is Kylo Ren Druish?

          • December 24, 2015 at 3:30 am
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            That’s just what we need…a Druish Kylo Ren 🙂

  • December 23, 2015 at 5:10 pm
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    Ye of little faith

  • December 23, 2015 at 5:31 pm
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    haha i knew JJ would say that, good thing he will never have a chance to ruin VIII and the movie is safe in Rian’s capable hands

  • December 23, 2015 at 5:36 pm
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    While it did have some huge plot holes, I did like his Looper.

    • December 24, 2015 at 6:17 pm
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      TFA has almost no in-movie plot holes. There are plot gaps that are intentional as they will be covered in future movies and books (just like in the OT).

      • December 24, 2015 at 11:05 pm
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        I referred to Looper having plot holes, not TFA.

  • December 23, 2015 at 6:02 pm
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    From Abrams comments I can deduce that Johnson took the ESB script, changed the names and title and then handed it to Abrams….;)

    • December 23, 2015 at 6:10 pm
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      With new characters, and new ships, and new planets, and new duels, and new weaphons, and new troopers…?
      I’m in.

  • December 23, 2015 at 6:07 pm
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    Probably it will be the most criticized film ever, even before being released.

  • December 23, 2015 at 6:27 pm
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    Grunberg is like a parasite. He probably forced his way into this movie and now he’s trying to force his way into the next movie by refusing to read lines. I hope they have a layover on tatooine in the next one and drop him in the sarlacc pit

  • December 23, 2015 at 6:36 pm
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    Hype boner just got turned on to 11

  • December 23, 2015 at 6:37 pm
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    I wonder when they’re going to reveal the title!

      • December 24, 2015 at 1:03 am
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        This time I hope they do not reveal anything until release. its only 1.5 years away

        • December 24, 2015 at 6:15 pm
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          On the contrary, I hope there are tons of spoilers until release. Having been spoiled greatly helped me to appreciate TFA better.

  • December 23, 2015 at 7:18 pm
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    The wait for this movie is going to be more excruciating than it was for TFA! I’m curious to see how Kylo looks from the scars Rey gave him (and also to see Finn’s injury).

    Speaking of Rey, I wonder if she will fashion herself a double-bladed saber? She seems to be quite attached to her staff…

    • December 24, 2015 at 3:27 am
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      Maybe Finn will have some sort of cybernetic spine…you never know! But in all seriousness I’m eager to see Kylo’s wounds and his desire for revenge.

      • December 24, 2015 at 6:13 pm
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        In a galaxy where they are able to replace limbs with cybernetic implants, one would expect they could easily repair facial scars as well.

        Ben’s “clean face” worked vert well in Episode VII. I remember noticing in the theater how lots of causual viewers reacted with surprise when he first removed the helmet. Apparently, they were expecting to see some kind of disfigured monster and got Adam Driver instead. In Episode VIII, it is possible that he will be scarred indicating further progression into the dark side although I find that compleletely unnnecessary.

        • December 24, 2015 at 8:42 pm
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          Well who knows, look at Anakin Skywalker they never repaired the scar over his eye.

    • December 24, 2015 at 3:29 am
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      I would love to see either a blue or green double-bladed saber!

  • December 23, 2015 at 7:24 pm
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    Rian Johnson is a very capable director. This next one will be a great piece of work.

  • December 23, 2015 at 7:35 pm
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    They said Episode VII had a “great script” but it turned out to be rehash

  • December 23, 2015 at 7:40 pm
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    So, Rian found a way to actually include Luke, something that baffled JJ

    • December 23, 2015 at 7:52 pm
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      i understand why…i dont think luke would have been the best thing to happen to unproven new-comers…now we have people getting wet in the pants over rey so now there is no problem

    • December 23, 2015 at 9:02 pm
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      Luke appearing earlier in the film would’ve taken the power away from the new characters.

    • December 23, 2015 at 9:32 pm
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      people are already complaining we didn’t get enough poe and phasma and now you want to force in another main character?

    • December 23, 2015 at 11:04 pm
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      I know……JJ was to busy getting the son of Porkins into VII

    • December 24, 2015 at 5:32 am
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      It was the right thing not including Luke till the end.

  • December 23, 2015 at 7:49 pm
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    As much as JJ [or the fans] would like him to continue in the director’s chair, it’s really the most wise choice just to step away and focus on making the next film[s] as good as possible as a producer. That’s what George did I and it was ultimately the smart choice.

    That and JJ is probably exhausted and about to take a long due vacation. He probably won’t be directing anything for a while.

    • December 24, 2015 at 3:25 am
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      I’m glad they’re letting JJ rest…look what happened when Lucas had complete control of 3 films!

      • December 24, 2015 at 7:51 am
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        I know…….balance

        • December 24, 2015 at 8:39 pm
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          You’re saying that the prequels were “balanced” films?

  • December 23, 2015 at 8:31 pm
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    TFA was shockingly good, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. It did, however, leave me immediately desperate for more! Can’t wait for Episode VIII!!

  • December 23, 2015 at 8:58 pm
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    Would it be a rehash of Episode 5?

  • December 23, 2015 at 9:05 pm
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    Seeing that Ep. 7 was a rehash of Ep. 4, with elements of the two OT sequels thrown in, I’m hoping Johnson gives us something completely original to the saga that is clever and cunning. I only wish Johnson was directing Ep. 9, too.

    • December 23, 2015 at 11:17 pm
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      with you there. Just hope the rehash disappointment message gets to them and they do something amazing. Which TFA really could have been.

    • December 24, 2015 at 12:16 pm
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      I not agree with the first part.
      TFA is a really good movie but it,s certain Ep. 8 has numbers to be even better.
      I wish Johnson was directing Ep. 9 too. Colin doesn,t inspire so much confidence.

  • December 23, 2015 at 9:30 pm
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    but will we get a joesph gordon-levitt cameo? thats what i want to know. 😉

  • December 23, 2015 at 10:08 pm
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    My god, you whiny crybabies need to STFU about TFA being a rehash.

    • December 23, 2015 at 11:02 pm
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      But it was……even Grunberg looked liked Porkins. I was expecting him to get shot down as well, so placed a bet during the film with the wife.

      • December 24, 2015 at 12:14 am
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        No. He’s playing Temmin Wexley, the main character of the novel Star Wars: Aftermath

        • December 24, 2015 at 12:26 am
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          Still looks like Porkins…..

          • December 24, 2015 at 5:31 am
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            There’s not only one fat person or pilot in the galaxy

          • December 24, 2015 at 8:57 am
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            True – but apparently there’s a fat person that looks like Porkins attacking a Death Star looking planet in a film with many things from ANH. If you can’t see that JJ’s put a Porkins into the film that’s fine, but don’t try and convince me otherwise.

          • December 24, 2015 at 8:58 am
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            He would of looked better with different facial hair, as it stands its very Porkins…

    • December 23, 2015 at 11:16 pm
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      I agree it was a rehash in so many ways. What annoys me is they didn’t need to rehash it…….

      • December 25, 2015 at 4:02 am
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        and the phantom menace wasn’t? Attack of the Clones wasn’t a mirror image of The Empire strikes back? and Revenge of the Sith was nothing Like Return of the Jedi? The fuck they weren’t…..The prequel trilogy was a total mirrored version of the OT…with all three OT films spinkled throughout the entire PT., I could write a small book just to prove that point… If you people haven’t understood the Star Wars formula by now…then you are a bunch of tools…The people that actually understand and get it, just look at your comment’s, chuckle to ourselves , shake our head’s at the ignorance and whisper to ourselves “THAT,….. is why you fail.”. ALl the movie’s rhyme in perfect sequence, and it is totally by design. You think you are crying now?? If this is something that you are that upset about and feel the need to lash out and shed tears like a 4 year old who didn’t get their way…..then I got news for you….come Episode 8 and 9 you better have taken stock in Kleenex, because they aren’t going to break the formula, all hell is going to break loose in all out war, Rey will be training with Luke, and then speed off to save Finn from Kylo Ren because Kylo knows that if he has Finn , Rey’s love for him will let her walk right into his trap as she tries to save him. mirror of Empire,Luke will faceoff with snoke in 9 and defeat him…mirror of return of the Jedi, And Revenge of the sith…etc..etc.etc…of course those are just imaginary examples….but you get the point…That’s probably not whats going to happen…but you can bet your ass Episode 8 will rhym and mirror with Episode 2 and Episode 4…and Episode 9 will be the same way. mirroring Episode 3 and 6. You guys better go all out and get the Kleenex that has lotion in it. If not, you may end up rubbing your faces raw from wiping the constant stream of tears.

        • December 25, 2015 at 11:46 am
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          Good rant Dave. My point is no matter what movie it is, Prequels or Sequels, they don’t have to copy to original so blatantly. I mean c’mon. Person wanting to get off desert planet, droid with plans/message inside, cantina with band, old small Yoda like force specialist, death star #3 complete with trench run to hit a weak point etc etc. These are people at the top of the hollywood movie making machine. Are they so devoid of creating something new without many directly copied points ? Hell I’d be OK if they’d just dressed it up in a different way, or reduced the number of things directly copied. I love the movie don’t get me wrong, I’m just disappointed because there was no need for the copying. Bring on Rogue One.

  • December 24, 2015 at 2:42 am
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    All I know is Billy Dee better have a cameo with Joseph Gordon Levitt being his new Lobot.

  • December 24, 2015 at 3:20 am
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    yeah like the force awakens right ?? go home JJ let the new guy try please …

  • December 25, 2015 at 8:05 am
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    episode 8 title revealed!!!

  • December 26, 2015 at 11:16 pm
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    I am in confusion with who’s writing what.
    With the Force Awakens there was a lot of drama with Michael Arndt being dumped from the story writing process and JJ & Kasdan taking over. However, we find out only now that Michael Arndt decided many of the major plot points: splitting the trio, taking Han out for good, not showing Luke and so on, leaving JJ and Kashdan to focus on stuff like “what size would be the new Death Star”, “should we chop Han’s head, or just one in the chest”, “would Kylo Ren have any tatoos…” etc.
    When asked about Skywalker’s grandchildren, JJ joked (or not) about Lucas writing (quote) “all this s**t out”.
    As it stands, it looks to me that Arndt wrote the story of the whole trilogy with some strong influence from Lucas, while JJ and Kashdan fine tuned the new characters arc. A good script is essential, but if the story is not great, no script in the world will save it, no matter how exceptional the script is.
    So my question is: who wrote the new story?

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