Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Yoda’s Planned Cameo Was Cut.

Yoda-Meditating1Entertainment Tonight recently interviewed Maryann Brandon and Mary Jo Markey, the editors of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. The interview confirmed that Frank Oz reprised his role as Yoda for a cameo, but was ultimately cut from the film.

 

“There was one point where we were actually thinking of having Yoda in the film, and then we decided not to,” Brandon told ET at the 66th annual ACE Eddie Awards. “Frank Oz came in for a day and did a whole bunch of Yoda and he was over the moon to do it — and we were tickled pink!”

Note that this is strongly implied to be an actual, physical cameo as opposed to an auditory one (like Ewan McGregor’s delivery of “These are your first steps…”), and Frank Oz recorded new lines, so that would most likely mean that we would have seen Yoda as a Force Spirit somewhere.

 

Back when the movie was wrapping up production, one of our own informants told us that there was apparently a scene of Yoda talking with Luke about serious matters – and another source claimed that there would be new dialogue for Yoda in the film. If this was indeed the scene that was cut, it suggests that the “Force Back” sequence was going to be a lot longer. I would personally imagine that the scene in question would take place after a scene showing Ben’s betrayal, leading Luke to ask an old friend for advice on his next course of action (and setting him on the quest to find the First Jedi Temple).

 

Hopefully, whatever scene that Yoda had in the film will be included on the upcoming Blu-Ray release. Stay on target with Star Wars News Net – your Force for news about the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

 

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Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

Grant Davis (Pomojema)

Grant has been a fan of Star Wars for as long as he can remember, having seen every movie on the big screen. When he’s not hard at work with his college studies, he keeps himself busy by reporting on all kinds of Star Wars news for SWNN and general movie news on the sister site, Movie News Net. He served as a frequent commentator on SWNN’s The Resistance Broadcast.

100 thoughts on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Yoda’s Planned Cameo Was Cut.

  • February 2, 2016 at 6:39 pm
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    I’m pretty sure Yoda’s voice is still in the flashback sequence, saying “energy”.
    Also, I hope we don’t get a Yoda deleted scene on the TFA blu-ray. I have a feeling Yoda will appear in episode 8. A tossed off deleted scene of this most beloved magical character would make his appearance in future movies less special.

    • February 2, 2016 at 7:23 pm
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      It’s his Force speech copied from Empire. I would just be over the moon though if he shows up as a Force ghost in puppet form.

    • February 3, 2016 at 2:49 am
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      he says “its energy…surrounds us….and binds us” – straight out of Empire, as Ben Smith said.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:05 pm
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    I thought it had already been confirmed a long time ago that the flashback was indeed much, much longer as filmed, but that JJ said he cut it back. Regardless, one does not simply cut…Frank…Oz.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:20 pm
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    That’s probably a good thing. I’m really hoping to see new ideas and newly fleshed out characters.
    They only need to rely on the Star Wars Universe, not the old characters themselves.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:27 pm
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    Why?!Why would they cut this? It would be so cool to see yoda talking to now master Jedi luke who we barely get to see in the movie. This would have been a perfect scene. The way snoke spoke to ren about feeling the force awaken should have also been done here. Wow I hope it’s in the deleted scenes 🙁

    • February 2, 2016 at 11:02 pm
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      They’re probably trying to hold onto a few nostalgia cards for the next film. Smart move, as the film paid off without it and it meant not blowing their whole load in one movie

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:33 pm
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    I like your assessment, it would have been much more reassuring if Yoda had told Luke to go and seek the First Jedi Temple than for us to find him at the films end a haunted old man seemingly in hiding.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:36 pm
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    That would of been so cool. I like the character of Maz, but felt she wasn’t really needed. It could of easily been Lando’s new digs and Yoda’s force ghost appear once Rey is drawn to the lightsaber. Maybe we’ve more of Maz to come…

    • February 3, 2016 at 2:48 am
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      I don’t know what plans they have for Maz going forward, but I agree that it would have made more sense for Lando to have the lightsaber, and Han get it from him. I wonder if they cut Yoda because people would have drawn comparisons to Maz?

      • February 3, 2016 at 6:43 pm
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        Maybe, though unless Maz is expanded upon in the films I’m going to kind of feel JJ put the character in there to be his Yoda and made her older to top him in some strange contest.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:43 pm
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    All in all, I think TFA had enough in it already. I am not disappointed we did not see Yoda in TFA. I do really hope to see him in Episode 8, though. I think that would be a more appropriate time for him to appear, once Rey is further along in her training and we know more about Luke. And I agree with Ben Smith below, I hope Yoda is a PUPPET in Episode 8.

    • February 2, 2016 at 8:36 pm
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      Let’s respond to the charge that TFA was too derivative by putting Yoda into the second film of the new trilogy. Ehhh…on second thought….

      • February 2, 2016 at 9:56 pm
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        Thats why I think it was a lost oppertunity to put yoda in this film. To me the lack of force ghosts is still a major plot hole that needs at least a little explaining. Can they show up anytime or just to people who knew them? Why didn’t anakin’s ghost slap kylo for making the same mistakes he did? Why didn’t Yoda guide Rey? I don’t need yoda to show up necessarily, but I would like to know the ‘rules’ to this whole immortal spirit thing.

        • February 2, 2016 at 10:19 pm
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          We’ll probably find out in a book or Rebels or something. I don’t think anyone watching the films really cares all that much.

          • February 3, 2016 at 12:21 am
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            Not necessarily. I don’t read SW books, comics or watch the TV shows, but I do care about this sort of thing.

          • February 3, 2016 at 1:39 am
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            Good for you. Maybe we’ll get an answer.

        • February 3, 2016 at 2:47 am
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          In Season 6 of The Clone Wars, there is an arc where Qui-Gon teaches Yoda how to become a Force Ghost after death. Qui-Gon says that he didn’t completely master it, which is why his body can’t be seen as a Force Ghost. Then, at the end of ROTS, Yoda gives Obi-Wan “Force Ghost” training to “practice” while watching over Luke. This is probably why there are no Force Ghosts in the prequel trilogy – none of the current jedi knew how/were skilled enough.

          As to whether they could only show up to people who knew them, only Luke sees the Force Ghosts at the end of ROTJ, Leia doesn’t (despite being Force Sensitive). Not sure if Leia ever met Obi-Wan or Yoda (except at birth).

          I think you’ve raised the biggest question though – why on earth wouldn’t Anakin’s ghost appear and slap Kylo for being stupid? I suspect we will find out that Kylo has communicated with “Vader” but it is actually Snoke, lying to him.

        • February 3, 2016 at 7:21 pm
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          Well, according to LFL, the rules are pretty simple, and read as follows:
          .
          .
          .
          .
          .
          .ahem.
          .
          .
          cough cough.
          .
          .
          ready?
          .
          .
          SHUT UP AND STOP ASKING QUESTIONS, THAT’S WHY!!!!!
          .
          .
          As you can see, they’ve planned the whole thing out very carefully, in detail, from as far back as the early ’75 draft.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:43 pm
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    I would have loved to see this, fingers crossed it is indeed on the blu-ray but I doubt it will be.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:44 pm
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    “Luke, forget your training you have…let Dark side whiny boy destroy your academy did you,,,

    • February 2, 2016 at 10:05 pm
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      kinda like what yoda did in the PT. this series truly does rhyme…

      • February 2, 2016 at 11:12 pm
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        Yoda went down like a boss. Doesn’t seem that Luke did much of anything. Although he might have been away at the time, which is the only way I can see KR & TKoR pulling it off.

        • February 3, 2016 at 2:04 am
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          lol. a boss that couldn’t see that palps was sith or stop a clearly troubled anakin from going to the dark side and killing the kids. then to top it off he bravely ran away.

          • February 4, 2016 at 7:24 pm
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            Yep. I’ve come to interpret that Yoda figured that the real battle wasn’t going to be won as a contest and had to wait for something like an X-Wing to crash in a swamp. But….yeah that was a weak point in ROTS.

  • February 2, 2016 at 7:56 pm
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    Why cut this?! The lack of force ghosts was a huge missing piece for me. Hopefully it will happen for the next film

  • February 2, 2016 at 8:05 pm
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    Yet another example of something that would have improved this movie so much that was cut by JJ. Reading the “Art of the Force Awakens” book has really opened my eyes to how much better the movie could have been. There were so many cool concepts that were never even seriously considered. There was just too much push to copy the OT story lines and look.

    • February 2, 2016 at 8:53 pm
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      please explain how adding yoda would have vastly improved the film.

      • February 2, 2016 at 9:32 pm
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        Anything of substance would have helped- in this case it would have directly related to the force- the force was extremely vague in TFA and when it wasn’t vague it was turned into a joke.

        • February 2, 2016 at 9:34 pm
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          Yeah. Who wants a vague, mysterious aura in regards to the Force? I much prefer the scientific midichlorian approach that we got in the Episode 1. *rolls eyes* *sad face* *fart sound*

          • February 2, 2016 at 10:03 pm
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            exactly. the force is fantasy not sci-fi.

          • February 2, 2016 at 10:34 pm
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            star wars is fantasy not sci-fi- look TFA was just question mark after question mark consisting of questions that really aren’t hugely interesting- its done on purpose to keep the possible audience as wide as possible- that is why rebels/ clone wars takes more chances-

            that being said- there needed to be some answers at least a couple of those questions within TFA- I would have taken how the lightsaber ended up at Maz’s borefest cantina and been a bit happier.

          • February 3, 2016 at 2:41 am
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            Heh heh.

          • February 3, 2016 at 2:39 am
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            “star wars is fantasy not sci-fi”

            Everyone knows this.

            “TFA was just question mark after question mark consisting of questions that really aren’t hugely interesting”

            That’s a highly subjective judgment. Contrary to your position, there has been a vibrant, nearly non-stop discussion going on regarding the questions that TFA presents. And a slew of folks think those questions are pretty interesting. Who is Rey? What exactly happened to Ben? Is Snoke Plagueis? If these aren’t interesting questions, I’d like to know what you would consider interesting? It sounds like you’re just being obtuse.

            “there needed to be some answers at least a couple of those questions within TFA”

            Not really. It’s the first movie in a series. If you look back at ANH, there are a great many unanswered questions. Drum up an ounce of patience and wait until the next installment. I don’t understand the need to know everything when watching a movie. One of the things that I think TFA did right is take the approach that things have been moving forward since the end of ROTJ and we’re just now permitted another glimpse into their universe. Things have not been stagnant while we’ve been away and I think the bit of disorientation makes for a more interesting experience. How dull would this whole endeavor have been if we left the theatre with nothing to talk and debate about?

          • February 3, 2016 at 10:31 am
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            Not stagnant, they just did a 360 and happened again.

          • February 4, 2016 at 7:22 pm
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            There is literally nothingYoda could add that Luke can’t add. We want Luke to be the authority on the Force, why keep backtracking? It’s what limited the EU as well, we always had to backtrack to what Luke was doing when Jacen Solos story was more interesting regarding discovery and interpretation of the Force.

            In bringing Yoda back, you’re hampering Luke as a master, the master.

          • February 4, 2016 at 8:56 pm
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            Really? Rebels takes more chances? You maybe want to back that steaming load of ‘nope’ up a bit?

          • February 5, 2016 at 7:27 pm
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            ummm, you are kidding right? In last night’s episdoe they just went through some wormhole because of a magical staff…. It sucked but it was a chance.. a chance like none of the movies ever took.

          • February 2, 2016 at 10:35 pm
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            awesome~ now I know the level of intellect we have on this board- most appreciated-

          • February 3, 2016 at 1:58 am
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            I remember chlorians from the pre midi days, we only had CV & gate chlorians back then

        • February 2, 2016 at 10:04 pm
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          go back and watch empire, then rethink that statement.

        • February 4, 2016 at 8:55 pm
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          “Hokey religions and ancient weapons…” “A Jedi Knight?! I’m out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of grandeur!”
          .
          Yes, it was handled lightly by Han Solo and the new Solo proxy. Just like Han Solo handled it in both SW and RotJ.

  • February 2, 2016 at 8:47 pm
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    All I want is a return of a new practical Yoda, appearance close to the OT but with the latest and greatest technology in animatronics, skin textures, and maybe some slight CG enhancement just to remove any unrealistic “practical wobble”.

    • February 2, 2016 at 9:30 pm
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      JJ would have CG’d him- Johnson would prob practical him- we should be thankful as they wouldn’t have went practical if they started digitally.

      • February 2, 2016 at 10:09 pm
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        you work for lucasfilm now or are you just making things up as you go?

        • February 2, 2016 at 10:16 pm
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          Probably the latter.

        • February 3, 2016 at 1:41 am
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          same as the lucasfilm story group…

          • February 3, 2016 at 2:43 am
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            Of course they are. Star Wars is fiction. What are they doing if not making things up?

    • February 3, 2016 at 1:12 am
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      Wobble? He was on the edge of death in the OT. The lack of wobble was one of the few things I did not like about the PT version.

  • February 2, 2016 at 9:07 pm
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    The Force Awakens was pretty jam packed with nostalgia. I really liked it, but I’m glad they showed a little restraint. I’m also glad that they do have some Yoda dialog recorded. Maybe it will show up during Rey’s training, or in a Luke subplot.

  • February 2, 2016 at 10:24 pm
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    So if it was cut from the film, does that mean that they’ve pulled it from the story? Or if it was already a part of the script does that make it cannon even though it wasn’t shown in the film? I’m guessing its cannon like the scenes in the novelization that weren’t in the film. Just gave myself an answer and now I can start speculating haha.

  • February 2, 2016 at 11:29 pm
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    Well if it’s as bad as in Rebels than I’m glad it got cut.

  • February 2, 2016 at 11:49 pm
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    THey really F*CKED UP the ForceBack scene — cutting out LUKE vs VADER and cutting out Yoda is absolutely TERRIBLE.

  • February 3, 2016 at 1:10 am
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    It would be very strange to see him in his OT form as CG but I’m sure he’ll be in the next ones. I’d like to see them re-use the puppet if it’s a forceback during IV-VI but I’m not sure any of the original ones exist and we all saw what happened in TPM when they try to build a new one.

    • February 3, 2016 at 1:38 am
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      The difference is that the new puppet would look good this time.

      • February 3, 2016 at 3:38 am
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        Would have to see it first. Just hope they get Henson studios to do it this time again.

        • February 3, 2016 at 4:21 am
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          I totally agree.

          • February 3, 2016 at 7:18 pm
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            Why? Again, Henson didn’t have anything to do with the design of the character or the sculpt. Frank Oz consulted on the internal mechanisms and controls, but the look of Yoda is almost entirely Stuart Freeborn’s baby.

          • February 3, 2016 at 7:51 pm
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            Just because Henson is talented. It doesn’t really matter who does it as long as it’s good.

          • February 3, 2016 at 8:39 pm
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            Fair enough, and I agree – if we must have Yoda (and I’m in the camp that thinks we don’t – he runs the risk of overshadowing the new cast and story I think) then get a decent sculptor, and I know of several I can think of offhand who could have executed a better Yoda than the one Pollard produced. Just confused about the “BRIAN HENSON HAS TO SCUPLT YODA!!!!!!” sentiment from a number of people. Might be very difficult to convince Oz to handle him again though – he’s said he is SO much happier now just reading lines than having to hide under the floor with a 50lb puppet over his head 🙂

          • February 4, 2016 at 6:58 am
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            They are the best in the business but I’ll probably be happy long as whoever did the TPM is not involved. Oz also breathed life into the character in the way that Kershner did with Empire even if they are not credited with creating it per se.

          • February 4, 2016 at 8:59 pm
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            The best realistic creature sculptors in the business? Explain the logic underlying that conclusion, pray? And we aren’t talking about Kershner’s vision for the character or the phenomenal work that Oz did. We’re strictly talking about SCULPTING him at this point. Freeborn was not a mupetteer, had no real experience with puppets even. Just get a strong sculpter who cares what the character looks like.

          • February 5, 2016 at 10:00 am
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            Not realistic per se. SW is not about realism and never has been, It’s a fantasy above all else. Why the Jedi creature have looked the best of any of the aliens since versus the CG crap of the PT and Scy-Fy TV movie rejects we saw in TFA.

          • February 4, 2016 at 6:56 am
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            They own The Muppets so it shouldn’t be too hard.

    • February 3, 2016 at 2:29 am
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      I think some original puppets exist but they’re not in great condition. The latex and other materials used just didn’t wear well over the last few decades. I got a close look at the Yoda puppet used in Luke’s backpack during the Dagobah training scenes when I toured a private collection in Washington, and while it was great to see up close, it was in sad shape.

      If Yoda appears in the new movies and if he’s a puppet, they’re going to have to start from scratch.

      • February 3, 2016 at 3:39 am
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        If Brian Henson gets his best people on the job then maybe it will look okay, I just hope they don’t farm it out to some unknown company to save money but it seems like they would go with him considering they own the Muppets.

        • February 3, 2016 at 7:16 pm
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          Why would Henson sculpt it? They didn’t sculpt the original.

    • February 3, 2016 at 7:15 pm
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      It’s not impossible though, TPM was just plain lousy sculpting. There is a phenomenal artist on the RPF who has absolutely NAILED a fully articulated ESB Yoda puppet. It just takes care, time, and attention to detail rather than what you think you remember the character looking like.

      • February 4, 2016 at 7:06 am
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        Considering there was no real rason for Maz to be CG and that they already have a digital model of the character, I think they’d be too tempted to just lazily age the one from III. I’m really hoping Johnson hasn’t gone Hollywood for the paycheck and actually sticks to the mantra of this being a practical effects film.

  • February 3, 2016 at 1:55 am
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    So is all this going to be included in a special edition on blu-ray? I thought you didn’t like George Lucas’s changes made to the OT. Why do you want changes for TFA?

    • February 3, 2016 at 1:57 am
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      deleted scenes don’t = special editions. and JJ already said no directors cuts will be forthcoming.

      • February 3, 2016 at 2:11 am
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        Darn it. The special editions always improve effects and continuity. They enhance the minor details that star wars fans pay attention to, like exactly who shot first or where Han steps. They help things make sense, for instance, when Ian McDarmin replaces that girl in episode V, or when Hayden Christensen replaces the creepy old man is episode VI.
        I personally felt that episode VII didn’t connect as well as the previous movies connected to each other. I would be glad to have Yoda or Luke show up more to make it feel like the same series in a George Lucas Special Edition. Who’s with me?

        • February 3, 2016 at 2:14 am
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          sarcasm?

        • February 3, 2016 at 2:39 am
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          George, stop making fake accounts.

          • February 3, 2016 at 2:43 am
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            Haha!

        • February 3, 2016 at 7:12 pm
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          You were…actually confused about who shot “first”? Well, since only ONE PERSON SHOT AT ALL, I suppose you must have been. Let me help you – Han gunned down a bounty hunter who was threatening to kill him. No one ‘shot first’.

        • February 4, 2016 at 7:27 pm
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          It’s 30 years after the previous films.

  • February 3, 2016 at 2:43 am
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    Hopefully the Yoda scene is bumped into Episode 8.

  • February 3, 2016 at 3:24 am
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    Put Yoda in Episode 8! Put Yoda in Episode 8!

  • February 3, 2016 at 4:21 am
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    Dumbass Disney, this would’ve been a much better movie, with some exposition

    • February 3, 2016 at 4:22 am
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      And some Senate debates?

    • February 3, 2016 at 5:22 am
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      92% on the Tomatometer and one of the most successful earning movies of ALL TIME…er yeah…”Dumb@$$ Disney…”

      Besides…as a persnickety OT fan myself…I had an absolute blast. Sorry you didn’t seem to like it, mate.

      • February 3, 2016 at 10:23 am
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        For years the critics were trashed on by starwars fans, because they didn’t know crap. But now we measure the tomatometer as a benchmark. Good lord.

        • February 3, 2016 at 1:17 pm
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          Who trashed them? Some biased prequel fans maybe. The prequels got the exact critical recievement they deserved.

          • February 3, 2016 at 4:44 pm
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            I before e except after c.

          • February 3, 2016 at 7:23 pm
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            And on alternating Tuesdays, except when Mercury is retrograde, oh, and also whenever the hell aparently someone over the last thousand years felt like it.
            .
            I love the English language.

          • February 3, 2016 at 10:51 pm
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            I think the word you were looking for is apparently.

          • February 4, 2016 at 8:51 pm
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            I think the word you are looking for is ‘pedantic’.

          • February 4, 2016 at 9:34 pm
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            Nooo, that’d be the word you were looking for Mistwer Cwankypwants. Yay you found it – well done to you.

          • February 5, 2016 at 10:20 pm
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            I make a joke about how screwed up English is as a series of rules governing language, and you whine about a one-letter typo. What is ‘pedantic’ for a thousand, Alex?

          • February 3, 2016 at 9:30 pm
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            Critical receivement isnt appropriate? I’ve read this expression multiple times before. Please enlighten me if you are a native speaker. As for the missing e, thank you for your concern, it was a misstype, edited.

          • February 3, 2016 at 7:09 pm
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            Certified Fresh?

      • February 16, 2016 at 6:16 pm
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        It’s been proven time and again that tomatometer is a biased un-trustable system, filled with flaws, do your search, don’t be a sheep. And about money, so you think Titanic is a better movie than TFA?

  • February 3, 2016 at 10:21 am
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    Morons who cut that out should never work again.

  • February 3, 2016 at 6:41 pm
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    …are people seriously mad about this? The people that thought TFA was too similar to ANH are actually angry about the fact that they REMOVED some fanservice from the film? Wow.

  • February 3, 2016 at 8:59 pm
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    Didn’t this information come out a couple weeks ago (or more) with all the other voice cameo stuff? I could swear this exact quote was in an article when the Obi-wan thing was first verified.

  • February 4, 2016 at 12:06 am
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    I notice the use of the term “Force Spirit” here. Are we no longer using “Force Ghost”? Is that somehow not politically correct and impugns ghosts?

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