I don't think the script went into that exact detail , no... Sure it could have been a mistake, but the actual interaction that did happen in the movie was good. Maybe he couldn't face Leia and speak to her in a langusage she couldn't understand. But yea, they might have overlooked it, idk... And if the scene description or storyboard actually did go into that, that is a different kind of writing than both character dialogue and the broader preproduction writing and planning I talk about when I think of Ilum and Starkiller Base origin place being on the exact same spot in the G7 grid on the map. Of course it could all be coincidence, but I doubt it. Of course I could be wrong, I'm not force sensitive, it could all be clumsy preproduction writing or a cheap red herring to mess with the fans... But why?

I have studied this stuff, have a super nerdy bachelor's degree in animation, I have read lots of scripts, and pre-prod plans and have illustrated some storyboards and to me the only thing that makes sense when it comes to placing them on the exact same place on the established fictional map is that it means SOMETHING

Still friends?

Still friends?

Sorry, hard to tell who you're talking to when you don't leverage the power of the quote!

But if you're asking me, of course!

Only the two of us left

I don't think the script went into that exact detail , no... Sure it could have been a mistake, but the actual interaction that did happen in the movie was good. Maybe he couldn't face Leia and speak to her in a langusage she couldn't understand. But yea, they might have overlooked it, idk... And if the scene description or storyboard actually did go into that, that is a different kind of writing than both character dialogue and the broader preproduction writing and planning I talk about when I think of Ilum and Starkiller Base origin place being on the exact same spot in the G7 grid on the map. Of course it could all be coincidence, but I doubt it. Of course I could be wrong, I'm not force sensitive, it could all be clumsy preproduction writing or a cheap red herring to mess with the fans... But why?

I have studied this stuff, have a super nerdy bachelor's degree in animation, I have read lots of scripts, and pre-prod plans and have illustrated some storyboards and to me the only thing that makes sense when it comes to placing them on the exact same place on the established fictional map is that it means SOMETHING

I think the lack of Chewie's interaction with Leia directly speaks to the writers not being in touch with the settings - if they can't correctly portray a decades-long relationship based in the most popular canonical references, I have a hard time thinking they pay any mind to other smaller details. So I'm left thinknig it's a coincidence. Could there be a relationship? Sure! D'Qar is close to Dagobah too, maybe that means something?

So you're telling me the script didn't have Chewie ignore Leia, you're suggesting JJ suggested that? Conjecture again!

Actually, I think JJ himself publicly apologized for that one. So, yeah — I’d chalk that one up to a failure in Direction.

So you're telling me the script didn't have Chewie ignore Leia, you're suggesting JJ suggested that? Conjecture again!

Actually, I think JJ himself publicly apologized for that one. So, yeah — I’d chalk that one up to a failure in Direction.

Still, wouldn't a script writer put something like * Chewbacca embraces Leia in there? What a detail for so many people to miss. So many.... Hey, maybe that means something!

I don't think the script went into that exact detail , no... Sure it could have been a mistake, but the actual interaction that did happen in the movie was good.

From what I recall of the interview with JJ, his thinking was that Chewie was totally focussed on Finn and getting him to medical care, as opposed to thinking about the loss of his friend.

Since Rey didn’t have anything specific to do in that scene, that left her with only one thing left to think about, and Leia immediately sensed it. Rey might not be her daughter, but she can sense and share that kind of pain for Han.

Chewie certainly expressed himself very vividly when Kylo killed Han, and if you’ll remember back to ESB, Chewie was quite despondent when Luke and Han were left outside. So, Chewie certainly has the depth of emotion, but maybe he needs to think about something else right now.

EDIT: I know how I have felt when I’m at home for a funeral of a family member — various grandparents, my mom, etc…. Sometimes I just need to be doing something else as opposed to thinking about my loss. And during those times, I might not see the pain or emotion that others are experiencing around that same issue. I can imagine what that might be like for Chewie.

I have studied this stuff, have a super nerdy bachelor's degree in animation, I have read lots of scripts, and pre-prod plans and have illustrated some storyboards and to me the only thing that makes sense when it comes to placing them on the exact same place on the established fictional map is that it means SOMETHING

There are lots of loose threads that are always left hanging. Sometimes for good reason, sometimes not. I don’t think we’ll find out in this case until further down the road, perhaps much further down the road.

Until then, everything about this issue is conjecture, unless you can come up with hard evidence — like the post on starwars.com.

So you're telling me the script didn't have Chewie ignore Leia, you're suggesting JJ suggested that? Conjecture again!

Actually, I think JJ himself publicly apologized for that one. So, yeah — I’d chalk that one up to a failure in Direction.

Still, wouldn't a script writer put something like * Chewbacca embraces Leia in there? What a detail for so many people to miss. So many.... Hey, maybe that means something!

EVERYTHING can`t be in the script. Maybe it was in a script for all we know, but some things not essential to the story being told has to be cut. Of course it COULD be in there, but the story also works without that scene.

We get Leia and Rey hugging and exchanging meaninful looks and we get Chewie sitting and growling alone in a corner. We see a reaction from these characters, the rest can be off-screen.We don`t need more.

Yes, we could have more, but it`s not necessary.

Chewie being seen on the side of the screen for two seconds in a scene where he has no role, walking past Leia, was definately a direction "blunder" if you can even call it that.

I am sure it had nothing to do with writing or storyboarding at all, it wasn`t even in there, that is not how it works.

I am sure it had nothing to do with writing or storyboarding at all, it wasn`t even in there, that is not how it works.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion, but having done the musical score for a film or two and having spent a fair bit of time studying story structure myself, I hold a different opinion. When I factor in the twin razors of Occam and Hanlon, I'm left feeling like someone messed up.

EDIT: I know how I have felt when I’m at home for a funeral of a family member — various grandparents, my mom, etc…. Sometimes I just need to be doing something else as opposed to thinking about my loss. And during those times, I might not see the pain or emotion that others are experiencing around that same issue. I can imagine what that might be like for Chewie.

I'm with you here, but I have to just yell, "come on!" I just don't buy Chewie, who hugged Leia when Han was being frozen in carbonite, to completely ignore her after all the time that has passed. If Bloodlines is canon, then there's actually good reason Leia and Chewie would be more close. But it is what it is ... a screwup by people that don't understand the franchise.

If I'd be carrying my wounded comrade to medical help, I would ignore my best friends mourning widow until wounded friend would be at better hands. I think that one error was Chewbacca walking kind of towards Leia at edge of the frame after Finn was lifted to transport. At that point Finn was already out of his hands in better care, and Chewie should have focused on Leia. I think that was directors blunder. After Chewie helps unconscious Finn to transport he has no actual role in rest of the scene. So maybe he wasn't actually in script and JJ just decided it would be logical to put him in scene to walk away from camera. But, because Leia was so prominent in that scene, it felt incorrect. Would we be discussing about this if Chewie would have disappeared from scene after he lifted Finn to transport, or we would see him in transport with Finn in background? I have not studied writing or anything movie related. Those are my opinions, and if you don't like them... well, I have others.

EDIT: I know how I have felt when I’m at home for a funeral of a family member — various grandparents, my mom, etc…. Sometimes I just need to be doing something else as opposed to thinking about my loss. And during those times, I might not see the pain or emotion that others are experiencing around that same issue. I can imagine what that might be like for Chewie.

I'm with you here, but I have to just yell, "come on!" I just don't buy Chewie, who hugged Leia when Han was being frozen in carbonite, to completely ignore her after all the time that has passed. If Bloodlines is canon, then there's actually good reason Leia and Chewie would be more close. But it is what it is ... a screwup by people that don't understand the franchise.

I agree it was a screwup and JJ did own up to the screwup. But there are plenty of ways to explain it. Keep in mind he recently shot the the son of his best friend. Breaching Wookie honor (I'm assuming the life debt is considered canon and he had extended it to cover Leia and Ben over the years) and having to face Leia immediately afterwards before he has sorted his emotions out could have been too much for him to handle at the moment. I mean, he is an alien after all. Why does he have to do the human thing and hug somebody just because someone died. Maybe Wookies don't do that sort of thing. If anything, Han's death probably has a more profound effect on Chewie than it ever would on Leia, maybe she should have hugged him instead!

You guys have it all wrong.

Chewie's all like, "My life debt is over now, this Wookiee's gotta bounce!"

Then flew off in a starship with a hot young Jedi wannabe.

He's got no time for Leia!

(ETA: Do I remember right, he flew off with Rey when she went to see Luke? I can't check myself until I get home.)

There's also a(nother) parallel to ANH, if you look at it.

ANH - Luke, discovering his connection to the Force, watches his newfound mentor killed by someone the mentor has close ties to, and is comforted by Leia.

TFA - Rey, discovering her connection to the Force, watches her newfound mentor killed by someone the mentor has close ties to, and is comforted by Leia.

Good point! haha.. No I don't, but they can't be that clumsy!

Like when Chewie walked right past the widow of his best friend and partner when he returned from watching him die? I say they not only can be that clumsy, I think they're lazy hacks to boot.

That part always looked to me like a small shot was left on the cutting room floor, or perhaps the takes they got just seemed odd and then the little yet obvious detail was overlooked. What i don't get is why no one ever saw an early edit and said to JJ "you know you really should get those actors together and do a reshoot of that scene, with a Chewie and Leia moment"

But as mentions JJ apologised, saying it should have been there and he was to blame for missing it, in 15 years time there will be a special edition that will have it added in with CG.

There's also a(nother) parallel to ANH, if you look at it.

ANH - Luke, discovering his connection to the Force, watches his newfound mentor killed by someone the mentor has close ties to, and is comforted by Leia.

TFA - Rey, discovering her connection to the Force, watches her newfound mentor killed by someone the mentor has close ties to, and is comforted by Leia.

(ETA: Do I remember right, he flew off with Rey when she went to see Luke? I can't check myself until I get home.)

Yes you do.

Chewie's back to the camera for a second or two in a scene where he didn't have role, had absolutely nothing to do with writing. Either it followed or lead to a scene that was cut, was a direction or editing error if an error at all. It's a weird detail to get hung up on and it feels like grasping for straws of reasons to hate the movie. him walking past Leia is a weird thing to focus so much on and can easily be explained with even a fraction of imagination and suspension of disbelief. He was carrying an injured friend.. He couldn't face her.. He was walking off to be alone (as we see in the next scene when he sits in a corner and growls/cries)... It could feel like overkill or just unnecessary to focus on two scenes of both him and Leia reacting, one for each was enough to move on with the story. Could they have more? Sure, I guess so. Maybe they had, but cut it because it was too much.

There's also a(nother) parallel to ANH, if you look at it.

ANH - Luke, discovering his connection to the Force, watches his newfound mentor killed by someone the mentor has close ties to, and is comforted by Leia.

TFA - Rey, discovering her connection to the Force, watches her newfound mentor killed by someone the mentor has close ties to, and is comforted by Leia.

In each case killed by the main villain, a Sith, via lightsaber. And one is the other's grandson.

In episodes I, IV, and VII, the plot is:

Young person with mysterious parent(s) resides on a desert planet wanting for more. Is discovered by an older mentor who will show them the broader galaxy and attempt to teach, or mentor them, but dies soon afterward due to lightsaber. The hero character makes other new friends, which is helpful to destroy the space station that poses a terrible danger to everyone involved thus far.

The only major changes were that the mentor wasn't going to instruct Rey in the Force, and that Rey didn't blow up the space station.

Parallels are important, and the simplicity of the stories drives home the fairy tale aspect of the space fantasy.

In fact, the strong parallels among the first movies of their respective trilogies is why I favor Phantom Menace over Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

Chewie hugged Leia in ANH too, just sayin'. Didn't Chewie hug Yoda in RotS? That wookiee is a lover.

I know, we've beat that horse and it's time to hitch the wagon to a new one. The cyclical nature of the stories is indeed fascinating and I don't think that's as much a coincidence as Starkiller Base's proximity to Ilum.

Chewie hugged Leia in ANH too, just sayin'. Didn't Chewie hug Yoda in RotS? That wookiee is a lover.

I know, we've beat that horse and it's time to hitch the wagon to a new one. The cyclical nature of the stories is indeed fascinating and I don't think that's as much a coincidence as Starkiller Base's proximity to Ilum.

I am pretty sure that ring theory, tribute/homage and "history repeats itself" isn't coincidence either.

The first film has the famous line from Vader, "The circle is now complete." The movies explicitly reference the cyclical nature of their themes.

This is probably because George Lucas was inspired by Joseph Campbell who wrote about the hero's journey in a book called The Hero with a Thousand Faces which shows that the template for many hero stories throughout history is a circular one. In fact, Joseph Campbell was interviewed in the documentary The Power of Myth at Skywalker Ranch. Lucas himself said that he wrote the first draft of Star Wars, then read Campbell's book, and realized that many of the themes in the book were in his film. Campbell was a huge influence on the Star Wars films from that point on.

Most great epics follow the Heroe's Journy I think, especially in Hollywood with the Hollywood Model, a version of the three act structure of storytelling.

How much of the stories Lucas really wrote and directed before the PT I'm not sure of, as ANH had a whole team behind direction and writing and both ESB and RotJ had other directors, even if Lucas had a lot of influence on the last one after hating having so little influence on Empire and a director who didn't listen to him. Still, Lucas is one of the greatest ideas man of our time and a phenomenal worldbuilder!.. Even if I'm not a fan of his direction And storytelling when he isn't backed and helped by a talented and critical team, like ANH and Clone Wars.

Or is it? ...

It's not.

Per starwars.com , Starkiller Base originated near Ilum. It did not replace Ilum.

From Hosnian Prime, continue north on the Corellian Trade Spine to Corellia, where you then take the Corellian Run to Coruscant and head northwest into the Mid Rim and Ansion. Cut across Wild Space and into the Unknown Regions, and eventually you will find Starkiller Base, which was situated not far from the legendary world of Ilum. Barren and isolated, this ice planet was protected by perhaps the greatest planetary shield ever created. The original identity of the planet was unknown, although it must be said that the Unknown Regions are named so for a reason. Explorers rarely ventured out this far, with the majority of occupied world being to the east of Coruscant.

Something important to keep in mind when reviewing maps from the Star Wars Atlas is scale . The galaxy is 3.3 x 10 ⁶¹ m ₃ in size. Just because a system is near or overlapping another system in the Atlas, that doesn't mean there aren't tens to dozens of light years of space between the two. Lords of Nal Hutta makes Hutt Space seem like it's 12 systems when it's actually thousands. The Atlas shows more systems and trade routes than LoNH but even that isn't complete. The scale is too massive.

I'm curious where that map in the article came from - it's not in either referenced work (Essential Atlas or TFA Visual Dictionary).

It's almost like they combined the two.

The description of Star Killer base says it was built out of an ice world because of it's natural crystals that made the base possible. If it was built out of Ilum seems like they would have mentioned it.