The Trailer for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Almost Wasn't Released
Star Wars fans all over the world were thrilled when Disney released the first teaser trailer for J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Forces Awakens. It was completely awesome and, for the most part, the fans were ecstatic with what they saw in the teaser. I know I was!
I was surprised to learn that Disney almost didn't even release that trailer because Abrams likes to keep the footage from the films he works on under warps. Thankfully, Disney won that battle and released it. Disney Chairman and CEO Bob Iger did a special event with Variety in which he talked a lot about the studios plans for the Star Wars franchise. Here's an excerpt:
"Disney nearly didn’t release a trailer, Iger admitted. Abrams is known for wanting to keep footage of his films under wraps. But the rabid 'Star Wars' fanbase prompted Disney to come up with the brief introduction of what the new film would look like."
Of course, Disney had to give the fans something! Especially with all the leaked information and fan speculation running rampant online. We were all aching for it. This is one of those moments where I'm glad that Disney held the power.
Since the trailer was released, 110 million people have watched it, then there's also the 40 million who have watched all those great parodies based on it. Ya gotta admit... thats some pretty good marketing for a movie that doesn't comes out for another year. Iger went on to say:
"I keep telling J.J. Abrams this is a $4 billion movie. We need to treat this very special. It’s an unbelievable privilege and unbelievable responsibility to take a jewel and treat it in a way that is respectful of its past but brings it into the future."
It is a $4 billion dollar movie... if it succeeds. This is the movie that will launch a new series of Star Wars movies. It has to do well, because if it doesn't, if it's crap, who knows how fans are going to react? Over time this film and the franchise it's a part of will bring in that $4 billion dollars.
Iger then turned his attention to the practical effects that Abrams used to bring this next chapter of the story to life.
Iger noted how Abrams has relied more on physical sets and props that are significant in size and scope, rather than computer-generated imagery.
"That will give the film a look that will be extremely respectful of the look George (Lucas) created in the ’70s,” Iger said, “and will play well with ardent ‘Star Wars’ fans and play well with audiences today.”
Iger noted how the use of computer-generated graphics has made filmmaking seem “too easy.” “There’s a sameness to a lot of these films today,” Iger said. “The wow factor isn’t what it used to be. J.J. decided to create the physical wow factor.”
I'm all about the wow factor! Bring it on Abrams!