Almost any filmmaker would jump at the chance to direct a movie like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but J.J. Abrams isn’t just any filmmaker. Though he’s always been a big fan of the series, he actually had some hesitations about helming Episode VII and didn’t sign on right away when he was initially offered the job.
In an interview with The Times, Abrams revealed that he wasn’t totally on board with directing The Force Awakens when he got that first phone call from Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy:
“The reality is, I didn’t want to be the guy who does sequels,” said Abrams. “When Kathy called, I did something I don’t normally do, which is look at my career. I really did feel like, ‘That sounds like the wrong idea.’”
In the end, it was Abrams’ wife who convinced him to take the job, telling him he would regret it forever if he passed. And so, Abrams agreed to direct Star Wars: Episode VII, which is currently breaking every box office record imaginable and impressing critics around the world.
Despite his hesitations, I think that being “the guy who does sequels” was the right choice in the end, don’t you?