Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has quickly earned the reputation of being the second most divisive film in the nine-part Skywalker Saga, and with good reason. Star Wars: The Last Jedi sparked massive controversy with its decision to divert course away from the nostalgia indulgences of The Forces Awakens, and The Rise of Skywalker blatantly tries to redirect that course correction. However, where The Last Jedi was heavily criticized for director Rian Johnson’s decisions with the film, it seems the controversy over The Rise of Skywalker has more to do with Disney possibly wrestling control away from director J.J. Abrams.
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Over the last week or so, the Star Wars fandom has been passing around supposed insights from sources close to production on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, who allege that Disney forced significant changes to Rise of Skywalker, going so far as to keep J.J. Abrams in the dark about what was going on. It’s just rumor, but it’s being treated as gospel by a certain contingent of fans, and has, in turn, sparked an outcry. As of writing this, “#ReleaseTheJJCut” has become a trending topic on Twitter, with signs that this could be the 2020 version of the Justice League #ReleaseTheSnyderCut movement.
See for yourself, below:
What Had Happened
This is super interesting, and obviously FULL of spoilers if you haven’t seen #TheRiseOfSkywalker. And I know it will never happen, but I would love to see them #ReleaseTheJJCut #ReleaseTheAbramsCut on the DVD when it comes out. #DirectorsCut #StarWars https://t.co/KBFwKpYYGE
โ Jedi Fangirl (@jedifangirl) January 2, 2020
#ReleaseTheAbramsCut
โ Marie (@Marie52276042) January 2, 2020
For people who are lost disney basically changed the whole movie to sabotage JJ Abrams and Warner Brothers. They want DC to stay in Limbo a few pictures to explain pic.twitter.com/NTdO6R5KYt
If you want to do the heavy reading, here is the full breakdown of how Disney allegedly intervened in the making ofย The Rise of Skywalker,ย and what all the studio allegedly changed in the film.ย
Let’s Make It Happen
YALL ITโS MOVING UP THE LIST #ReleaseTheAbramsCut #ReleaseTheJJCut https://t.co/iv3F2ZfqL7 pic.twitter.com/L50RAZmzMr
โ madi (@mr_dameron) January 2, 2020
#releasethejjcut i just woke up pic.twitter.com/zDNljXCOz6
โ jess (@versvalkryior) January 2, 2020
Fans that are pushing this “J.J. Cut” agenda are loving the result of the hashtag trending on a bigger and bigger scale.ย
This is The New Fight
#ReleaseTheJJCut #ReleaseTheAbramsCut rolling into trending like pic.twitter.com/aHvmhAxziH
โ ัะบะตั (@waspshwiz) January 2, 2020
Because Justice Leagueย #ReleaseTheSnyderCut is justsoooooย 2019…ย
FinnPoe Deserved Better
this could be fake but wbk that disney is just a bunch of cowards. homophobia and racism at itโs finest pic.twitter.com/0kz01QVaXd
โ poe damerons left shoe (@poekencbi) January 2, 2020
One of the biggest points of outrage has been the suggestion (even from Oscar Isaac himself) that Disney killed any notion of the long-hoped-for bromance between Finn (John Boyega) and Poe (Isaac) becoming a true LGBTQA+ romance.ย
We Were Happy… For A Second
I was content with the movie and thought it was good, but seeing that it could have been better but was axed by The Mouse is upsetting. #ReleaseTheAbramsCut #releasethejjcut https://t.co/57bXcqdeWi
โ Silent Naito, Holy Naito (@BadDreamJeff) January 2, 2020
Even fans who were pleased with the theatrical cut ofย Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerย are now second-guessing their own pleasure.ย
Does it Even Exist?
Iโm a little skeptical that it exists, or that it has all the scenes rumored to be in it, but it couldnโt be any worse than the version of TROS that ended up in theaters #ReleaseTheJJCut#FinnPoeForever
โ Travis Roy (@travisbroy) January 2, 2020
Like with theย Justice Leagueย Snyder Cut, half the argument aboutย The Rise of Skywalkerย J.J. Abrams cut will be over whether it’s actually even a thing.ย
We’re Coming For You, Disney
well. you canโt ignore those nerds tweeting #releasethejjcut forever.. call the execs ๐ญ https://t.co/eZSoxYLFjV
โ dangus (@vaisiai) January 2, 2020
Rian Johnson and hisย The Last Jediย cast had to shoulder the bulk ofย Star Warsย fandom outrage when that film was released: Now, Disney is about to get a taste of what that’s like. Hope they’re ready.ย
Grief Begets Conspiracy
isnt it possible that, get this, jj and chris just fucked this up all by themselves #ReleaseTheJJCut
โ prince ben organa solo of alderaan (@jewishbensolo) January 2, 2020
Is there really a different “J.J. Cut” ofย Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerย out there? Or did Abrams and writer Chris Terrio (the guy who also wrote Batman v Superman) just make a divisive film?ย
The Jedi Deserved Better
Release this. #releasethejjcut #ReleaseTheAbramsCut pic.twitter.com/tEqHaYguOx
โ StarVolts (@StarrVolts) January 2, 2020
We could have had Anakin. We literally could have had Anakin. #releasethejjcut pic.twitter.com/7oe2GgXumX
โ Mary-Faith (@classycurls7) January 2, 2020
This is indeed something that many fans wanted to see – and the suggestion that it could’ve happened (but didn’t) certainly has them feeling some kind of way.ย
CatsCut
#ReleaseTheAbramsCut? #ReleaseTheHooperCut pic.twitter.com/uAItelZ9Kl
โ Sam from 101 Facts (@101Facts1) January 2, 2020
The J.J. Cut is the director’s cut the world wants right now, but it’s not the one it deserves. Now that director’s cut ofย Cats, on the other hand…ย
This Path Leads to the Dark Side
Reading this news is making me wanna do bad stuff. F**k Disney ๐ก. #ReleaseTheJJCut pic.twitter.com/MgHUwSrLWx
โ B. Carter ๐งข (@EliBCarter) January 2, 2020
This kind of conspiracy and doubt is exactly what turns happy, level-headed fans toward the dark side of fandom.ย
Do you believe the “J.J. Cut” ofย Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerย is out there?ย
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is now in theaters.ย The Mandalorianย is now streaming on Disney+.ย