JJ Abrams confirms he has final cut over ‘The Force Awakens’

The Episode VII director has assured fans the new film has not been ‘Disney-fied’.

Star Wars fans worried about Disney influencing the tone of Star Wars Episode VII can rest easy - JJ Abrams isn't letting the House of Mouse interfere with the final cut

In a talk hosted by Vanity Fair, Abrams sat down with Apple designer Jony Ive and Imagine Entertainment’s Brian Grazer, and reassured fans that Disney has not interfered with his vision for The Force Awakens.

Responding to Grazer’s question if he had final cut over the film, Abrams confirmed, “Yeah, yeah" — but also noted creative clauses that could allow Disney to take control in the event of disaster, "when you do a Disney project, there’s a clause in there that you kind of go, ‘Well, if I were a lawyer I could probably drive a truck through it....' "

Despite fan suspicion and rumours over a disagreement in release date over the new film, Abrams also went on to praise Disney executives for their respect for his creative vision and the Star Wars franchise as a whole.

"I cannot say enough about how Bob Iger and Alan Horn have understood this thing that is now part of the Disney company," continues Abrams. "And they’re not trying to Disney-fy it, they’re not doing anything other than, I think, an incredibly smart thing, which is letting Kathleen Kennedy — who is a remarkable person and producer — run and lead Lucasfilm to a place where I think it wants to go."

The full length hour-long talk is available to watch in the Youtube video below.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens opens in UK cinemas on 18th December 2015