‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: J.J. Abrams Explains Reasoning Behind R2-D2 Scene

With STAR WARS: The Force Awakens dominating box offices across the planet, fans are shouting their approval from the rooftops, and the realization that STAR WARS is back with full force is in the air. Thunderous applause and approval aside, some fans cant help but wonder why certain parts of the film were laid out the way they were. One Scene in particular stands out, why did R2-D2 magically wake up in the 11th hour?

For those who need the recap, midway into TFA it was established that R2-D2 entered into low power mode following the betrayal of Kylo Ren, and in Luke’s absence, everyone feared that R2-D2 would never wake up. But then magically, after the Starkiller base is destroyed, and the heroes have returned victorious, R2-D2 miraculously wakes up and has the missing pieces of the map the Resistance needs to find Luke Skywalker. But with no real explanation giving, fans are left to wonder the reasoning behind this series of events.

However, In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, J.J. Abrams finally explains what really happened here. The explanation begins with screenwriter Michael Arndt giving some backstory, and then an interjection made by Abrams.

Arndt:  “We had the idea about R2 plugging into the information base of the Death Star, and that’s how he was able to get the full map and find where the Jedi temples are.”

Abrams: “But the idea was that in that scene where R2 plugged in, he downloaded the archives of the Empire, which was referenced by Kylo Ren, “BB-8 comes up and says something to him, which is basically, ‘I’ve got this piece of a map, do you happen to have the rest?’”

Abrams:  “The idea was, R2 who has been all over the galaxy, is still in his coma, but he hears this. And it triggers something that would ultimately wake him up.”

Abrams: “While it may seem, you know, completely lucky and an easy way out, at that point in the movie, when you’ve lost a person, desperately, and somebody you hopefully care about is unconscious, you want someone to return.”

So there it is. J.J. Abrams explained it for everyone. While it may not be some mystical compelling of the force or some explanation like that as some message boards are saying, the reality is that BB-8 saved the say. Not bad for the little droids first outing.

STAR WARS: The Force Awaken is currently in theaters, changing lives, and breaking box-office records worldwide.

Source: Entertainment Weekly