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Greg Grunberg launches staunch defence of JJ Abrams and 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker'

Greg Grunberg as "Snap" Wexley in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (Image by Lucasfilm)
Greg Grunberg as "Snap" Wexley in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (Image by Lucasfilm)

Star Wars actor Greg Grunberg has launched a staunch defense of The Rise Of Skywalker, admitting he was infuriated by the criticism that it was orchestrated to just please fans.

Grunberg, who is one of writer and director J.J. Abrams’ oldest friends and starred as “Snap” Wexley in The Force Awakens and The Rise Of Skywalker, was recently quizzed about the divisive response to the latter by The Hollywood Reporter, which provoked him to instantly support the blockbuster.

Read More: What 'Star Wars' beef? J.J. Abrams is 'nothing but grateful' for Rian Johnson's 'The Last Jedi'

"When the movie came out, I was so p***ed off and angry about one specific criticism that I heard. It said, ‘Oh, he's just pandering to the fans.’ It's like, ‘What are you talking about? A movie like this is all about satisfying the fans.’”

Grünberg also downplayed any notion that The Rise Of Skywalker was made in response to The Last Jedi, insisting that he has never heard Abrams make any kind of disparaging remarks about Johnson.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19:  J.J. Abrams (R) and Greg Grunberg (L) attend the Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers game at the Staples Center on January 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 19: J.J. Abrams (R) and Greg Grunberg (L) attend the Los Angeles Lakers vs Cleveland Cavaliers game at the Staples Center on January 19, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)

“It's one of those things where if you pay attention to the film and engage with it, all it does is keep that story going,” explained Grunberg, before he added, “I would absolutely tell you if there were moments here and there. And there weren't. There just absolutely weren't. If anybody was going to try and dig that out of J.J., it'd be me.”

Grunberg even went on to say that Abrams really “loves” Johnson because of just how “creative and brilliant he is.”

Read More: JJ Abrams will learn from the poor response to ‘Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker’

Meanwhile, Grunberg also played down the recent rumours that there is an unreleased Abrams cut of The Rise Of Skywalker out there, as the actor said there wasn’t any pressure on him “to cut things out.”

"Personally, I don't think there's any truth to that, and I would be surprised if there's a ‘J.J. cut.' Every movie goes through a series of cuts; it's just the nature of it. I don't buy into it at all."