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Here’s Why J.J. Abrams Likes Han Solo the Most

J.J. Abrams. Photo: Keith Tsuji/2013 Getty Images

The next Star Wars film has been enjoying finishing touches, which means J.J. Abrams is on the final leg of his mad hype dash to get you pumped about the December 18 movie. As part of a Sirius XM Town Hall on Monday, the Force Awakens helmer disclosed that the project has given him a newfound appreciation for one of the saga’s main, already most-beloved characters. “There’s this moment that’s in the trailer — so I’m not giving anything away — but where Han is telling these two new protagonists about how the Force is real and how the Jedi and everything they’ve heard is true,” Abrams said (of the character whom he calls his favorite and whom he believes definitely shot first). “It’s cool because he’s telling them the story in the Millennium Falcon, literally six feet from where he was sitting 40 years ago, saying that it’s all bullshit. It’s so cool to think that there’s a character that gets to live on in a movie who goes from being such a doubter and nonbeliever into someone who’s — I wouldn’t say an evangelist — but who’s validating this stuff.”

Abrams explained he also appreciates what Han has been through, generally — and yes, that makes sense, because anybody who has been frozen in carbonite should be appreciated. Listen to a teaser clip of the interview, which was part of a discussion hosted by EW and People, below:

EW will reportedly unspool the full audio on December 14, via EW Radio Sirius XM 105.

Here’s Why Abrams Likes Han Solo Best