Key Takeaways:
– Jessica Henwick, known for her role in Marvel’s ‘Iron Fist’ and ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, was not invited to reprise her role for ‘The Last Jedi’.
– The Iron Fist actress attributes her absence from the sequel trilogy to director Rian Johnson’s misconception that her character died in ‘The Force Awakens’.
– Henwick eventually confronted Johnson about this misunderstanding while working together on ‘Glass Onion’.
– Johnson had previously ignored a fan letter that Henwick wrote to him, making this the second time Henwick feels snubbed by the director.
The Iron Fist Star Jessica Henwick on Misunderstanding and ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
Jessica Henwick, best recognized for her role as Colleen Wing in Marvel’s ‘Iron Fist’ and Jessika “Testor” Pava in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’, unfortunately did not return to ‘The Last Jedi’ due to a misunderstanding. Her character, who was alive in the comic universe, was believed to have died in ‘The Force Awakens’ by the director Rian Johnson.
Why Jessica Henwick Wasn’t In ‘The Last Jedi’
In an interview with Syfy.com, Henwick opened up about the confusion that led to her omission from the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy. She explained, “He (Rian Johnson) thought I died in [Episode VII]. I was like, no dude, I survived.” Henwick reiterated that there was an entire comic book series about her character, Jess Pava.
However, this wasn’t the only misunderstanding between Henwick and Johnson. The actress, evidently a fan of the director’s work, had also written a fan letter to him after seeing his debut film, ‘Brick’, in 2005, to which Johnson had not responded.
A Longstanding Snub and Finally Reuniting On ‘Glass Onion’
Despite these miscommunications, Henwick and Johnson eventually worked together on the mystery-drama ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ in 2022. Interestingly, Henwick found out about her role in the film through a belated response from Johnson to her aforementioned fan letter.
While being snubbed twice by Johnson might have left a sour taste, Henwick seems to have taken everything in her stride. She confirms her previous plans to reprise her role for ‘The Last Jedi’ and denies any scheduling conflicts at the time. She chalks up her absence from the sequel entirely to Johnson’s misunderstanding of her character’s fate in ‘The Force Awakens’.
The Lesson From the Story of Jessica Henwick and ‘Star Wars’
Looking past these hiccups, this story of miscommunication between Jessica Henwick and Rian Johnson teaches us a valuable lesson. While misunderstandings can lead to unforeseen circumstances in Hollywood as well, important relationships can still be mended with time. Now that Henwick has reconciled with Johnson and collaborated on ‘Glass Onion’, it’s safe to say that their relationship has healed.
Fans can catch ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’ on Disney+ and witness Henwick’s captivating performance as Jessika Pava. Meanwhile, don’t miss ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ to support Henwick and Johnson’s renewed partnership.
Closing Words
Often, our favorite celebrities have interesting stories to tell about their experiences in the film industry. Jessica Henwick’s story of not being invited back to ‘The Last Jedi’ surely leaves us with a surprising twist. It reminds us that Hollywood, too, isn’t devoid of miscommunication and misunderstandings. But as shown by Henwick and Johnson’s eventual collaboration, such issues can be resolved, leading to new and exciting projects for both the artists and the audience.
