JJ Abrams and Chris Rock At The Tribeca Film Festival

Star Wars Director Interviewed by Rock

♦At the end of last week, JJ Abrams was interviewed by occasional Oscar host and American comedy legend Chris Rock at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The Hollywood Reporter reported on the event and so here are a few snippets from their piece…

J.J. Abrams and Chris Rock’s hour-long Tribeca Film Festival conversation was billed as a chat between two directors, but when Abrams called Rock a director, the comedian was quick to say he doesn’t consider himself in the same league as the Star Wars: The Force Awakens helmer.

“I make movies occasionally,” Rock said. “You’re a director.”

“Yeah, J.J., you and me. Star Wars, Pootie Tang” Rock added, referring to one of his earlier films.

It was that sort of joking banter that made for a funny exchange from two entertainment industry insiders. Rock and Abrams talked about the early days of their career, the qualities they look for in people they hire and who they want to work with, with a frequent answer being each other.

Abrams worked with Rock on the 2016 Oscars, directing the series of movie parodies that included Leslie Jones in The Revenant and Tracy Morgan in The Danish Girl, which Abrams cited as a particularly fun moment. Rock said that he asked Abrams to help but “figured he’d get some minion from his office to do it.”

But could another, more extensive collaboration be in the works. The possibility first came up when Rock asked Abrams — whose TV credits include Felicity, Alias, Lost, Fringe and other shows — what sort of small-screen project is right for him.

“If I were to do a show, because I’m running out of money and its, I’m of a certain age, let’s cash out this credibility,” Rock said. “What do you see me doing?”

Abrams asked, “If I nail it will you do it with me?”

Rock enthusiastically replied, “Yeah! … Nothing to do with a car wash.”

They talked about possibilities aloud for a few minutes, with Rock saying he’s more inclined to do a single-camera show and Abrams saying he “would love to do a half-hour drama,” musing that unlike his favorite show, The Twilight Zone, there aren’t many half-hour non-comedies out there.

Abrams, meanwhile, said he’s working with Denzel Washington now—sort of.

He explained that Washington is currently using his office at Paramount to prep his new movie Fences, which he’s working on with Abrams’ regular script supervisor.

Abrams also suggested another potential Rock-Washington question, as he dodged Rock’s plea to have Abrams direct a well-received Fantastic Four movie.

“I love the Fantastic Four and they keep f—ing it up,” Rock said.

Abrams suggested, “Get in there with Denzel, man. You do it.”

Rock mused he was “too old” to be in the film and could direct it, but “they need someone better than me.”

The comedian also revealed he wasn’t impressed by another recent comic book-inspired film: Batman v. Superman.

“Did anyone see the Superman/Batman shit, what the f—was that? Superman can’t fight a guy that drives a car,” Rock said, riffing about how Batman “needs AAA.”

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JJ Abrams interviewed by Chris Rock

www.hollywoodreporter.com