JJ Abrams Is Having Second Thoughts About 1 Star Wars Villain Decision

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General Armitage Hux was a standout villain in the recent Star Wars sequels. Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson brilliantly portrayed the cold and calculating First Order officer throughout all three films, giving us iconic scenes like his powerful speech at Starkiller Base and his intense, ongoing conflict with Kylo Ren. However, in The Rise of Skywalker, Hux’s role was significantly reduced, and he was quickly killed off early in the movie, not given much chance to develop.

As a huge movie fan, I was really interested to hear JJ Abrams recently admit something. At the US-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde Awards, he said he now realizes it was a mistake not to give Domhnall Gleeson a bigger part in those earlier films. He genuinely wishes Gleeson had been more involved!

I enjoy working with everyone, but I especially love collaborating with Domhnall Gleeson. We’ve worked together before, and I’d be thrilled to have the chance to work with him more substantially in the future. I really wish he’d had a bigger part in our previous project. It would be fantastic to collaborate with him again.

Considering what we know now, the comment is noteworthy. When General Hux first appeared in The Force Awakens, he immediately seemed like a serious danger. His chilling speech before the destruction of Hosnian Prime, where he essentially ordered the deaths of billions, established him as the visible and ruthless leader of the First Order.

Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi significantly changed Domhnall Gleeson’s character, General Hux, portraying him as a frequent target for Kylo Ren’s anger. He was physically and verbally abused throughout the film. By the time J.J. Abrams directed The Rise of Skywalker, Hux’s story had become so weak that the reveal of him being a spy for the Resistance felt underwhelming. He was quickly killed by General Pryde after his betrayal was exposed.

Gleeson has previously been open about his thoughts on this, saying he wished the storyline involving his spy character had been explored for a longer period. However, he also supports Abrams’ choices as a director. While he accepted the decision made, he felt the character had potential for further development, and it now seems the director agrees.

What’s the Likelihood of Gleeson & Abrams Working Together Again?

J.J. Abrams might get to work with Domhnall Gleeson again soon. He’s currently finishing The Great Beyond, a new science-fantasy movie with Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega, which will be released by Warner Bros. on November 13th. It’s unclear if Gleeson will be involved in this film or a project further down the line, but the possibility exists.

Domhnall Gleeson is having a great career moment. He received a Golden Globe nomination for his role in The Patient with Steve Carell, and is currently starring in The Paper on NBC, a comedy series similar to The Office. He’s widely considered one of the most sought-after character actors working today.

While it’s uncertain if Domhnall Gleeson will reprise his role in Star Wars, it’s a different matter than simply wanting him back. Lucasfilm has announced new projects set after the sequel trilogy, but none currently appear to feature characters from the First Order. Most of the live-action Star Wars content still focuses on events before The Force Awakens. Plus, his character, Hux, seemingly died in The Rise of Skywalker, making a return complicated. Still, Gleeson would probably be open to the possibility if it arose.

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2026-03-17 00:04