J.J. Abrams reflects on the making of Super 8 for the film's 10th anniversary. During our discussion, the filmmaker addressed a burning (and incredibly nerdy) question about the film’s audio commentary track while also explaining how the story for Super 8 came to be thanks to Steven Spielberg. He also talked about how he was able to capture moments of truth with his young ensemble by rolling cameras during setups without the kids knowing it, and conjuring the central monster as a metaphor for the film’s hero.
We also asked Abrams if he felt like a movie like Super 8 – a wholly original sci-fi movie from a major studio – could be made today, and he reflected on his experience opening and closing the new Star Wars sequel trilogy and the importance of knowing when it’s critical to have a plan mapping an overarching story out. The incredibly busy filmmaker and producer also gave an update on his upcoming HBO series Demimonde and confirmed that the project Collider (no relation) is not currently in active development – but that doesn’t mean he and Edgar Wright won’t work together some day.
Abrams was candid, thoughtful, and curious in his answers — something I wasn't quite expecting from a filmmaker of his stature, and a pleasant surprise. He's clearly a guy who loves storytelling and filmmaking, and it was a blast to be able to pick his brain about Super 8 if only for 15 minutes. You watch the interview above, or read the transcript of our conversation below. Super 8 is now available on 4K UHD Blu-ray.
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