Controversy Surrounds Stephen King Movie: Famous Star Wars Item Cut from Scene

The recently released horror film, The Boogeyman, had to make a significant change to the original script's iconic Star Wars item. Based on Stephen King's classic short story, published in 1973, the movie revolves around a young girl who becomes the target of a shadow monster after her mother's death. The film features Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, and Vivien Lyra Blair, with a budget of $35 million. However, the movie received mixed reviews from both critics and viewers after its release on June 2.

During an interview with Collider, director Rob Savage revealed that the original script called for Blair's character, Sawyer, to wield a toy lightsaber to protect herself from the creature. However, the lightsaber would malfunction and flicker every time the monster approached, creating suspense. Unfortunately, Disney was not pleased with the idea, forcing the director to replace the iconic Star Wars weapon with a moon lamp instead. Watch the full interview in the video below to learn more.

During the initial script writing phase, Sawyer's character was envisioned to have a lightsaber replica that she would hold onto while in bed. However, during the filming of the moon ball scene, the lightsaber prop malfunctioned, causing a need for a replacement. Our team had to search through a plethora of different lightsaber toy options in order to find the perfect fit. However, we later realized that the idea of young Princess Leia having a faulty lightsaber did not align with Disney's vision for the character, resulting in a last-minute change of plans.

Disney's Decision Makes Sense But Also Helps The Movie

The decision made by Disney to reject the use of a lightsaber in The Boogeyman movie can be viewed as a smart move, considering that Star Wars is a highly protected brand and a flagship brand for Disney. It would not align with the family-friendly appeal of the franchise to include it in a horror movie, and it would undermine the brand's strength by using it for a scare. Additionally, the casting of Blair, who played the young Princess Leia in Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi, made Disney uneasy about having her character wield a lightsaber in a horror movie.

However, this decision may actually work in favor of The Boogeyman's success, as it allows the movie to stand on its own and not be tied to other franchises. This gives the cast the opportunity to showcase their acting abilities, and the creative team can focus on bringing one of King's most beloved tales to life. The replacement of the lightsaber with Sawyer's iconic moon lamp has also allowed for another prop to take center stage, which has been prominently featured on posters and trailers, and could bode well for the film's reception.

The Boogeyman has garnered a moderate opening at the box office, with reviews ranging from mixed to positive. It's worth noting that this is the best opening for a King adaptation since 2019's Doctor Sleep. King himself has expressed his admiration for the movie, which raises the question of whether its success will pave the way for a sequel, as teased by director Rob Savage. Fans are also curious to see if Savage will once again have the opportunity to incorporate a Star Wars lightsaber into his filmmaking.