The Star Wars Lightsaber Scene Too Brutal for Theaters Revealed
After his breakout in The Raid, Iko Uwais landed a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. But a fight scene he choreographed—one that could have changed lightsaber battles forever—was cut from the film. Discover why this moment never made it to the big screen.
When Iko Uwais shot to fame with his electrifying performance in The Raid: Redemption, Hollywood quickly took notice. In 2015, he and his co-star Cecep Arif Rahman were tapped to appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, cast as relentless pursuers of Han Solo. Director J.J. Abrams, impressed by Uwais’ mastery of Pencak Silat, even asked him to design a fight sequence for the film.
Uwais came up with a bold concept: a fighter would cleverly retract his lightsaber, slip behind his opponent, and then, in one swift motion, drive the deactivated weapon into his foe’s back before igniting it. As Uwais described it, “with a swift move, puts the dead lightsaber into the back of his opponent, and turns it on.”
Why the Scene Was Cut
Despite the creativity and intensity of the choreography, the sequence never made it to the final cut. The main reason? The move was considered too violent for a PG-13 rating. But there’s another layer to the story. Fans have long wondered why Jedi and Sith don’t simply turn off their lightsabers, get close, and then reactivate them for a surprise attack. The answer lies in the code of honor among Force users. This tactic, while effective, was seen as dishonorable—a line neither Jedi nor Sith were willing to cross, even in the heat of battle.
Online discussions have speculated that both sides agreed to avoid such underhanded methods during duels, preserving a sense of respect and tradition in their confrontations.
Key Details About The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams, featured a star-studded cast including Daisy Ridley, Harrison Ford, and John Boyega. The film premiered on December 18, 2015, and quickly became a box office juggernaut, grossing $2 billion worldwide. It earned a 7.7/10 rating on IMDb and a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was produced by Lucasfilm and is available to stream on Disney+.
Iko Uwais’ Hollywood Journey
After his breakout role in The Raid: Redemption, Uwais found himself fielding calls from major studios. He described the experience as surreal, saying,
Getting calls from Hollywood has been quite surreal to be honest. Making a living out of my real passion, which is Silat; that’s certainly a privilege for me.
Since then, Uwais has continued to land roles in major productions and currently has several projects in the pipeline, including Road House 2 and Wings of Dread. His unique fighting style and on-screen presence have made him a sought-after talent in the action genre.