Much like the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi and Jar Jar Binks in A Phantom Menace, Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s Porgs have been dividing fans ever since we got our first glimpse of the Ahch-To inhabitants in the film’s promotional material.
And now with just hours to go until the hotly-anticipated film begins rolling out into cinemas, director Rian Johnson has offering a tongue-in-cheek “apology” for the furry little creatures during an interview with Rolling Stone, where he explained how his idea for the Porgs came about.
“When we first scouted Skellig Michael, the island where we shot Luke’s stuff, it was covered in puffins,” said Johnson. “It’s a bird sanctuary, actually. So there were all these adorable little puffins all over the island. It was first just like, ‘OK, let’s come up with the Star Wars version of that.’ Also, I knew that I wanted any opportunity for lightness or comic relief I could find on the island. So that combination led to the Porgs. I apologize. [Laughs] No, I love ’em, I really love ’em!”
SEE ALSO: What did George Lucas think of Star Wars: The Last Jedi?
SEE ALSO: Read our spoiler free review of Star Wars: The Last Jedi here
In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is set for release on December 14th in the UK and December 15th in the States and sees returning cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb), Simon Pegg (Unkar Plutt), and Warwick Davis joined by new additions Jimmy Vee (Pan) as R2-D2, Kelly Marie Tran (Ladies Like Us) as Rose, and Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Laura Dern (Jurassic Park).