In 2016, responding to complaints that "The Force Awakens" was too derivative of previous films, Abrams said, "What was important for me was introducing brand new characters using relationships that were embracing the history that we know to tell a story that is new – to go backwards to go forwards". Abrams apologized for how he handled Chewbacca and Leia's meeting after Han Solo's death, noting that Han Solo's best friend and widow ignore each other, with Leia instead hugging Rey (whom Leia is meeting for the first time). Johnson's sequel included Leia hugging Chewbacca at the end of "The Last Jedi" as a way to apologize for the previous film oversight.