The response from the executives was favorable, Abrams went on to add, something he described as "the biggest relief of my life" — although he admitted that after the initial relief had worn off, his cynicism returned. "Their response was so kind, [I thought] they were just being nice," he joked.

The director also addressed the absence of Luke Skywalker from the movie's promotion to date. "Here's the thing: I really want to make sure that we're not ruining the movie for people, that they're not seeing too much of it before it comes out," Abrams said. "I hate when I go and see a trailer and think that I've just seen the movie in encapsulated form ... I'd rather be asking questions than feel like they'd been answered for me."

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens Dec. 18. Maybe then, audiences will get to discover Luke's final fate.