What happened with the scene where Maz Kanata gives the lightsaber to Leia?

I don't think it was Leia: it was Rey. There's a very similar shot after Rey's flashback, and when Maz runs up to her. Maz doesn't hand Rey the lightsaber: she tries to, but Rey refuses it. But the framing, lighting, and background of the shot are identical (although the trailer shot has been flipped, with Maz on the right, and Rey on the left). I'm guessing the shot in the trailer was an alternate take. For example, they might have envisioned an alternate version where Maz successfully hands Rey the lightsaber, and Rey at first accepts it, but then tosses it away or gives it back to Maz once Rey decides she wants nothing to do with it. It's not uncommon for many minor variations on a scene to be filmed, so that the director can have a range of choices to choose from depending on how things play out in the editing room.

 

It's Called "MULTIPLE TAKES."

 

It wasn't Leia, it was Rey.

 

Because, in the trailer, regardless of it was Rey or Leia, there are multiple takes made and then they are chosen and edited into succession to make the film what it is .

 

I saw the movie and it was Rey. Leave with Leia if you want but it won't change anything.

 

Hum....not just this scene. And what about Rey and her.speeder in the first teaser?!?!?!

PS. And Kylo's saber ignition in the first teaser.too? Kind of wierd the remove of one of most memorable shots of the teasers.

 

The first picture is from the trailer, the second is from a set photo, note the ring and cuff of the shirt. Maz Kanata hands leia the lightsaber, but they do not meet in the movie, nor does kanata hand the weapon to anyone (other than possibly Finn)

 

Definitely Leia. It was obviously cut.
It ties in with the strange decision to not show what happened to Maz after they made her an important part of the story.
She gives Finn the saber and then nothing.
I think this film was rushed. The script was rushed. They story was rushed. And they got themselves in a bit of a hole.
The ending(s) was very messy.

 

I'm thinking that too. All of Leia's scenes seemed awkward so maybe they cut them down. It could have also been a decision to add more action by having Finn get the lightsaber early to fight that stormtrooper.

 

Yep, it was Leia receiving the saber from Maz on that teaser while Luke says "My sister has it."

 

One idea is that for the teaser what was only needed was a shot that clearly read as Luke's saber and it being passed prevents it from being misread as being wielded, and that's enough to cover that it could be Rey or Leia. Also with that is the variable that they never knew exactly how Carrie Fisher would turn up for her role, such that she might have been dual shaped in the script to protect for her seeming a bit too geriatric to become an action hero once more. That brings us to a whopper of a twist...LEIA IS MAZ KANATA! She has shape shifter force powers and this is protection for Fisher's aging. They hyped up how she dropped 50 pounds and yet she barely saw any action in TFA despite the opening crawl. This twist could allow her to shift and then fight, and look kick-ass. Leia's force destiny is muted throughout IV-VI but at times appears to leak out and lurk. The shifter theory explains that or pads for it retroactively. This twist spares Fisher wire work and little old-saber-granny-from-Pasadena memes. The Princess Leia we know, might not even be Luke's real sister but his real sister is Phasma who was taken away at birth as was Luke. Then, Rey must face Phasma who is actually her mother. Woah!

 

This film was rushed and it shows. it didn't even release in may like all the other star wars films.

 

It was initially supposed to come out in May of this year until JJ managed to push it back. So it's in fact the opposite of rushed.

 

Why are so many scenes missing then im reading the novel and its alot better than the movie.

 

That is often the case.