J.J. Abrams Opens Up To Jon Stewart About Breaking His Back During ‘Star Wars’ Filming

J.J. Abrams joined Jon Stewart on The Daily Show Thursday night, and while Abrams was there to promote the new Tom Cruise movie, Stewart took the chance to ask him about Star Wars.

J.J. Abrams Speaks On How He Broke His Back Filming ‘Star Wars’

“Let’s talk about Star Wars…tell me right now…everything,” Stewart told the Abrams.

Abrams failed to give the host spoilers on The Force Awakens, but he and Stewart did find the time to speak about Harrison Ford reprising his role as Han Solo.

“The guy is like a real-life superhero. He should have the Marvel logo above his name,” Abrams said, as he recalled what happened when the actor broke his leg on the Force Awakens set last year. “There was an accident on set…a hydraulic door went down and he was pushed down. His ankle goes 90 degrees.”

“He’s down there and he’s toughing it out. He’s a super human being. He’s literally lying there making jokes,” Abrams added.

Abrams continued the story — mentioning his own back injury. “This door had gone down, and I’m trying to help lift it up – because that’s the kind of guy I am. I’m trying to lift up this door and I feel this pop in my back. I’m like ‘Uh, that’s weird.’”

Abrams found himself at a doctor’s office days later. “He goes, ‘Oh you have a broken back,’” Abrams explained. “I broke my L4 trying to lift this door.”

Abrams said he had to wear a back brace under his shirt, while Ford healed quickly.

“I felt like the most nebbishy Jewish director ever,” Abrams joked.