One of the best things Star Wars: The Force Awakens has going for it is that it features the return of Princess Leia (along with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo). Leia is an icon, who had several memorable scenes in the original trilogy, and The Force Awakens should include these Leia quotes and moments. Not all of them, of course, just a few. With too many references thrown in, the movie will run the risk of copying the original Star Wars films rather than merely paying tribute to them while living on as their logical evolution. But which of Leia's greatest hits should make it into The Force Awakens?
UPDATE: On Tuesday, Dec. 27, a family spokesperson for Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia, confirmed to People magazine that Fisher has died at the age of 60. The statement, which was released on behalf of Fisher's daughter Billie Lourd, reads: “It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly,” says Lourd. “Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.”
Fisher had suffered a heart attack on Dec. 23 while on a flight from London to Los Angeles and had been in the hospital ever since. Fisher is survived by her daughter, Lourd, who had a role alongside her in 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Earlier: First of all, I can tell you what Leia moments should not be in The Force Awakens . The gold bikini for one, should definitely be retired. It's iconic, sure, and definitely has its fans, but it also turned Leia into a slave, a sex object, and a damsel in distress — three qualities that don't define her strong-willed, independent, ass-kicking character in the slightest. So that's out. I also don't think Leia's faux-British accent should come back. The dialect went in and out in the first Star Wars film, and was completely absent from the next two. Actress Carrie Fisher blames her youth and inexperience, coming fresh out of drama school, for putting on the accent, so it's very likely that the elder Fisher will not be spelling color with a "u" in The Force Awakens. Other than those exceptions, I'd say pretty much anything else from Princess, sorry, General Leia, is fair game to include. Here are nine of the most deserving candidates.
"I love you." "I know."
It's one of the franchise's most quoted lines, and should make a return at some point in The Force Awakens. If it happens between Leia and Han that would be ideal, but throwing another character into the mix could make for an interesting twist as well.
"I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."
Before Leia and Han declare their love for each, they have a rather interesting relationship. When Han jokes that she should give him a good by kiss, Leia says she'd rather kiss a Wookie. Maybe it's time she made good on that claim and planted one on Chewbacca.
The Luke kiss
Leia famously gave her brother a pretty passionate kiss before she knew they were siblings, in what is regarded as the ickiest moment in the series. A winking reference to it could come across as a pretty successful bit of humor if done correctly.
Appearing as a droid hologram
Though it might hew a little to closely to the plot of the original, how cool would it be to see BB-8 shout out a blue hologram of Leia?
Taking out some Stormtroopers
One of the first things Leia does is show that she knows her way around a blaster, and The Force Awakens should definitely callback to this with a reminder of Leia's ability to take care of herself.
Telling C-3PO to shut up
Seriously, Threepio. Just shut up already.
The insults
Leia may have been a princess in the original trilogy, but she was the queen of insults. Calling Han a nerfherder, telling Luke he was a little short for a Stormtrooper, referring to Chewie as a walking carpet — Leia was full of sick burns. More of that, please.
Millennium Falcon disdain
Everybody has fond memories of Han's ship, but Leia mocked it every chance she got. Who doesn't want to see her offer to get out and push it again? Or once more refer to it as a bucket of bolts? It would be great to see her get under Han's skin this way, just like old times.
Those buns
There hasn't been any hint of the bagel bun hairstyle making a comeback, but come on. It has to.
The Force Awakens shouldn't include all nine of these references to Leia from the original films, but they should find a clever way to work in a few of them. But to be honest, as long as Leia is still kicking ass and taking names, I'll be satisfied.
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