He Needs To Get Ready For 'Star Wars' Questions

I hope everyone is ready to hear about Star Wars: Episode VII rumors until it's release date of Dec. 18, 2015 because that's looking to be the trend. We've already heard rumors that Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong'o, and Oscar Isaac could become new members of the cast, Chewbacca has been confirmed, and there has been much talk that Luke, Leia, and Han will be returning as well. And now it sounds like, if Han Solo does make his comeback, Harrison Ford's role in Star Wars: Episode VII will be a big one. This news is no doubt surprising to fans who have watched Ford dodge questions about the franchise for years.

While Ford has not yet said that he will even be in the film, this has been pretty much confirmed for him. Carrie Fisher spoke out about her return along with that of Ford and Mark Hamill and recently the three were all found to be in London, likely because they will begin filming soon. It seems clear that Ford, Fisher, and Hamill are in the film but, as Deadline reported on Monday, "The big surprise, I’m told, is that Ford has a gigantic role in the first of the next three films."

This news seems odd for a couple of reasons. For one, so far Episode VII has seemed set on finding new actors. There hasn't been a lot confirmed about the movie but the studio did release a statement saying the movie would include "a trio of new young leads along with some very familiar faces." Ford is definitely a familiar face, so I'm thinking "gigantic" is a relative term here. Ford doesn't have to be a lead in order to play a big part and one that would be even bigger than that of Fisher and Hamill. If Han Solo dies, that would count as a "gigantic role" in that its fallout could effect all the other characters. And Ford has been vocal about wanting Han to die. Ford once said,

I did think the character itself was relatively thin. I would have liked to see some complication for the character; the only complication I didn't get was to die at the end of the third one. I thought that would have given the whole film a bottom, but I couldn't talk George into it.

Another reason a big role for Ford is surprising is because Ford has been generally unwilling to talk about Star Wars for years. As MTV's Josh Wigler puts it, Ford "has barely been able to put the words 'Star' and 'Wars' in the same sentence without stifling a scoff." In fact, this was made fun of on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live where, during the interview, Ford pretended to storm off when "audience members," including Chewie, brought up Star Wars.

Perhaps Ford decided to rejoin knowing his former castmates would be involved and maybe he will get the death for Han that he hoped for. Additionally, Ford sounds supportive of J.J. Abrams, the news film's director. In an interview in March 2013, Ford said, "I think he's fantastic. I did his first movie, Regarding Henry, with Mike Nichols. A wonderful talent. Extraordinary guy." When asked if he'd spoken with Abrams recently, "'About what?' Ford asked, smirking and taking a slow sip from a cup."

As it has for the past few months, it sounds pretty obviously that Ford is on board for Star Wars: Episode VII and this means that he better get used to answering Star Wars questions again. There is still a year and a half until the movie comes out. That's a lot of time for people to ask his opinion on Han Shot First.

Image: Lucasfilm Ltd.