As a long-time Star Wars devotee and friend to Carrie Fisher, I can truly say that her passing has left an indelible void in my heart and the franchise as a whole. The day I learned of her demise was one I shall never forget; it felt like the sun had been snuffed out, leaving a cold darkness that still lingers.
The death of Carrie Fisher continues to resonate deeply within the heart of her long-time co-star and friend Mark Hamill. Together with George Lucas and Harrison Ford, they revolutionized science-fiction cinema through the Star Wars franchise, which debuted in 1977. Hamill and Fisher played Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, respectively, siblings who were separated at birth only to reunite as the Rebel Alliance battled against the Empire. In addition to acting in the series, Hamill considers himself a dedicated fan of Star Wars. However, he has expressed that the experience hasn’t been the same for him since Fisher passed away in 2016.
Eight years following Fisher’s demise, Mark Hamill briefly touched upon the topic during his ‘Mark Hamill live’ panel at Fan Expo Chicago (as shared on TikTok by @va.va.vera). He reminisced about the day he discovered of Fisher’s passing and the profound impact it left on him. In fact, Hamill mentioned that revisiting the beloved series doesn’t hold the same charm because “the essence is missing.” Mark Hamill expressed this sentiment by saying:
“Early one morning, my wife entered our bedroom. Since she wakes up before me, I was still asleep. She appeared distressed, tears running down her face, and whispered ‘Carrie didn’t survive.’ This event profoundly affected how I view Star Wars as a whole. It felt like a part of the heart had been taken away. I tend to avoid discussing it because revisiting those emotions is difficult for me.”
Princess Leia Was the Moral Heart of Star Wars
For many fans, the essence of “Star Wars” lies in its distinctive visual symbols: the Force, lightsabers, x-wings, and so forth. However, at the heart of the saga is a timeless struggle between good and evil, with Princess Leia serving as the franchise’s guiding principle – or as “the heart,” according to Mark Hamill. Even before Luke Skywalker departed Tatooine for Jedi training, Leia had been resisting the oppressive Empire for years. By the time Luke went to rescue Leia in “Episode IV – A New Hope,” she had already endured severe torture at the hands of Darth Vader, but remained steadfast and refused to reveal information about the Rebel Alliance.
At the discussion, Mark Hamill spoke about Leia’s character legacy. Although there were a few debates along the way, such as her controversial metal bikini in “Return of the Jedi”, Leia has been a significant figurehead for feminism for quite some time. Hamill highlighted Leia’s impact on contemporary feminism as “unforced,” commending how she often surpassed the male characters in the franchise and fearlessly charged towards danger. He stated that:
“I too found it refreshing to see the princess portrayed as anything but a timid wallflower. She stood up to Darth Vader fearlessly, even reprimanding him directly. Not only was she unfazed by his presence, but when Luke and Han Solo ‘rescued’ her, she managed to make them both appear incompetent. ‘This is hardly a rescue!’ she exclaimed, snatching the gun from Luke. Her actions left us looking like bumbling fools.”
Over the past ten years, I’ve deeply missed the remarkable Fisher, whose talent as an actress was evident in her return to the Star Wars universe in the more recent sequel trilogy. She graced us with her presence in both “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi.” Despite some fans’ less-than-favorable views on the sequels, everyone seemed to embrace Leia’s comeback wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, Fisher passed away before the filming of “The Rise of Skywalker.” Yet, her spirit lived on in the movie, through previously unseen footage from “The Force Awakens” and clever CGI enhancements that allowed us to savor her performance one last time.
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2024-08-20 02:04