Harrison Ford: ‘Star Wars’ Tribute At AMA’s, Plus New ‘The Force Awakens’ Footage
Harrison Ford graced the AMAs stage on Sunday night to introduce a Star Wars tribute, and fans were treated to some brand new The Force Awakens footage.
As the blockbuster is set to be released in less than a month, fans are eagerly anticipating what everyone believes will be a massive hit at the box office. In honor of the multi-billion dollar franchise, Harrison Ford introduced the a capella group Pentatonix, who performed the very popular Star Wars score with a 75-piece orchestra.
According to Comic Book Movie, Ford wasn’t the original choice to make the introductions at the AMAs, but he wanted to be involved because he’s a real fan of the group. Harrison Ford is one of the original Star Wars cast members and will be reprising his role as the legendary smuggler, Han Solo, when The Force Awakens finally lands in theaters next month.
Interestingly, those who follow all things Star Wars know that when he was first cast as the incorrigible Han Solo by George Lucas — quite unexpectedly we may add — Harrison Ford was not a big fan of Star Wars and criticized things such as the dialogue. Fans were pleasantly surprised when it was announced that Ford would return to play the role that propelled his career into stardom and has become one of Star Wars most beloved characters.
It is clear that Harrison Ford is a fan favorite and this was apparent when he was introduced for the first time in The Force Awakens trailer at the Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim earlier this year. Loud applause welcomed the rogue and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), when the pair came on-screen at the end of the now famous clip.
Many questioned the decision to bring back the 73-year-old veteran, along with original Star Wars characters, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), since they’re no spring chickens anymore. Ford has had the most successful career after he was done playing Han Solo. Hamill and Fisher weren’t as lucky and even though they’ve kept busy, their careers can’t compare to that of Ford, who has proven he can act and then some.
Among those who thought Ford may be too old to play Han Solo 32 years after we last saw him in a Star Wars film, was The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams, according to Cinema Blend.
“What was incredible from my point of view was how apparently easily they flipped back into these roles. I knew for a fact, for example, that Harrison Ford was going to be in this movie, but I couldn’t be certain that Han Solo would be. Meaning, I hadn’t seen Han Solo return after nearly 40 years, either. And it wasn’t until we got on set that I got my answer. It was a remarkable thing to see how effortlessly Harrison Ford became Han Solo again.”
But his return to play Han Solo hasn’t been smooth for Harrison Ford. While in production in England at Pinewood Studios, Harrison Ford injured himself when one of the hydraulic doors fell on his leg breaking it. The injury required surgery and Ford was out for a few weeks recovering. Abrams recently revealed he also hurt his back trying to help lift the door off Ford’s leg and was forced to wear a back brace for months, as previously reported by the Inquisitr.
Later in the summer, Harrison Ford suffered another accident, this time flying his vintage World War II airplane. Ford crash landed on a Los Angeles golf course and was hospitalized once again. Now as Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set to open in a few short weeks, Ford helped fans get even more excited to see what Abrams has in store for them with his appearance at the AMAs.
Watch the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens TV spot which debuted at the AMAs Sunday night.
[Image via Lucasfilm]
