‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Cast Speaks Out In The Lead Up To Film’s Release
Star Wars: The Force Awakens finally hits theaters in less than a week. As Star Wars mania catapults to a fever pitch only days away from the first new saga installment in over a decade, the cast of the latest film are doing the proprietary press junkets to promote the film (as if they actually need to).
So, what do the stars of Star Wars: The Force Awakens have to say about the J.J. Abrams directed epic? As expected, none of them have given away any major — or indeed, minor — plot points, (we’re certain that there are some pretty serious non-disclosure clauses in their contracts, courtesy of Disney and Lucasfilm lawyers). However, there were some interesting tidbits to be gleaned from the latest round of interviews.
Probably the most revealing thing that Driver said about Kylo Ren was when he was asked to describe the new Star Wars villain in a single word. Driver’s response: “Reckless.” Driver went further to say that Ren’s three-pronged lightsaber is really a metaphor for the character of Kylo Ren.
“It’s such a big metaphor for the character that you kind of got the sense that at any minute it could ‘not work,’ or that it was kind of ‘un-perfect,’ and it could at any moment spontaneously combust.”
The young English actress, Daisy Ridley, plays Rey, one of the new heroes in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. After seeing the finished film, Ridley said that she was quite surprised by the film even though she knew the entire script. Daisy said that she thought that that was a good thing — if she could be surprised and thrilled by the film, then those that are coming wholly new the story certainly will be as well. Ridley mentioned that she had to train for five hours per day in preparation for the role, and that, unlike Carrie Fisher, who was sent to a “fat farm” to lose weight before her appearance in Star Wars: A New Hope, Daisy actually was encouraged to eat more to put on more muscle.
“She’s not like a fighter, but she lives alone on a desert planet, so, yes, she can look after herself.”
Harrison Ford is synonymous with Han Solo. He is Han Solo. So much so, then when at the conclusion of one of the first trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, when Han and Chewbacca both appear onscreen together for the first time in over 30 years, when Han utters that singular line: “Chewie, we’re home,” millions of Star Wars fans the world over felt a collective shiver run up and down their spines. Ford could also said to be the “Doubting Thomas” of the original Star Wars cast. The actor is widely considered a charming curmudgeon — a trait that Han Solo himself could also be said to carry — so many fans have eagerly awaited what the famous actor thinks of the latest Star Wars episode.
As expected, Harrison was direct, and to the point.
“It’s good.”
It should be said that Ford delivered that simple review without sarcasm, albeit with his famous lopsided grin.
Gwendoline Christie, who up until this Friday is best known from Game of Thrones, plays Captain Phasma in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and she says that it was a very long time before she could even confirm that publicly. When asked to describe the chrome stormtrooper, Captain Phasma, in one word, Christie said: “Bada**.” When Christie was asked whether or not fans would see Phasma without her helmet on in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“That would be revealing a plot point… that would be revealing a potential plot point… that would be divulging a plot point and would ruin the movie for everybody.”
Carrie Fisher reprises her role of Princess Leia Organa (Solo?) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. So, what’s Leia’s character like in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, according to Carrie Fisher?
“She’s a sass factory… no, less so. Because, as you get older, you experience exhaustion… so the sassy-ness has less motor to growl on.”
It seems like it was only yesterday that Star Wars fans were looking more than a year into the future when the new Star Wars film would be released. And now, finally, we’re less than a week away from the release of the latest chapter in a great modern mythology. Do you have your tickets for Star Wars: The Force Awakens?
[Photo by Christopher Jue/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios]
