Han Solo may be gone, but Harrison Ford’s career moves on. Probably, if past interviews are any indication, much to his relief. For example, Ford recently starred in Call of the Wild, an upcoming film based on Jack London’s classic adventure novel. Still, that hasn’t stopped pundits from, like a certain director, dragging him kicking and screaming back into Star Wars. And in a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote Call of the Wild, Ford’s complicated relationship with the series is on display in full force.
Appearing on the February 10 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ford does promote Call of the Wild, sure. But he also takes the opportunity- or is at least forced into it by Kimmel- to address The Rise of Skywalker.
“Last time you were here,” Kimmel asks not 30 seconds into the discussion, “you were almost pleading with the Star Wars people to kill Han Solo.”
Ford gives a Han-worthy shrug, probably mentally prepping for what would come next.
“You had enough of Han Solo. You wanted him dea-”
Before he can be caught on Disney’s bad side, Ford raises one hand and smirks, before bantering back with “You’re putting a different complexion on it.” He then semi-gracefully deflects with his signature shade.
“I figured that his utility had been exhausted- bled out- and I was willing to die for…the cause.”
“And you did indeed die for the cause,” says Kimmel. “And then we go to see the new movie.”
“Welllllll,” Ford replies with a sense of bewilderment. “No good deed goes unpunished.”
It’s a fun interaction, one that playfully allows anyone reading between the lines to know how Ford feels about the state of the franchise, while still poking fun at himself, and also calling back to his post The Force Awakens interview with Kimmel, where he celebrated the success of his 30-year campaign to get Han Solo killed. Oops.
They banter a bit more, with Kimmel jokingly comparing Han Solo’s scene in The Rise of Skywalker to a Christlike resurrection, but maybe my favorite line is when Kimmel asks Ford who convinced him to reprise his role, and how.
“Uh,” Ford starts. “J.J. said this is a good idea. I, J.J., have decided that this is a good idea. And I would like you to do it.”
Fords eyes are lit up with a mix of panic and judgment the whole time. I assume something a little more tangible probably lured him back to the set, and that there’s a reason why Ford is pinning the whole idea on Abrams. What comes next, though, is the ultimate sidestep. When Kimmel asks Ford if he trusts Abrams well enough to just follow his suggestions like that- a question that maybe tosses some shade of its own- Ford replies in a mock-quaking voice…
“Don’t you?”
The interview moves away from Star Wars at this point, but it’s a cute interaction, and Ford is a treat throughout- seeing him mock Kimmel for not understanding CG after a Call of the Wild preview scene is incredible, even if Kimmel is in on the joke. Even in unscripted conversation, though. Ford acts with his hands, eyes, and tone in a way that conveys almost more meaning than the actual words being said. Which is what makes this cute interview such a treat- Ford has been known to throw shade at Star Wars before, straining against plausible deniability that he might like the series as much as possible, and now we’re finally seeing his response to the most recent controversial choice regarding his character. As much as the man seems to dislike Star Wars, it’s clear here that he’s perfectly cast as Han Solo.
With other famously anti-Star Wars original trilogy alum Alec Guinness now gone, Star Wars fans need a new grumpy old man to keep us grounded as the series continues. I think Ford fits the role perfectly.
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