The passing ofCarrie Fisherstill cuts deep into the heart of her long-time co-star and friendMark Hamill. The pair, along with George Lucas and Harrison Ford, ushered in a new age of science-fiction cinema with theStar Warsfranchise back in 1977. Hamill and Fisher played Luke and Leia, respectively, brother and sister who were separated at birth and reunite as the Rebel Alliance fights back against the Empire. As well as starring in the franchise, Hamill considers himself one of its biggest fans. However, he recently revealed that the saga hasn’t felt the same for him in the years since Fisher’s passing in 2016.
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
Eight years after Fisher’s death, Hamill briefly addressed the subject at the ‘Mark Hamill live’ panel at Fan Expo Chicago (via@va.va.veraon TikTok). The actor recalled the day he learned of Fisher’s passing, and the long-lasting effect it had on him. Hamill went so far as to say that watching the beloved franchise doesn’t feel the same because “the heart is gone.” Mark Hamill said:
“My wife came into the bedroom, she gets up earlier than I do, I was still asleep, and tears streaming down her face, saying that ‘Carrie didn’t make it.’ It forever altered how I reacted to Star Wars in general. The heart was gone. I don’t talk about it because I don’t like reliving it.”
Princess Leia Was the Moral Heart of Star Wars
To many fans, what definesStar Warsis its visual iconography: the Force, lightsabers, x-wings, etc. But at the saga’s core is a classic tale of good vs evil, with Princess Leia as the franchise’s moral beacon — or “heart” as Hamill puts it. Long before Luke Skywalker leaves Tatooine to train as a Jedi, Leia had been standing up to the oppressive Empire for years. When Luke went torescue Leia inEpisode IV - New Hope,she had already been subjected to brutal torture by Darth Vader, but refused to give up information about the Rebel Alliance.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Footage Blows Fans' Minds at D23
Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni introduced the clip from the film, which is the first Star Wars movie since 2019.
During the panel, Mark Hamill addressed Leia’s legacy as a character. Despite some minor controversies, like herinfamous metal bikini inReturn of the Jedi, Leia has long been a feminist icon. Hamill described Leia’s influence on the modern feminist movement as “effortless,” praising how she frequently outdid the franchise’s male characters, and would run into the face of danger without any fear. He explained:
“I also thought that it was effortless feminism to have the princess be far from a shrieking violet. She was telling Darth Vader off to his face. She was not intimidated by Darth Vader in the slightest. When [Luke and Han Solo] rescued her, she made chumps out of Luke and Han. ‘You call this a rescue? Give me that gun.’ And she made us look like the two stooges.”
It’s nearly been a decade since the passing of Fisher. The actress reprised her role in the recent sequel trilogy, appearing inThe Force AwakensandThe Last Jedi. Despite fans' harsh opinions about the sequels, no one badmouthed the return of Leia. Fisher died before the production ofThe Rise of Skywalker. However, she still appeared in the movie, through previously unreleased footage fromThe Force Awakensand CGI enhancement.
The entireStar Warssaga can be streamed on Disney+.
