For Star Wars fans: do you find it ironic that the 1st trilogy was kinder to Harrison Ford than it was to the?

Question

hero of the trilogy, Mark Hamill? I mean it basically launched Harrison Ford's career while Hamill went on to do a few films and later the voice of the Joker but compared to Ford, Mark hamill didnt do much after Return of the Jedi. And the second trilogy really didnt launch anyone's career as most of the actors
had already established themselves as actors. I just thought this was interesting to note.

Answer 1

The original Star Wars movie (Episode 4) did center around Luke Skywalker, and if that was the only movie made it would be very ironic that the careers of Ford, Hamill, and Fisher turned out the way they did, but if you consider the entire original trilogy, its not that ironic.

In Episode 4, Luke was written as the "hero" and central character, while the other main characters (Han, Leia, and Kenobi) were there to support the hero on his adventure. Chewbacca, R2-D2, and C-3P0 were minor characters intended to provide comic relief, or act as key elements to progress the story such as R2 carrying the Death Star plans which starts the adventure or Chewbacca acting as a prisoner so that the main hero (Luke) can get into the detention center and rescue the Princess.

Where A New Hope was a simple hero's tale (a single main character that triumphs over all) the sequel paints the much larger picture of the continuing struggle against the Empire and that there is more than just one person "fighting evil" and are also heroic. Though Luke is still the "main hero" the spotlight is not so intently centered on him, and the other characters receive more focus. This, of course, allowed movie goers to become much more familiar with the actors that played them, and become fans of the actors themselves rather than just a fan of the Star Wars films.

Career-wise, it's not that unusual for the way things had turned out for the actors that played the main characters of Luke, Leia, and Han.

In Carrie Fisher’s case, she was very similar to Drew Barrymore and Tatum O’Neil, granted she wasn’t an actual “child star” like they were, but was the daughter of famous parents, and a victim of the same pressures of fame and addiction. Her acting career would have been much better if it wasn’t for the addiction, but she instead turned towards writing, mainly screenplay and script revisions, but also a few novels.

Mark Hamill, well he’s (for lack of a better word) a geek at heart. If he wasn’t famous for being Luke Skywalker, he’d still be at the Comic-Con as a fan. The way I see it, Hamill was an okay actor, but never really put in any real effort to making it a career, and found it difficult to find roles that didn’t typecast him into characters similar to that of Luke Skywalker. His interest seem to be elsewhere, and he’s used his love of comics to refocus his career. Doing the voice of the Joker, was only one of Hamill’s recent works, but he has done countless other voices for a number of animated shows and movies, work that allows him to be more creative and diversified as an actor, instead of confined to the role and character of Luke Skywalker, or those like him.

The real irony with Star Wars and Harrison Ford’s career is that fact that he became successful, by distancing himself from a character (Han Solo) for which he almost didn’t get the part.

Lucas had already made a successful film with Ford (American Graffiti) and was looking for fresh faces for Star Wars. He had Ford help read lines for casting the other characters, but did not want to actually cast Ford for a part. In fact, Lucas would not let Ford audition for any of the parts, but Ford managed to talk Lucas into giving the role of Han Solo to him. Even after getting the part Ford did not cling to the character of Han Solo or the Star Wars craze, and that is what allowed for his career to take off.

By distancing himself from the role of Han Solo and Star Wars, he was better able to grow as an actor by refusing to limit himself to being typecast and seeking out different roles and characters. The other contributing factor was Ford’s luck in the movies he ended up being cast in (Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, etc.) with diverse and memorable characters that allowed him to reach fans beyond the Sci-Fi circle and become more famous.

Answer 2

Actually, I wouldn't say that Star Wars was responsible for the launching of Harrison Ford's career. I would attribute that to Raiders Of The Lost Ark several years later. Raiders is what made him a huge star.

In addition, while Harrison Ford is more obviously in the limelight as a movie star, Mark Hamill has a very prolific career behind the scenes as a voice over artist for cartoons and video games.

All in all, I'd say that they have both done pretty well for themselves.

Answer 3

It is a bit ironic, but I think it's because he became typecasted. Because of Star Wars, he is/will always be thought of by most people as Luke Skywalker, not Mark Hamill. Ask anyone who's not a crazy Star Wars fanatic who played Luke Skywalker and they more than likely won't be able to answer. But although Ford's movie career launched, Hamill has done a LOT of voices for different cartoons and still does a lot today. You can see them all on Wiki if you want.

Answer 4

Mark Hamill suffered extensive facial injuries from a car accident in between Star Wars and Empire. I think he never really recovered emotionally even though his reconstructive surgery went well. After ROTJ he went into theater and did some voice work in cartoons. Harrison Ford is just a better more versatile actor, his cool, wise-cracking Han Solo was the better part to showcase his acting abilities. His next few movies: BladeRunner and Raiders of the Lost Ark firmly cemented him as a "everyman" type leading man with chops to spare.

Answer 5

2 info blended right into a rumor - The stay action vast call Wars television sequence this is in preproduction yet - is predicated between episodes 3 and four - is likely going to have Lando and Boba Fett and Han Solo while they have been youthful in some episodes yet there will be youthful actors enjoying those roles. And the different actuality is the subsequent Indiana Jones action picture with Harrison Ford starts off production this 12 months. Preproduction without finished script began final 12 months, with George Lucas being the final to characteristic revisions and approve the appropriate script around November, if I keep in mind properly.

Answer 6

Hamill got label as Do-gooder, thats why and the film star? never made it pass the Star Wars thing.. he's Good Actor!!
but type casting set him up!!!
Ford did the same roll until the Ryan line... like Raiders same carater all three,He should of done Three men! instead of Tomn Selleck like he was supposed to do
Look at Fisher she didn't pass the starwars ledgend...(Carrie)

didnt Chewy play the Harry and Henderson role?

Answer 7

Although Mark Hamill's potrayal of Luke Skywalker is definitely well-remembered and liked by everyone, it was Harrison Ford's potrayal of the smooth, cool, arrogant Han Solo that outshone it.

Answer 8

Ford was all ready known.

American Graffitti (also made by Lucas) actually got him into Star Wars.

Originally he was asked by Lucas to do voice interviews with Hammil and Fisher. Not sure who was gonna play Solo, but by the time they were done Lucas aproached him to take the role anyway.

Also did you know that he never originaly intended to do Return of the Jedi? I dont know what caused him to finally come back for it.

But in a scene in Empire Strikes back, when Leia said she loves hima nd he says "i know" that actually was because he felt that saying he loved her, would mean that he would definately be back for ROTJ. His wish was that once he was carbonized he would die or stay in it.

Answer 9

I know,most of the people on the older Star Wars never really had much of a film career.

Answer 10

harrison chose wisely and made better connections than mark did