Aren’t you rich? Why are you doing this?
Ford: It’s because it’s what I do. It’s what I like to do. It’s what’s fun for me. And the chance to work with people that I really admire, doing something that I thought was going to be fun and which actually turned out to be fun. And to work with J.J., whose work I really admired and long known about, and it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Can you describe what it means to you to be one of the bridges between the original series and this new generation?
Ford: It’s gratifying to be asked to be part of this. There was an interesting story to tell through the character. It’s always nice to anticipate working in something that you know people will have an appetite for. This not a rubbish shoot. This is big casino. And it’s fun to play with these toys again. It’s been a great experience.
What is the bigger difference between this “Star Wars” and the other “Star Wars,” and how does it feel being back?
Ford: What is the difference? I think it’s hard to say what the difference is. I can tell you how it feels. It feels familiar. It feels good. “It’s good to be home,” as Han says in the trailer, in the teaser trailer. I’m aware of the value that’s placed on these films by the audience, and I’m gratified that they’ve been passed on, the first three have been passed on generationally through families. And it’s still an audience for those of us that were in the original film. There’s still some value to them in interpreting life, somehow. And it’s a bit of a mystery, but it’s very gratifying to be part of that.
As a parent, what’s it like telling your kids you’re coming back to this franchise? Did that up the cool factor with them?
Ford: My kids do not think I’m cool at all. Being in this movie is not going to convince them otherwise. No. They’re just glad to see that dad is still working.
What do you tell younger actors that come up to you for advice?
Ford: Yeah. But I’m not going to tell them how to navigate this very personal space of trying to figure out the careers that they’ve chosen for themselves. It is bizarrely individual how you navigate the space between where they’re at now and the rest of your useful professional life. But they’re in for a big ride. And they know it, I think. I hope you know it.
How difficult was it for you to slip into the role, and how did you prepare. Is it easier to originate a role or come back to something familiar?
Ford: It seemed easy to come back to the character. Clothes make the man. I’ve walked more than a mile in those boots. I was interested in the described path of the character. I thought there was an interesting bit of business for the character to do. And I’ve been having a real good time with J.J. Abrams talking about it and getting ready for the adventure of filming. So it was easy.
Do you have favorite scene in this movie?
Ford: The scene in the snake bikini sitting on Jabba the Hut’s lap. That’s my favorite.
