MOVIE NEWS – The death of Carrie Fisher continues to deeply affect her long-time co-star and friend, Mark Hamill. Along with George Lucas and Harrison Ford, Fisher and Hamill played pivotal roles in shaping the Star Wars franchise, which began in 1977. They portrayed the iconic siblings, Luke and Leia, who were separated at birth and later reunited as the Rebel Alliance battled the Empire. While Hamill remains a devoted fan of the franchise, he recently shared that the magic of Star Wars has felt different since Fisher’s death in 2016.

Eight years after Fisher’s passing, Hamill briefly discussed the topic at the ‘Mark Hamill Live’ panel during Fan Expo Chicago (via @va.va.vera on TikTok). He recounted learning of Fisher’s death and how it has profoundly impacted his feelings towards the Star Wars saga. Hamill admitted that watching the beloved series no longer feels the same, stating that “the heart is gone.” Hamill shared:

“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 as the Moral Heart of Star Wars

For many fans, Star Wars is defined by its iconic imagery: the Force, lightsabers, X-wings, and more. However, at its core, the saga is a timeless battle of good versus evil, with Princess Leia serving as the moral compass—or “heart,” as Hamill describes it. Before Luke Skywalker set off on his Jedi journey, Leia had been opposing the oppressive Empire for years. When Luke set out to rescue Leia in Episode IV – A New Hope, she had already endured severe torture by Darth Vader, yet she refused to disclose any information about the Rebel Alliance.

During the panel, Hamill spoke about Leia’s legacy. Despite some controversies, such as her famous metal bikini in Return of the Jedi, Leia has been a long-standing feminist icon. Hamill described Leia’s impact on modern feminism as “effortless,” commending how she often outshone the franchise’s male characters and faced danger with fearless determination. He explained:

“I also thought that it was effortless feminism to have the princess be far from a shrieking violet. She was confronting Darth Vader directly. She was not intimidated by him in the slightest. When [Luke and Han Solo] rescued her, she made fools out of Luke and Han. ‘You call this a rescue? Give me that gun.’ And she made us look like the two stooges.”

It has been nearly a decade since Fisher’s passing. The actress reprised her role in the recent sequel trilogy, appearing in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Although some fans had strong opinions about the sequels, the return of Leia was well received. Fisher passed away before The Rise of Skywalker was produced, but she appeared in the film through previously unreleased footage from The Force Awakens and CGI enhancements.

Source: MovieWeb