Page 23 - Star Wars Insider #194

RISE AND SHINE

06
NEW
FACES
Every Star Wars
changed, rapidly, at movie introduces
an amazing speed, new heroes and
and it’s been great. villains. Which sides
will Zorii Bliss and
What has stood out
Jannah take?
the most, what is the
most heartwarming, ZORII BLISS
is the collaboration Keri Russell
I’ve shared with all the “Zorii Bliss lives
in the grey area
amazing individuals between good and
who have been a bad. She’s done
part of creating these some rather sketchy 07
things in her lifetime
movies. I’ve made
and has a tough
friends and become exterior—she’s very
part of a big family, much a survivor. J.J.
wanted Zorii to be
and that’s a major
alluring, to keep the
thing to let go of.” audience wondering
about who she is. I
The Old Guard loved that.”
One actor whose JANNAH
contribution to Star
Naomi Ackie
Wars cannot be “Jannah is the
understated is Mark leader of a group
of vagabonds who
Hamill, for whom
live on a junk world,
Luke Skywalker has surviving the best
proven to be the literal way they know
role of a lifetime, and how. She has a
vulnerability about
whom he plays one
her, an insecurity, but
last time in The Rise of at the end of the day
Skywalker. she is fi ghting for a
greater good which
“I never in a million
ultimately overrides
years expected to be her insecurities.”
back,” Hamill admits.
“I thought if they did
a third trilogy, it would Another familiar face joining this laughs. “The cape is very much a

be set ten, fifty, one hundred years final battle is Billy Dee Williams, part of Lando’s persona. I mean,

in the future, so it was completely who dons a flowing cape as suave Lando has style. There’s no doubt

unexpected. And I’m enjoying it scoundrel Lando Calrissian. Did about it!”
in a way I never could have in my he have any reservations about Perhaps it’s fitting that the fi nal

twenties.” returning to the role? word should come from Anthony
While he seems surprised to “None whatsoever. I’d wondered Daniels who, as C-3PO, uttered

have returned to the saga, Hamill if Lando would return, so I was very the first line of dialogue in A New
insists its enduring popularity is no happy about being asked to come Hope, a long time ago, in a galaxy
surprise at all. “Star Wars is such back,” says the veteran actor. “As far, far away. How did he feel about
a positive film,” he says. “I mean, an actor you are always looking bringing this incredible journey to

it is so optimistic, so inspiring. It forward to doing interesting things, a close?
encourages you to do the right and I got really lucky to have the “On my final day of shooting it

thing, because it’s the right thing opportunity to work with George was very moving, a very bittersweet
to not think of yourself, but to do Lucas. I mean, he’s one of fi lm’s moment,” Daniels confesses.
what’s right for the greater good.” great innovators. And J.J. Abrams “Making these movies has been
was so much fun to work with. He hard work, but it has also been fun
is so imaginative. It’s been one of and a great joy for me. I have been
“I never in a million years the high points of my career.” in Star Wars since day one out in
And was the cape a contractual Tunisia in 1976, so it has been quite
expected to be back.” obligation? “I made it very clear it something to have survived this
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) was part of who he is,” Williams long. It has been quite a ride.”

STAR WARS INSIDER / 23