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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:26 AM Jun 2014

Harrison Ford's Injury May Have Completely Screwed Up Episode VII

Uh-oh. Please take out your official Star Wars: Episode VII Salt Lick, but now that it's been officially revealed that Harrison Ford's leg is broken, the rumor is he'll be sidelined for six full months — which means the movie's either getting delayed or massively rewritten.

The potential news comes from the UK-based site Jedi News, who says sources told them of an emergency meeting ay Pinewood Studios this morning to discuss how to handle Ford's sudden unavailability. Since Ford's Han Solo is reportedly the film's lead, the only way to make its Christmas 2015 release date — which Disney has refused to move before — is to rewrite Ford's scenes, or rewrite the script entirely.

Assuming Ford is indeed the main character (which is itself a no-brainer), I honestly don't know how this rumor isn't true. Unless the script has Han Solo sitting down most of the time, something will need to change to accommodate Ford's injury, and that's either the script or the release date. The question is whether Disney would rather take the gamble on a Harrison Ford-light Episode VII movie in December '15, or whether Disney's shareholders and quarterly profit predictions and whatnot have the capacity to be patient.

If I had to guess, I think they'll wait; I think Disney will feel much more comfortable keeping Harrison Ford the movie's main star, no offense to Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. I also think the side-benefit of giving the film another six months of production time is better than trying force a full script rewrite at this point — as it stands, the movie is only 18 months away...

http://io9.com/harrison-fords-injury-may-have-completely-screwed-up-ep-1594838394

49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Harrison Ford's Injury May Have Completely Screwed Up Episode VII (Original Post) onehandle Jun 2014 OP
They could us a stunt double LynneSin Jun 2014 #1
I would be happier if none of the original character played a central role Orrex Jun 2014 #2
Didn't Lucas do that with Star Wars 1-3? Larkspur Jun 2014 #7
It was terrible for other reasons, too Orrex Jun 2014 #12
I, for one, would like to see the grandson of Jar Jar Binks take the lead. DetlefK Jun 2014 #14
IT'S A TRAP!!!!! riqster Jun 2014 #3
robert shaw injured his leg just before filming "the sting" (1973) unblock Jun 2014 #4
Geez. He needed orthopedic space boots even before the injury. marmar Jun 2014 #5
I'm sure ep 7 was "screwed up" long before Ford's leg KurtNYC Jun 2014 #6
JJ Abrams reddread Jun 2014 #8
Episode 1? Seriously? Orrex Jun 2014 #15
only when not compared to the others n/t reddread Jun 2014 #17
Wow. Orrex Jun 2014 #20
if you set aside the racist stereotypes reddread Jun 2014 #22
We will have to agree to disagree, alas. Orrex Jun 2014 #23
not about Kirby I hope. reddread Jun 2014 #28
Whoops--breezed right past it. Orrex Jun 2014 #35
Episode 1 had 2 things going for it... SomethingFishy Jun 2014 #47
It was so bad I stopped watching them right there. eShirl Jun 2014 #21
They shall join a long line of sequels I pretend do not exist CBGLuthier Jun 2014 #13
I don't think there is anything more tiresome Dreamer Tatum Jun 2014 #19
Na-uh! Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #32
When I was a kid I wanted to be a fire truck when I grew up pinboy3niner Jun 2014 #37
Better than me. I wanted to be a ceiling fan. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #39
Actually, Star Wars changed several times, with each new "special" edition n/t arcane1 Jun 2014 #34
They could Professor X Han. Xyzse Jun 2014 #9
Or seal him in carbonite again pinboy3niner Jun 2014 #16
At least for half the movie Xyzse Jun 2014 #24
Given that nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #10
Well, the failings of all of the previous films can be summed up in two words: Orrex Jun 2014 #18
I got a bad feeling about this... nt Rex Jun 2014 #11
Nicely done... SidDithers Jun 2014 #27
Ha! myrna minx Jun 2014 #36
Glad to see I have company in my low expectations for Episode VII....... Paladin Jun 2014 #25
Stunt double, lots of close ups, stick him on a dolly if they need to make it look like he's walking MADem Jun 2014 #26
Short guys unite, we got this thing! nolabels Jun 2014 #30
Hee hee--that's more the director than the actor! Mickey Rooney never let height stop him. MADem Jun 2014 #31
Where is Sylvester Stallone? onehandle Jun 2014 #40
He hasn't done anything impressive lately, I guess. MADem Jun 2014 #43
Star Wars Episode VII: Hans Solo Breaks a Hip. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #29
OMG--someone should make a photoshop of that movie poster!!! MADem Jun 2014 #33
Good thing you said something about it Rex Jun 2014 #45
LOL. nt Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #46
The original movie set the template for special effects that helped with situations like these... cascadiance Jun 2014 #38
Hell, The Sopranos brought back Livia for one last episode.... Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2014 #48
A "no-brainer" that Solo should be the lead character? Alex P Notkeaton Jun 2014 #41
Just work it into his character. Yavin4 Jun 2014 #42
This is the future! They fix shit in a jiffy! MADem Jun 2014 #44
I think Jackie Chan broke his foot or something in a movie once.... Xolodno Jun 2014 #49

Orrex

(63,057 posts)
2. I would be happier if none of the original character played a central role
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:32 AM
Jun 2014

I mean, how much of the universe can happen to the same four or five people?

Let some of the other countless billions in the Republic take a turn in the spotlight, I say.

 

Larkspur

(12,804 posts)
7. Didn't Lucas do that with Star Wars 1-3?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:53 AM
Jun 2014

I saw Star Wars 1 and thought it was terrible so much so that I was not intrigued to see 2 and 3.

Orrex

(63,057 posts)
12. It was terrible for other reasons, too
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:03 AM
Jun 2014

Obi-Wan, Anakin, C3PO, R2D2, Yoda, Palpatine, Jabba & Chewbacca, along wit Li'l Luke 'n Li'l Leia.

Apparently that far, far away galaxy is a tiny place.

unblock

(51,920 posts)
4. robert shaw injured his leg just before filming "the sting" (1973)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:44 AM
Jun 2014

he limped during the film and it worked out really well. awesomely well.

of course, a limp on a tough mob boss having "muscle" around him to back up his threats works better than a broken leg on a "solo" (pun intended, groan) action hero.


nevertheless, i have eminent faith in hollywood's ability to work around such a problem, especially these days, when frames can be touched and doctored very effectively.

keep in mind that, at his age, ford was never going to be a swashbuckling, fast-moving guy anyway. they were probably already relying on doubles and long shots and cgi anyway.

KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)
6. I'm sure ep 7 was "screwed up" long before Ford's leg
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:51 AM
Jun 2014

IMHO Each movie is progressively worse than the last and the George Lucas took it upon himself to go back and screw up the first ones.

 

reddread

(6,896 posts)
8. JJ Abrams
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:58 AM
Jun 2014

it was over before it started. what a gross director to choose. doomed.
the first two movies and episode 1 are watchable.
Im afraid episode 1 is the best of them, but those first two
have a lot of appeal.
If it wasnt for American Graffiti ....
im sorry those buffoons injured Ford.
he shouldnt suffer for their insane greed, but they should.

Orrex

(63,057 posts)
20. Wow.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:15 AM
Jun 2014

I find it to be an objectively terrible film for many reasons, whether considered independently or compared to the others.

Jedi had its shortcomings, but it's Citizen Kane next to Episode I.

 

reddread

(6,896 posts)
22. if you set aside the racist stereotypes
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:20 AM
Jun 2014

its a good clean kids adventure, carried out much better than the following two.
I was sorry to realize it was better than the first films and those following it.
Believe me, I despised it from the first moment for just the unimaginative accents.
But in the end, it was the best of them, when each is considered a chapter.
its too bad Lucas couldnt complete his original intentions.
Or give Jack Kirby credit as a source.
skank.

SomethingFishy

(4,876 posts)
47. Episode 1 had 2 things going for it...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:34 PM
Jun 2014

1. The hardware! Which, let's be serious is what Star Wars is all about. Great ships, and great monsters.

2. Darth Maul. The lightsaber battle between Maul, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan was epic...

Beyond that, it was easily the worst of the 6 movies.

CBGLuthier

(12,723 posts)
13. They shall join a long line of sequels I pretend do not exist
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:05 AM
Jun 2014

The Fly 2
All the Highlander sequels.
21st century Indiana Jones movies.

I will acknowledge the prequel trilogy, lame as it was except for parts of the third one but I will pass on any more SW in this lifetime.

It's Disney FFS!! I plan on giving the abortion they are turning Into the Woods into a pass also. Not kill Rapunzel? I will not hear of it.

Dreamer Tatum

(10,926 posts)
19. I don't think there is anything more tiresome
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:15 AM
Jun 2014

than listening to adults debate the quality of the Star Wars franchise.

Know what else people found magical when they were kids, but are jaded about now? Fire trucks.

Star Wars didn't change, YOU did.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
37. When I was a kid I wanted to be a fire truck when I grew up
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:47 PM
Jun 2014

Now, after all these decades, I still want to be a fire truck when I grow up.

 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
10. Given that
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:01 AM
Jun 2014

1.- He was airlifted

2.- He was airlifted to a specialized fracture trauma center...

This is not necessarily news.

That said, after 1. II and III... I expect little from the next three.

Orrex

(63,057 posts)
18. Well, the failings of all of the previous films can be summed up in two words:
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:13 AM
Jun 2014

George Lucas.

With his reduced involvement in the forthcoming trilogy, I'm more optimistic than I was during the runup to the "prequel" trilogy.

I am perhaps also aided by the fact that I acquiesced to the internet's demand that everyone summarily hate Abrams, so there's that.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
26. Stunt double, lots of close ups, stick him on a dolly if they need to make it look like he's walking
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:48 AM
Jun 2014

This is not all that hard. Find someone who looks like him from the back, change up some of the shots, give him lots of close ups to make up for his lack of "full body" appearance on screen. It's not rocket science.

Hell, they used to put Sophia Loren and other actresses in HOLES to compensate for short actors. And when the women weren't walking in ditches, the men were standing on fruit boxes to do those romantic kisses.

I say drug the guy up and keep on going.

nolabels

(13,133 posts)
30. Short guys unite, we got this thing!
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:05 PM
Jun 2014

We all can get our own personal fruit box. Some of us might even make it to romantic kissers heaven


Sorry for the little bit of sarcasm , but i do appreciate the backstage pass at any rate

MADem

(135,425 posts)
31. Hee hee--that's more the director than the actor! Mickey Rooney never let height stop him.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:10 PM
Jun 2014

For some odd reason, large males often do not photograph well. Even the "big" actors aren't really all that big!

onehandle

(51,122 posts)
40. Where is Sylvester Stallone?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:06 PM
Jun 2014

His PR people work hard to scrub his true height off the Internet.

They claim that he is 5'9" or 5'10" when in reality he is 5'6" or 5'7"

My wife met him about 20 years ago and was shocked how short and small in stature he is.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
43. He hasn't done anything impressive lately, I guess.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:48 PM
Jun 2014

I think maybe the facelift ruined him.

I saw him in that cop film (he played an obese cop) and was shocked at what a performance he delivered--he apparently has 'nuance' in him beyond the action/dumb boxer memes, but he's going to have to wait until this facelift falls before he can take advantage of his skills.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,053 posts)
29. Star Wars Episode VII: Hans Solo Breaks a Hip.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:05 PM
Jun 2014

The story is centered around the other characters search for a good home health nurse for Hans, and the resurgence of the Evil Empire in the form of a penny-pinching HMO seeking to deny coverage.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
45. Good thing you said something about it
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:26 PM
Jun 2014

In a universe far far away, Worf's Galactic Plan runs out tonight on stardate 24.32.1.234.2.4.3.4226677.

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
38. The original movie set the template for special effects that helped with situations like these...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 12:47 PM
Jun 2014

... in other films. Special effects were used in films like Gladiator to help "patch" scenes digitally when actors like Oliver Reed died in the course of making the film. Series like Orphan Black where programmed motion help making have the same actor appear in the same scene multiple times routine that would have been impossible with some of the landmarks in special effects that the original Star Wars brought in to being.

It sounds like there's a gauntlet being laid down that perhaps that might be needed again this time around. Perhaps digital effects can be used in a new fashion to help with having Ford combine filming of himself in a disabled state with those of a stunt double to produce believable scenes. Maybe push the envelope again. Then this Star Wars could pick up where the last one left off in terms of being a landmark film in the same fashion.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,053 posts)
48. Hell, The Sopranos brought back Livia for one last episode....
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:37 PM
Jun 2014

....even though actress Nancy Marchand had already died months before the episode aired. They just used a body double with Marchand's face superimposed on it.

So anything's possible, I supposed.

MADem

(135,425 posts)
44. This is the future! They fix shit in a jiffy!
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 01:51 PM
Jun 2014

I think they can film around him--it's not like he's totally incapacitated. Just stick him in a chair on wheels, and roll him around for the medium shots. Then do a lot of close up work, and use doubles.

The sound guys will have to work overtime, dubbing footsteps, etc. but they can do it, they aren't stupid.

Xolodno

(6,311 posts)
49. I think Jackie Chan broke his foot or something in a movie once....
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 04:45 PM
Jun 2014

....he had the cast mocked up to look like his shoe and finished the movie. I wouldn't be surprised if they do something similar, waist up shots, etc. Worst case scenario...do what Lucas did in the first three and computer generate images.


Side note: I think this move will be called great considering so many people have low expectations.

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