Harrison Ford Injured On The Set Of Star Wars: Episode VII
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It’s really difficult not to run a sensationalist headline that reads something like, “OMG, J.J. Abrams Tries To Rip Han Solo’s Foot Off On The Set Of Star Wars: Episode VII!!!” That sounds like a great deal of fun, but my more responsible side won out in this instance. The situation doesn’t appear to be all that serious, but Harrison Ford did in fact sprain his ankle while filming, and was taken to the hospital to get checked out and heal as necessary.
Disney released this brief statement, which says exactly what we just told you, but hey, it’s official:
Harrison Ford sustained an ankle injury during filming today on the set of Star Wars: Episode VII. He was taken to a local hospital and is receiving care. Shooting will continue as planned while he recuperates.
There’s no word on the severity of the injury, but it doesn’t sound particularly serious, or like it will impact filming all that much. According to The Hollywood Reporter’s sources, the 71-year-old Ford had a mishap and was hurt by the door on his iconic spaceship the Millennium Falcon. This just reconfirms the earlier reports that the beloved bucket of bolts will indeed appear in the film. If Han does actually turn out to have the substantial role that has been rumored—he’s been called a co-lead by some—you can’t think for a second that he’s not jumping back into action without her. Or, as the case may be, shuffling back into action.
The mischievous part of me really, really hopes that conspiracy theorists latch onto what is in reality a very minor incident, and run buck wild with it. I want headlines that scream that Harrison Ford has been involved in a horrific accident, and that he’s barely clinging to life. After all, we haven’t seen proof that he isn’t. Maybe he’s the target of some grand, overly elaborate plot to derail production on the new movies, and this was no accident (cue dramatic music). That would make this story way, way more interesting, not to mention fun.
Disney also apparently has a sizeable insurance policy on Ford due to his age—and probably similar one on all of the returning actors who are all getting on in years. Perhaps Star Wars: Episode VII is nothing more than an elaborate long con designed to fleece the insurance companies out of millions of dollars. I think we’re on to something here. How much do you want to be that once December 18, 2015 rolls around, we won’t see a movie? Any takers?
Aside from who is in it, and where it is filming, we don’t know much about Episode VII. It takes place 30 years after Return of the Jedi, and Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker will all return to the franchise. The new faces on set include John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Max von Sydow, Domhnall Gleeson, and the most recent additions Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie.
