'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Comic-Con Panel: The Return of Old Friends

Kerrie Mitchell
Updated

Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Harrison Ford (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Harrison Ford made a thunderous return to the Star Wars galaxy Friday night at the Comic-Con panel for The Force Awakens. The actor had skipped April’s Star Wars Celebration panel as he recuperated from a plane crash in March. His appearance finally brought the original gang of Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker back together as he joined costars Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill onstage.

“I’m fine,” said Ford, making his first public appearance (and statement) since the crash. “I walked here, so how bad can it be?” When asked about returning to one of the roles that made him a legend, Ford replied, “It should have felt ridiculous…. It was 30-plus years ago and I sorta grew up. Yet here I was. I will tell you that it felt great.”

The actor, who turns 73 next week, was smiling and near-sprightly as he took the stage, with no limp, or any sign of wear and tear. Much like the Millennium Falcon, he’s still got it where it counts.

Hamill, for his part, got sentimental about the legions of Star Wars fans: “Without you guys we’re nothing…. When I meet you on the street everyone has a story it’s such a personal story…it’s very moving to me.“

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The trio weren’t the only familiar faces on display Friday night. Director J.J. Abrams showed off new behind-the-scenes footage that offered tantalizing hints about characters who might be making a return appearance in the Dec. 18 sequel. It’s no surprise at all that we spied original-trilogy mainstays Anthony Daniels and Peter Mayhew as C-3PO and Chewbacca, respectively.

And the first look at an older, regal-looking Princess Leia was definitely a thrill:

But the new clip also gave us hints that even more old friends will be joining the show. First, we caught a glimpse of a good ol’ lumbering gonk droid from A New Hope, played by an actress who says, “I’m just going to bring this character to life.”

And then even more exciting: the close-up flash of a fish-eyed mask that looks suspiciously like the intrepid Rebel commander Admiral “It’s a trap!” Ackbar from Return of the Jedi:

That was followed quickly by another unmistakable visage from Return of the Jedi: Nien Nunb, Lando Calrissian’s co-pilot during the Battle of Endor.

Still no sign of Salacious B. Crumb, alas. Did we miss anyone else? And who are all these mysterious new additions to the Star Wars universe?