Harrison Ford is among the most celebrated actors in Hollywood, having imprinted an indelible mark on the industry and the pop-culture front. Out of the stints he has committed to over the years, his embodiment of Han Solo in Star Wars was an overnight star-maker.
Intriguingly enough, though, despite the legacy that his participation in the epic space opera franchise endured, he has never once shied away from iterating how he felt about certain elements related to the series.
And this included his critique, positioned as light-hearted banter, at George Lucas’ dialogue-writing skills.
In a 2017 GQ cover story, the Raiders of the Lost Ark actor talked about his brutally honest comment and recalled the first time he expressed it on-set to the esteemed figure behind the sprawling multi-media series. And although to most, it could’ve seemed like a scathing remark to bear, with the potential to offend, Harrison Ford believes that George Lucas doesn’t “give a sh*t” of what the former has to think.
And there might be a $4 billion reason behind the filmmaker’s unfazed disposition.
There’s A Multi-billion Dollar Reason Why George Lucas Didn’t Get Offended By Harrison Ford’s Remark
Harrison Ford appeared at his first Star Wars Celebration in 2017, commemorating the 40 Years of the first film. During the event, the now-81-year-old actor, surrounded by the other creatives responsible for making the project and the entire saga unforgettable, iterated his criticism of George Lucas’ dialogue-writing abilities, albeit in jest. And he did so within the filmmaker’s presence. He said, “You can type this stuff. But you can’t say it. Move your mouth while you’re typing it.”
In the same year, this remark was brought up in a GQ cover story featuring Harrison Ford, and the interviewer questioned if these statements bothered George Lucas. The Blade Runner 2049 star, maintaining his humorous tone, dropped the multi-billion dollar reason behind the Lucasfilm founder remaining unfazed despite what the actor seems to think. He affirmed:
“I don’t think [he gets offended]. He sold the company [Lucasfilm] for, you know, $4 billion. He doesn’t give a sh*t what I think.”
The actor’s statement referenced Disney’s $4.05 billion acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, home to household and pop-culture-defining franchises like Indiana Jones and Star Wars. Not only was the deal uber-lucrative and seemingly incomprehensible, but it also meant that Lucas needed to cede creative control.
After his character died in The Force Awakens (2015), Harrison Ford also hung up his Star Wars boots, which means that the two can discuss these anecdotes without allowing offensive sentiments to come into play. Besides, the first time Harrison Ford made his criticism known, he affirmed having done so as a joke. And Lucas, too, one can presume, took it in stride.
Following was the American Graffiti star’s explanation, recounting the first time he commented on George Lucas’ unfurnished dialogue-writing abilities:
“George usually sits near a monitor, far removed, so I had to convey my impression […] about the dialogue across a great space. So I did shout it. ‘George! You can type this sh*t, but you sure can’t say it! Move your mouth when you’re typing!’ But it was a joke at the time. A stress-relieving joke.”
As you can tell, there’s no ‘beef’ between the two, as some fans would like to champion. Just two long-time pals having a friendly banter, really.
On top of that, when it concerns his incapacity to compose “poetic” dialogue—a complaint that some critics have also leveled at the acclaimed filmmaker—George Lucas once acknowledged it as a weakness. He didn’t hesitate to own up to his flaws and admit that dialogue-writing wasn’t his strongest suit.
George Lucas Previously Acknowledged His Weakness In Dialogue Writing
There’s no denying that George Lucas is among those Hollywood visionaries whose imagination and story-telling expertise have changed the course of pop culture and film history for life.
Star Wars best exemplifies the finesse with which the filmmaker has crafted a convincing universe with different worlds and settings. He is a master at inventing concepts of colossal grandiose, producing breathtaking visuals, and taking forward the overarching story meaningfully.
However, the only thing holding back many critics from offering unparalleled praise was his often clunky dialogue-writing, which some deemed ‘wooden’ or ‘stiff’—even ‘unnatural.’ Fans, too, have long discussed this weakness in several forums. And, of course, as you’ve learned, starring talent Harrison Ford made it a point to emphasize it as well.
And while others may crumble at the sight of such criticisms, Lucas ensured that he acknowledged it. In Empire Magazine‘s September 1999 issue, the genius behind the epic space opera franchise said:
“I’d be the first person to say I can’t write dialogue. My dialogue is very utilitarian and is designed to move things forward. I’m not Shakespeare. It’s not designed to be poetic. It’s not designed to have a clever turn of phrase. […] I’m aware that dialogue isn’t my strength. I use it as a device. I don’t particularly like dialogue, which is part of the problem.”
Therefore, while dialogue may been a weak point for the filmmaker, his efficiency in broadening the horizon and the scope of how much can be told in the medium of cinema through sci-fi endeavors remains praise-worthy.
It could also be naïve to expect filmmakers to excel in all departments of filmmaking, given how elaborate it can be. Besides, Star Wars is notable for reasons other than Lucas’s constraints. The things he was particularly good at, which elevated the series’ reputation and characterized its legacy, were what made the piece of media popular among the audiences.
All Star Wars movies in the original, prequel and sequel trilogy are available for streaming on Disney+.
