Over the years, Mark Hamill has created quite a diverse acting portfolio for himself. Outside of his work in the Star Wars franchise, he has explored so many different genres and worked with some of the most talented actors Hollywood has to offer from all its corners. This has helped him understand the difference between a good and a bad director.
With all his knowledge in mind, it is quite surprising to know that he does not think that his co-star, Harrison Ford, would be a good director. Even though the actor has played iconic roles like Han Solo, Indiana Jones, and now the Red Hulk, he has never been behind the camera, and that might be for good reason.
Harrison Ford Is Yet To Pick Up A Camera
It is quite a common phenomenon in Hollywood for A-list actors to try their hand at directing something at least once in their career. Even if it is momentary, it is a rite of passage that many go through, if only to see all that they have learned. This is especially true for the Star Trek franchise, where many actors have directed an episode or two after starring in the series for years.
The same, however, does not seem to be the case for the Star Wars franchise, and there is no better example than Harrison Ford. The actor has been a part of the franchise for years, yet he has never led a project from the director’s chair. According to what Mark Hamill said during an interview with Seth Meyers, there is a very good reason for it.
I think he’d make a really good director if he weren’t so lazy.
The Luke Skywalker actor revealed that he was very impressed by how well Ford understood the overview of the projects he was working on. He then added that the actor would be an excellent director if he wasn’t as lazy as he was.
Mark Hamill Thinks That Harrison Ford Should Stick To Acting
While many would be quite surprised and angry at the words that Mark Hamill said, he elaborated on the reasoning behind them. The actor mentioned that during the filming of one Star Wars project, he noticed a continuity error, where his hair was supposed to be wet after coming from a trash compactor.
It was right after we got out of the trash compactor. We hadn’t filmed that scene yet. And I’m looking in continuity and I said ‘Wait a second, this is right after we got out of the trash compactor. Shouldn’t my hair be all wet and matted with schmutz all through it?’ He turns to me and says ‘Hey kid, it ain’t that kind of a movie.
When Hamill voiced these concerns, he was told by Harrison Ford to let his worries go, as the audience was quite unlikely to notice the error themselves. While this example may not be the sole reason why Hamill came to the conclusion that Ford is lazy, it does tell a lot about what type of director he would be.
One of the most important traits that makes a good director is perfectionism. Being willing to go above and beyond to make sure their vision is met correctly. Since Ford clearly does not have that, Hamill may have been onto something.
