Hamill, Fischer, Ford: "Star Wars" Legends Return in "The Force Awakens" (Opens Dec17)

Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford are poised to accomplish what was once deemed impossible: reprise their original “Star Wars” characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo after almost forty years after the first “Star Wars” movie, “Episode IV: A New Hope.”

With Lucasfilm's “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” opening in the Philippines on Dec. 17, the trio of actors and characters will finally come full circle to continue the most passionately followed saga ever in motion picture history.

But first things first. Let's get to know what the stars think of new director J.J. Abrams and what they hope fans will take away after watching the new film.

Question: What do you think of J.J. Abrams' vision for “The Force Awakens?”

Mark Hamill: Like any good Disney animated film, these films appeal to the child in anyone. It doesn't matter what your chronological age is, it appeals to the child in whatever age you are. And, J.J. is the perfect example of someone who understands that and knows how to reinterpret it in the way he wants to. We’re so lucky that they picked him. He’s a kid in so many ways. He’s a brilliant filmmaker and writer but someone who can instantly relate to the material at hand. I'm sure if you ask him, I would imagine that the original films were part of the reason he wanted to become a director and a writer.

Carrie Fischer: J.J. is someone who’s proven he can do these epic, otherworldly films, and also worldly films. He’s a writer and a director and he loves movies. That really comes across.

Harrison Ford: He’s very thoughtful and very wise about human nature and the development of character and relationships. He brings a real sincerity and emotional understanding to relationships, which is something I was very pleased to see. He’s an enormously skilled filmmaker and very efficient director and producer. So it has been a real pleasure to work with him and all of the members of his team as this film has gone on.

Q: What do you hope audiences will take away from this film?

Hamill: I always thought there was a great undercurrent of optimism in these films. There’s a lack of cynicism there. They reinforce what all great fables and fairytales tell you. Perseverance and purity of heart will help you succeed. I hope they’re uplifting. I hope they have the humor they had. I hope they don’t take themselves too seriously. I’ve got my fingers crossed that for a six year old who’s never seen them, that it’ll be great fun; scary but not too scary. I hope it gives them a sense of adventure and the feeling that if they work really hard and give it their all, they can succeed as well. That’s what it’s all about.

Fischer: I think they’ll be happy to be in their home away from home again.

Ford: Recognition of our common humanity and that all of us face the same kinds of problems in our lives, and that there’s hope. There’s joy in the celebration of right and wrong and in the recognition of truth that sustains us. And, they’ll have fun along the way.

Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars returns to the big screen with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt.

Opening across the Philippines on Thursday, Dec. 17, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow the official social media accounts of Star Wars in the Philippines, namely, (FB) StarWarsPH, (Twitter) @starwarsph and (Instagram) iamstarwars_ph and use the hashtag #TheForceAwakensPH.