Han Solo headed for lengthy stay in bacta tank after Bay Door Control cockup

Someone at Pinewood Studios' equivalent of Bay Door Control is probably in a good deal of trouble after septuagenarian Hollywood heart-throb Harrison Ford had his ankle broken "by a garage door" on the set of the new Star Wars movie. Ford, 71, is to reprise his role as interstellar smuggler scamp turned Rebel general Han Solo …

[Anonymous Coward]

Going to be the best film ever,

Hans down!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Going to be the best film ever,

So one month into filming and they don't have a leg to stand on.

[NumptyScrub]

Re: Going to be the best film ever,

He must have been hopping mad after that one ^^;

[AndrueC]

I always thought the doors closed a bit too quickly. At 71 I'm not surprised he couldn't get out of the way in time.

[Rob]

I agree, something I always noticed as a kid is how violently fast doors close in Star Wars, I think it even produced a couple of nightmares. No doubt Harrison will probably be suffering from similar now.

I wonder how HGTG Marvin would describe the Star Wars doors, they are hardly depressing ;-)

[Anonymous Custard]

What is it about Star Wars and doors?

Not only too fast but also not high enough, leading to the infamous stormtrooper headbanger.

Probably explains all the armour when inside their own space-station (or is it a small moon?). I'm sure the Emporer's evil elf n safety minions would be right on it too...

[Vinyl-Junkie]

Re: What is it about Star Wars and doors?

So what you're saying is Luke was the ideal height for a stormtrooper?

[Grikath]

depressing, @ Rob

"I wonder how HGTG Marvin would describe the Star Wars doors, they are hardly depressing ;-)"

Unless they close down... ;)

[A K Stiles]

NHS or Private?

So is the hospital in Oxford to which he has been airlifted a private or NHS one and who is paying for it?

[Norphy]

Re: NHS or Private?

Assuming that you're not trolling, presumably his insurance company is paying for it being as he most likely doesn't pay NI...

[Khaptain]

Re: NHS or Private?

More likely Pinewood's insurance company as this, I presume, will be classed as a work accident.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: NHS or Private?

More likely Pinewood's insurance company

Let's hope they don't leave him pining for the fjords. On the plus side, he's now truly Han "Solo".

Maybe he'll do pirate movies now, could be fun putting him together with Johnny Depp :)

[A K Stiles]

Re: NHS or Private?

Seriously not trolling - AFAIK the NHS will treat you, whoever you are and wherever you come from, with the theory that they then try and reclaim the costs from you (well, your insurance anyway) if you aren't an entitled citizen.

[MrXavia]

Re: NHS or Private?

The NHS is great, sure diagnostics for chronic conditions (non A&E stuff) can take time, and the NHS does really need to work on that side of things. BUT we are all treated, no one is left to die or suffer because they don't have insurance!

[AndrueC]

Re: NHS or Private?

I think it's joint. Or parts of it are. I had an MRI there several years ago paid for by my PMI. My GP had also offered to send me there but she could only offer a wait time of 'six months to never'(*). Bupa got me in within the week.

(*)It was for plantar fasciitis so was not critical and of questionable diagnostic value.

[Anonymous Coward]

I've been out of circulation for a while...

... but what is an "acteur"... and for that matter, a "Playmauteur"? I'm good with "diorama"s though thanks, due to my advanced age.

[brooxta]

Garage door my as...

... asteroids.

I bet it was a light sabre duel with JJ Abrams about whether the lens flare in a particular shot was going to obscure the trademark H Ford eyebrow-raise-and-eye-roll combo.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: light sabre duel

Solo is no Jedi. Think he couldn't light it up

[brooxta]

Re: light sabre duel

Hmmm, and that nicely explains why he's the one in hospital doesn't it?

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: light sabre duel

Think he couldn't light it up

He used one to cut up that croaked Tauntaun.

[sandman]

Apologies - pure speculation to be found here...

He's been repaired in an NHS hospital - perhaps privately by a consultant who works both sides of the fence. Recuperation could be in a private room in the hospital or he could transfer to a private hospital. The boundaries between NHS and private are quite blurred.

If you have medical insurance in the UK, look carefully at what's not covered, a lot of the difficult stuff is done on the NHS...

[Fred Flintstone]

Re: Apologies - pure speculation to be found here...

"repaired"?

:)

[Anonymous Coward]

He was clearly trying to re-enact the scene from the start of Indiana Jones for a laugh..

[Nasty Nick]

Hope he managed to grab his hat...

wasn't that what he always did when roling under the closing doors ?

[wolfetone]

Would never have happened if Ford Prefect was in the film.

[Steve Todd]

They managed to finish Gladiator after Oliver Reed died

It won't be too hard to digitally mat on images of a real, live Harrison Ford onto a body double. It may cost them more, but I doubt it will delay the film much.

[i like crisps]

Re: They managed to finish Gladiator after Oliver Reed died

If they can Matte Olly Reads head on to a double then maybe they could matte Star Wars Episode 4, 'A New Hope' on to Star Wars Episode 7's final cut, thus ensuring total sucess at the box office?

[Spiracle]

Re: They managed to finish Gladiator after Oliver Reed died

Surely they can get Vic Armstrong to finish it off, like he did on The Temple of Doom.

[xDR1TeK]

Re: They managed to finish Gladiator after Oliver Reed died

But it won't be the same.

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: They managed to finish Gladiator after Oliver Reed died

A real world Tleilaxu Face Dancer?

No wait, that's another story...

[A K Stiles]

Production Schedule

Guessing there may be some subtle rewrites happening to ensure Han mostly appears in seated or reclined positions for the next few months of filming, if they can't just push his scenes back or CGI out the zimmer!

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Production Schedule

A friend says that it's often cheaper to use CGI to remove an anachronistic object - than it is to re-stage and shoot the scene again.

[Yet Another Anonymous coward]

Re: Production Schedule

Then why was Russel Crowe still visible in almost every shot of Gladiator?

[Anonymous Coward]

In the final edit,

Greedo falls over first.

[TRT]

It's actually broken?

Wow. I thought it was just a Hanstring injury.

[i like crisps]

NEVER MIND HAN SOLO, WHAT ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKERS HEAD!!!

What the flip happened inbetween Star Wars (Ep4) and Empire (Ep5)? I sware to god that Mark Hamill was the recipient of the world first face transplant....its two different blokes, surely?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: NEVER MIND HAN SOLO, WHAT ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKERS HEAD!!!

Mark Hamill was in a car crash IIRC, hence the scars and that.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: NEVER MIND HAN SOLO, WHAT ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKERS HEAD!!!

Mark Hamill was involved in a car accident between the filming of 4 and 5 and received facial injuries, hence why the wampa scene was written to give it some sort of explanation.

[i like crisps]

Re: NEVER MIND HAN SOLO, WHAT ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKERS HEAD!!!

No...sorry lads i'm just not convinced...even my mam said at the time (1980) that it was a different bloke playing him.

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: NEVER MIND HAN SOLO, WHAT ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKERS HEAD!!!

People change when they grow up.

Amazingly, Luke was just a frecking kid in IV. I never saw it that way either, but he's basically Shinji Ikari with more support.

[Glenn Amspaugh]

Re: NEVER MIND HAN SOLO, WHAT ABOUT LUKE SKYWALKERS HEAD!!!

Corvette Summer is the name of the movie. And yeah, a Corvette ate his face. Is why Empire started off with goggles and scarfs and then the Wompa attack.

[i like crisps]

"Lights, camera"...."ACTION"....."ARRRRGGG, my f**king toe"

It is funny though.

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently John Williams is to blame for him falling over on set

As they couldn't get Han's Zimmer.

[Steven Raith]

Re: Apparently John Williams is to blame for him falling over on set

That deserves more upvotes.

That is all.

[ProfessorLarry]

"Somewhat elderly Ford"? I am sorry, 71 is NOT elderly, not even somewhat. Ford and I are both just kids!

--Larry Constantine (pen name, Lior Samson)

[Steven Raith]

My dad agrees - he pushing 70, and he still goes up 150ft high chimneys on chemical venting/catalyst systems to consult on their install/repair.

He's got more life in him pushing 70 than I've got pushing 32!

Steven "one of three" Raith

[Zot]

He does seem sluggish and perhaps on pills for something.

It was as if his batteries were taken out in 'Enders Game.'

[Anonymous Coward]

Given all the splendid puns...

Surprised nobody went for the "Star Wars VII has a new cast" angle.

I'll be here all week, try the veal.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Given all the splendid puns...

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good plaster.

[i like crisps]

Script-Edit

Obi-Wan: "is it a fast ship?"

Han Solo: "Fast ship!...you mean you've never heard of the Millenium Falcon?"

Obi-Wan: "Yes i have....i've heard its a fuckin death trap!...and that it made the Kessel Run in less than 12 Parsecs".

Han Solo: "Erm"......

[earl grey]

so he needs a walker now?

hope that rumour doesn't get legs...

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: so he needs a walker now?

Scout Walker? Certainly one way of getting around during convalescence, if rather vulnerable to further accidents involving logs and stupid f***ing teddy bears.

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: so he needs a walker now?

Scout Walker? That's chickening out!

[Arachnoid]

The Empire Strikes Back

Watch out for the door Hans ITS A TRAP!

[Michael H.F. Wilkinson]

Lego re-enactment?

No playmobil available?

[Anonymous Coward]

The Force is strong with this one

Unfortunately, electromagnetism wins this time.

On the flip side, with advanced ultrasonic enhanced 3D printed cast he should be up and about in around 18 days, getting muscle strength back might take a bit longer.

see article on BMJ, 3D printed casts with embedded transducers are apparently the latest thing.

[Tom 7]

Re: The Force is strong with this one

3D printed cast - is all their acting that bad then?

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Broken door

Someone call a carpenter

[Allan George Dyer]

Was the doorman called Hal?

I was expecting at least one 2001 cross-reference with the Bay Door in the headline.

[Destroy All Monsters]

"Open the pod bay doors, Han!"

"I'm sorry JJ, I can't do that."

"What seems to be the problem, Han?"

"You know as well what the problem is as I do, JJ -- I'M FUCKING TRAPPED UNDERNEATH!"

[Tom 7]

Ssssssssssshould have got a job on Star Treck

And batteries for the hearing aid!

[Tank boy]

I felt a great disturbance in the Force

As if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Oh wait, that's when I heard Disney bought out Lucas. Carry on.

[Vladimir Plouzhnikov]

Outrageous!

Somehow I don't see many calls for a proper Playmobil reconstruction! Have the Reg readers all just turned to the dark side and now feel content with a cheap Lego knock-off?

C'mon, you know what to do, off you go, chop-chop! Ask the good Register for a Playmobil coverage now!

_{I humbly do}

[ceayers]

Do they really need him?

When you think that Christopher Lee's character in the later SW films was all CGI'd I'm sure the tech wizards could manage to produce the film. Unless of course Chris Less was doing all his own stunts at the age of 197.