Legendary American actor Harrison Ford crash-landed a plane in Santa Monica on March 5 and suffered some injuries. Now the director of "Star Wars" has provided an update on his condition since the plane crash.
According to Jessica Fecteau of People, director J.J. Abrams provided an update on the actor's condition. He made the comments on Thursday at a Star Wars celebration in Anaheim, Calif., while releasing details on "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
"He's doing great and he's working hard," Abrams said. "I had respect for him all my life, but I've never had more respect for a guy until I saw how he landed that plane."
Abrams added that Ford was "more of a hero in that move than in all the films he's been in," noting that the actor sends his fans the best. Film producer Kathleen Kennedy elaborated on his condition during a panel discussion.
"The amazing thing about Harrison - and I don't think anybody out there will be surprised - is he is the only person who could make an emergency landing on a golf course in front of two doctors," Kennedy said.
Kennedy added that Ford is currently recovering and resting at home.
"I can't even begin to tell you how much he wanted to be here," Kennedy said. "When we open the movie, Han Solo will be very active in what we are doing."
Ford has reprised his role in "Star Wars" as Han Solo, with Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher returning as Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia respectively. Walt Disney Co., which now owns the "Star Wars" brand along with Lucasfilm, released a trailer on Thursday that featured the actor.
According to Christopher Palmeri of Bloomberg, Disney released the trailer during a Star Wars convention in Anaheim, which is expected to last four days. Hamill and Fisher elaborated on what fans of the franchise can expect from the film.
"If it weren't for the ultra-passionate fans, we wouldn't be here," Hamill said. "You're more than just fans, you're family."
"Her buns are tired," Fisher said in describing her character, Princess Leia. "They'll be some other things you'll be into, but not the metal bikini. I promise."
Palmeri reported that fans gave both Abrams and Kennedy standing ovations when they arrived on stage. In addition, the crowd went wild after a new ball-shaped robot droid named BB-8 rolled onto the stage.
Abrams elaborated on the production process behind the film. According to Bloomberg, some filming took place in the deserts of Abu Dhabi, where temperatures can soar to as much as 128 degrees Fahrenheit.
"Star Wars is as much a Western and fairy tale as anything else, and one of the things you expect to see is John Ford-like landscapes," Abrams said.
Abrams added that it will be hard to please all "Star Wars" fans, but he hoped his film would appeal to most of them.
"You can't please everybody, but we're trying very hard to do just that," Abrams said.
According to the trailer, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is expected to be in theaters in the United States by Dec. 18.
