Chris Schulz talks to Harrison Ford about his return to Han Solo in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Harrison Ford is in the middle of a Star Wars promotional campaign he doesn't seem to be enjoying that much. He talks to Chris Schulz.
A DJ dressed in a suit and stormtrooper helmet is playing dance music peppered with Star Wars quotes at thunderous volumes.
Thousands of fans, some dressed as Han Solo, others as Indiana Jones, clutch posters and lightsabers ready for signing.
As journalists and camera operators jostle for position on the red carpet in front of the Sydney Opera House, TV3 reporter Kate Rodger does a slick piece-to-camera while slowly making her way through the sweaty insanity.
Suddenly, there's a flurry of activity. Photographers surge. Cameras click. Reporters armed with microphones lean forward. Fans in the front rows remove the caps from their marker pens. The dodgy dubstep coming out of the speakers erupts into a chorus of, "Luke, I am your father".
Then, the evening's MC Jay Laga'aia, still milking his bit part from Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, announces that "the original space cowboy" has arrived.
Everyone turns their heads to catch a glimpse of Harrison Ford, the iconic actor who, you might have heard, is reprising his role as Han Solo in The Force Awakens 32 years after kissing the character goodbye.
The 73-year-old is today's star attraction, and aside from a life-sized version of droid BB-8, Ford is the only cast member to attend this Star Wars fan event that's attracted thousands of people out on this sticky afternoon.
Looking around, it's an incredible sight. Just a week before The Force Awakens hits theatres, Star Wars hysteria is at fever pitch, and it's being channelled right here in front of the Opera House.
As Ford arrives, one fan clutching the railing says she's been waiting since 10am for this moment. Another holds a metallic homemade lightsaber in one hand, a vivid in another. A sweaty reporter is wearing an oversized white tee that asks, "Where is Luke?"
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca and Harrison Ford as Han Solo in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens.". Photo / Film Frame
More importantly, where's Ford? Finally, I spot him. Well, I spot his hair, that unmistakable mop of grey. Wearing jeans, a shirt, a dress jacket and brown shoes, Ford is shuffling along the red carpet, signing merchandise, posing awkwardly for selfies, shaking hands with fans and answering the same questions he's already been asked many, many times.
The soundtrack for all this, provided by DJ Stormtrooper, is pounding drum'n'bass that butchers the Imperial March.
As Ford keeps shuffling, answering a long-winded question by a man dressed like Luke Skywalker, I am suddenly overcome with concern. Harrison Ford must absolutely hate this.
The event, attended by fans lucky enough to win tickets through a lottery system, is the climax of Ford's two-day visit to Sydney in which he'll see very little of the city, just a conveyor belt of print, paper and TV journalists in a cramped room at the Park Hyatt hotel.
As he tells me: "I went for a nice bike ride, a stroll around the neighbourhood, but mostly I'm working." No wonder he's a bit grumpy. And I'm about to suffer a little of his wrath.
It doesn't start well. Earlier that day I sidled into an airless hotel room overlooking the Opera House to meet Ford for a 15-minute interview. But his first word to me isn't 'hello'. Giving me the first of several quizzical eyebrow raises, he fixes his eyes on me as I sit down and says: "So, we're filming a print interview?"
He's referring to a last-minute request made to have the interview filmed. It was made through Disney's publicity team but obviously made it back to him. He doesn't seem impressed, and my attempt to laugh it off -- "It's the media, it's 2015, it's chaos," I joke -- doesn't work.
Instead, we get straight down to business. Ford says returning to Star Wars has "been fun". He's "delighted" to be involved. He's glad there's "real enthusiasm" shown by fans.
"I'm delighted to be back to a project that has so many satisfied customers," he says, more like the CEO of a restaurant chain than one of film's most famous faces.
Then his phone goes off. Again, I try to crack another joke - "Is it George Lucas?" I ask - to no avail.
"I'm not allowed to do that," he says, sitting back in his chair, telling himself off while giving me another eyebrow raise.
Finally, I get something. Something different to what he's been telling every other interviewer. It comes when I ask for Ford's advice for impatient Star Wars fans who can't wait for the film to come out.
Ford stares at me, lifts up his hands, then sticks his fingers in his ears. He keeps staring, then says: "Just wait. It'll be fine. Christmas is coming."
That's an amazing admission. Despite being on a worldwide press tour to promote the year's biggest movie event and sitting through hundreds of interviews, Ford doesn't want fans to listen to a single word he says. So why is he bothering?
Later that night, he'll tell Laga'aia: "It's important to the success of the film to get out there and beat the drum and meet folks and talk about the movie, so I'm glad to do that."
But, sitting in front of me, staring with his fingers in his ears, I can't help but think he doesn't want to hear another word from me either.
Back on the red carpet, Ford finishes signing autographs and makes it on stage for a question-and-answer session with Laga'aia that lasts just 13 minutes of the scheduled 30.
Ford is patient, but you could hardly call him jovial. He turns down the opportunity to sit in a leather chair, saying he'd prefer to stand. He answers every question, from the obvious ("After 30 years, did you think you'd be making another Star Wars movie?") to the ridiculous ("Do you cycle to keep that buff figure of yours?") in that deadpan monotone. He sounds bored.
"A lot has been written and people have spent a lot of time trying to explain the attraction of these stories. They're stories about independence, loyalty, growing up, it's a hero's journey. They're places and experiences you might not have imagined on your own. It's a very satisfying movie experience," he says, trying to explain the generational pull of the franchise.
The night's biggest cheer comes when Ford confirms his next film - a return to Blade Runner, another sci-fi saga more than 30 years old.
"I'm looking forward to doing ... Blade Runner (2). We got a really good script and a good story, a good director and a wonderful cast for another continuation of the story surrounding Blade Runner. I start that in fall of next year."
Asked how he chooses his films, Ford admits it's based on "a guess".
"It's my guess as to what might attract, and serve and excite an audience. Because there's no story without an audience. They're the people I work for," Ford says, again sounding more like a CEO, less like the "original space cowboy".
Afterwards, as the latest Force Awakens trailer is played, Ford departs with a wave and heads back stage. I spot him through a gap in the fence being whisked away in a black Range Rover.
I'm not surprised he left so quickly. Any more of this and I'd be ready to head to the dark side too.
What:Star Wars: The Force Awakens Where and when: In cinemas from today
Grab your copy of the TimeOut Star Wars: The Force Awakens special today. Inside, we've got interviews with Harrison Ford, director JJ Abrams, new villains Adam Driver and Gwendoline Christie plus a look back at the ten best Star Wars scenes - so far. And who is the NZ telly star only too keen to don the Stormtrooper helmet on our cover?
