See the original 'Star Wars' trilogy's cast, then and now!
Channel: FOGG CINEMA
Date: 31/07/2023

Without the "Star Wars" franchise's original stars, the new cinematic chapter might not feel like the event that it's become.
Daisy Ridley and John Boyega have helped inspire fanatics to dissect every detail in "The Force Awakens" trailers released at the "Star Wars" Celebration event in April, on Instagram in August, and during halftime of Monday night's NFL game. The dearth of footage of Ridley and Boyega's (currently) more famous co-stars, Lupita Nyong'o and Oscar Isaac, has kept fans breathlessly guessing. But the stars of the original trilogy have been enrapturing fans for decades.
With that, TODAY.com takes a closer look at the living A-listers from "Star Wars: A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," then and now.
Then: Responding to Princess Leia's profession of love with a glib, and reportedly improvised, "I know."
Now: Appearing in the latest "Star Wars" trailer and delivering dramatic exposition. "It's true, all of it," the Academy Award-nominated actor, 73, says. "The Dark Side, the Jedi: they're real."
Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia)
Then: Leading the charge against the Dark Side and sparring with Han in delightful will-they-or-won't-they fashion.
Now: Celebrating her 59th birthday Wednesday, and making a split-second cameo in the new trailer.
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)
Then: Using "the Force," per the insistence of Obi-Wan Kenobi (played by the late, great Alec Guinness).
James Earl Jones (Voice of Darth Vader)
Then: Voicing perhaps the most iconic cinematic villain of all time. (Note: Dave Prowse, below, embodied the character in the literal sense, filling the head-to-toe Vader costume on the set of the original trilogy.)
Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian, who first appears in "The Empire Strikes Back")
 Pranking Han when they're reunited, then giving him a hug, Leia a hand-kiss, and movie-watchers some smooth and illustrative back story.
Frank Oz (Voice of Yoda, who first appears in "The Empire Strikes Back")
Being a fount of wisdom to Luke, e.g. "Do or do not; there is no try."
Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca)
Aligning himself with Han and repeatedly shouting something to the effect of "Ungghgluhhh!"
Anthony Daniels (C-3PO)
Winning the gold medal for being the galaxy's most neurotic robot. (There was no silver medalist, although Threepio, itself, has a lovely bronze.)
Kenny Baker (R2-D2)