In the Star Wars universe, Darth Vader and Princess Leia are two iconic figures. However, outside of the saga, the actors behind these characters, James Earl Jones (the voice of Darth Vader) and Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), have almost never crossed paths. In fact, the only scene that these two cinema legends have shared took place far from the stars, in a project as surprising as it is different.
Leia and Vader never met
Ironically, although Leia and Vader share many scenes in Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope, Carrie Fisher and James Earl Jones never actually exchanged lines face to face. Indeed, in the original trilogy, Carrie Fisher physically embodies Princess Leia, while Jones only lends her voice to the Sith Lord, since it is David Prowse who plays Vader in costume. Thus, although she shared many intense scenes with the mythical character of Darth Vader, Carrie Fisher never crossed paths with the look of his galactic “father”. =”image/webp”>
Subsequently, The careers of the two actors have never brought them together on a common set. Even when they were directed by common directors, like Joe Dante, it was for different films (The Burbs for Fisher, Second Civil War for Jones). However, a scene from a cult series brings them together. This surprising moment is in the very geeky The Big Bang Theory.
When Vader met Leia… but not really
Surprisingly, the only time Carrie Fisher and James Earl Jones were involved in the same production was well after the original trilogy. In 2014, the two Star Wars stars appeared in The Big Bang Theory Season 7, Episode 14, titled Sheldon's Convention.In this episode, Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons, becomes friends with James Earl Jones after meeting him at a restaurant. Their evening of wild adventures leads them to Carrie Fisher's house, where James Earl Jones engages in a childish game: he rings the doorbell and runs away, while Fisher angrily runs out with a baseball bat, yelling, “This isn't funny anymore, James! “, implying that this prank is a running joke between them.
Although they exchange a few lines, James Earl Jones and Carrie Fisher are, once again, never on screen simultaneously. However, this episode is the one and only occasion where the two actors found themselves in the same project outside of the original Star Wars trilogy (and the no less memorable Star Wars Holiday special). This episode of The Big Bang Theory has become, in spite of itself, a small nostalgic monument for fans ofStar Wars, but also for those who admire these two personalities who are now unfortunately gone.
I am your girl
In the bonus features of the DVD of season 7 ofThe Big Bang Theory, Steven Molaro, executive producer of the series, reveals that the first meeting between James Earl Jones and Carrie Fisher on the set was emotional and humorous. When Carrie Fisher first approached Jones, she greeted him with a bright “Daddy!”.The moment had everyone on the team laughing, and Jones described the encounter as “lovely,” looking forward to finally meeting “his daughter.”
This belated collaboration between Carrie Fisher and James Earl Jones takes on even more poignant significance after their deaths, as Carrie Fisher passed away in December 2016, and James Earl Jones left us at its turn on September 9, 2024.
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