OVERLAY REPORT

When *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker* was released in December 2019, the "most famous" actor in the film depended on whether you measured fame by historical legacy or contemporary career momentum. ### **1. Most Famous Overall (Historical Legacy): Harrison Ford** While he only appeared in a single, uncredited (and at the time, secret) cameo as a memory/vision of Han Solo, **Harrison Ford** was objectively the most famous actor in the film. He is one of the highest-grossing and most globally recognized movie stars in cinematic history. * **Notable Films:** * **The *Indiana Jones* Franchise (1981–2023):** As the titular archaeologist, Ford cemented his status as the ultimate action hero. * **The *Star Wars* Original Trilogy (1977–1983):** His breakout role as Han Solo. * **The *Blade Runner* Films (1982, 2017):** Playing Rick Deckard in the sci-fi masterpieces. * **The Fugitive (1993):** An Oscar-nominated performance as Dr. Richard Kimble. * **Witness (1985):** A role that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. * **Air Force One (1997):** Playing a heroic U.S. President. ### **2. Most Famous in 2019 (Career Peak): Adam Driver** If "fame" is defined by who was the most high-profile and critically discussed actor *at that specific moment*, the answer is **Adam Driver**. Critics and fans dubbed 2019 "The Year of Adam Driver" because he was simultaneously starring in the year's biggest blockbuster and the year’s most acclaimed prestige dramas. At the time of the film's release, he was a frontrunner for the Academy Award for Best Actor for *Marriage Story* and had recently been nominated for *BlacKkKlansman*. * **Notable Films:** * **Marriage Story (2019):** Playing Charlie Barber opposite Scarlett Johansson (earning an Oscar nomination). * **BlacKkKlansman (2018):** Directed by Spike Lee (earning his first Oscar nomination). * **The Report (2019):** A political drama released just weeks before *Star Wars*. * **Inside Llewyn Davis (2013):** A memorable supporting role in the Coen Brothers’ film. * **Paterson (2016):** A critically adored performance as a bus-driving poet. ### **3. The "Legacy" Stars: Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill** In terms of marketing and billing, the late **Carrie Fisher** and **Mark Hamill** were the most famous "main" cast members. * **Carrie Fisher** was actually given the **top billing** on the theatrical poster (appearing posthumously via unused footage). * **Mark Hamill** was the face of the franchise for decades. Aside from *Star Wars*, he is world-famous as the definitive voice of the **Joker** in *Batman: The Animated Series* and various DC projects. ### **Summary of Other Notable Stars in the Film:** * **Lupita Nyong'o (Maz Kanata):** An Academy Award winner (*12 Years a Slave*) who had just come off the massive success of *Black Panther* (2018) and *Us* (2019). * **Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron):** Already a major star known for *Ex Machina* (2014) and *Inside Llewyn Davis* (2013). * **Richard E. Grant (General Pryde):** A legendary character actor who had just received an Oscar nomination for *Can You Ever Forgive Me?* (2018).