May 4th for fans of the Star Wars franchise is an unofficial holiday. The date, May the 4th, which is the sound of the Jedi mantra, May the Force Be With You, has been celebrated worldwide – and officially – since 2011. The origin of tradition was born in Canada, but the correct origin of the use of the day comes from 1979, in an advertisement honoring the election of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister. The London Evening News tabloid ran half a page with the message, “Congratulations, Maggie. May the fourth be with you.”
In 2023, Disney will pay a just and expected tribute to one of the main stars of the Star Wars universe, actress Carrie Fisher. Carrie, who starred in the franchise in 6 films, debuted as Princess Leia Organa at just 19 years old, creating an iconic and unique character in the history of cinema.
The princess, who was a General, a rebel, and a Jedi, had great prominence in the plot of the miniseries Obi-Wan Kenobi, in 2022, and was idolized by generations of girls who had very few strong, independent, and inspiring female references like Leia. Part of the character’s charm found an echo in the strong and irreverent personality of the actress, daughter of two great stars of American culture – Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher – being one of the most respected screenwriters in Hollywood as well.
Carrie, who was married to singer Paul Simon and stole the show in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, spent her youth unapologetically battling alcoholism and drug addiction. She had a troubled relationship with her mother, and she recounted her life trajectory in the book that became a film, Postcards from the Edge, in 1990. She passed away in 2016, aged 60, just days before Debbie, due to a cardiac arrest. At the time, she was still involved with filming Star Wars, but her performance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was retained and added digitally in post-production.
For many years, her fans have been campaigning for her name to be included in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, something that has been confirmed as part of the May 4th, 2023 celebration. Carrie’s star will be next to Mark Hamill‘s (Luke Skywalker) plaque and across the street from her mother’s star, Debbie Reynolds. However, the ceremony already marks the news of a certain family drama.
That her daughter, actress Billie Lourd, excluded her relatives from participating in the ceremony. On the eve of the party, she told The Hollywood Reporter that it was self-defense after being attacked by them on social media and tabloids. According to her, Todd, Joely, and Tricia Leigh Fisher, economically exploited Carrie’s death, “doing various interviews and selling individual books for a lot of money, having as their subject the death of my mother and grandmother,” she wrote. “While I recognize that they have every right to do whatever they want, their actions were very painful for me at the most difficult time in my life. I chose and still choose to deal with her loss very differently,” reads the statement.
The Fishers, of course, returned to social networks to take a stand, complaining about not witnessing an important moment for the family. “This is something Carrie would definitely want her brothers to be in [at the Walk of Fame ceremony],” Joely said on Instagram. “This is not about a Hollywood Boulevard photo shoot, this is about celebrating Carrie’s enduring legacy in this industry, taking her place as a star on the iconic Walk of Fame alongside our parents. We thank the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for honoring our sister in this way. May the Force be with you,” she wished.
It’s a shame for the family drama, but we as fans will be connected with star Carrie Fisher, finally celebrated and eternalized in the film capital of the world.
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