Star Wars: Benjamin Hartley Is Red Seven – VIDEO
Life imitates art imitates life. Benjamin Hartley, inspired to become a pilot because of “The Trench Run” in Star Wars: A New Hope eventually became a starfighter pilot in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Hartley: Immersed In Star Wars
Red Seven helmet by Lumberjack Nick. Check out his work on Instagram (@lumberjacknickart) and lumberjack-nick.format.com.
Speaking from his home in the UK, during our recent interview, Hartley showed off a model of “his” ship, Red Seven.
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“Sometimes you find yourself talking about it as though you were actually immersed in the Star Wars world,” he said. “Rogue One was shot in such a way that was so realistic that the moment you were donning your uniform or your flight suit and you’re in the Yavin base… it just looked exactly as you would imagine.
“Forgive me if I start talking about it in sort of real terms,” he added with a laugh.
However, “real” is exactly how I would describe Benji.
And, over the two times I interviewed him, the former Royal Navy helicopter pilot simply epitomizes the kind of person who signed up for the Rebellion in Star Wars canon.
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Joining The Rebellion
For Rogue One, in particular, that feeling was heightened by the many former military personnel wearing “The Firebird” symbol of the Rebel Alliance throughout the film.
Moreover, in terms of the film’s most pivotal scene — Jyn Erso’s speech — the sentiment of selfless service certainly rang true.
Ben was fortunate enough to be standing behind Felicity Jones as she called on the Rebels to fight.
“It was [very intense],” said Hartley. “It was shot a number of times, that scene. And each time it seemed to build in its intensity and its importance, actually.
Noting the familiar faces of Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa) and Genvieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma), as well as characters taken directly from Star Wars: A New Hope around the council chamber, Hartley confessed that standing there he thought, “Wow, this does feel like it’s important. It feels crucial… for all the films.
“It was such a key speech and credit to the crew involved, they make it feel like that; felt that important.
“And the cast, and Felicity, was just amazing.”
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
From Helicopter Pilot to X-wing Pilot
As was Ben’s journey from watching Star Wars to being in The Saga; a reality that didn’t hit home until he was leafing through the visual guide with fellow crew members.
“They were doing hero shots of a bunch of us,” said Hartley. “And we knew that there were character elements involved be we didn’t know if we’d be in the film or appearing elsewhere until the visual guide came out and that was when it was like, ‘Wow! Okay…they’ve given us callsigns and names and places in the canon of Star Wars.’
“It’s a big deal, you know?”
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Rogue One: “That last scene….”
Yes, we know.
But the bigger deal, at least to Ben — as big a Star Wars fan as there is — was how well the film came out.
“When we all saw it; when we watched it when it first screened… there were a lot of us Navy guys,” said Hartley. “[We didn’t] have any clue what the film was going to be like. Who’s going to be in it? If anyone was going to make the final cut?
“But just that last scene,” said Ben. “How it segues in – it’s just like, those guys, they could not have done it any better.
“There’s no two ways about it.”
Check Out The Interview With Ben Hartley
Thanks again to my forever wingman Jonathan Gotlib for the above short/specific cut. For the full 41-minute opus, interviewing Mr. Hartley alongside my good friend Robin Vogt from Brick City Blockade, click here. For my previous piece with Mr. Hartley, click here.
Next Up? Gabby Wong – Gold Nine from Rogue One. Last time out, we talked to Angus MacInnes – Gold Leader Jon “Dutch Vander” from Star Wars & Rogue One:
