UK producers charged over Harrison Star Wars injuries

A film production company faces prosecution after actor Harrison Ford was seriously injured during filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Harrison Ford was seriously injured on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Foodles Production (UK) is facing four charges relating to the incident at Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Ford suffered a broken ankle and other injuries when he was struck by a heavy hydraulic metal door on the set of the Millennium Falcon spaceship on 12 June 2014.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) spokesman said: “The HSE has informed Foodles Production (UK) Ltd that it will be prosecuted over four alleged breaches of health and safety law.

“The charges relate to an incident during filming of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, which left Harrison Ford with serious injuries after he was hit by a heavy hydraulic door.

“By law, employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers – this is as true on a film set as a factory floor.”

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd is responsible for producing Star Wars: The Force Awakens and under health and safety law for managing risks during production, said the HSE. The case is to be heard at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 12 May.

The 73-year-old star was returning to his role as Han Solo in the movie series when he his left leg was injured during filming. He was airlifted to hospital in Oxford after the incident, which police said involved a garage door, although there were suggestions it could have been the door of Millennium Falcon spacecraft.

The parent company of Foodles is the film’s maker, global entertainment giant Disney.

A spokeswoman for Foodles Production (UK) Ltd said: “Cast and crew safety is always a top priority. We provided full co-operation during HSE’s investigation into the on-set accident that occurred in June 2014 and are disappointed in HSE’s decision.”

George Lucas sold his company, Lucasfilm, to the Walt Disney Co in 2012 for $4.06 billion (£2.7bn), and the studio charged ahead in developing The Force Awakens with director JJ Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

Disney has plans for two more Star Wars films and three anthology films set in the Star Wars universe.

The Force Awakens has takenmore than $2 billion worldwide, according to industry body Rentrak.