The Surprising Star Wars Connections & Cameos in Hook

For years, there has been an ongoing debate about whether Die Hard qualifies as a Christmas movie, and it seems there's no resolution in sight. Meanwhile, in a more peaceful corner of film discussions, people have been talking about whether Hook (available for streaming on Peacock) is a suitable holiday film. This delightful live-action fantasy from Steven Spielberg features the late, beloved Robin Williams as an adult version of Peter Pan.

"Hook" came out during the bustling 1991 holiday season, and its narrative kicks off around Christmas. Similar to the Harry Potter films, "Hook" is filled with warmth and a sense of whimsy that captures the essence of the festive season. This charm makes it a beloved choice for families, leading to frequent viewings during the holidays.

Aside from its reputation as a classic Christmas movie, there's another interesting reason why "Hook" remains popular, and it ties more to the Star Wars universe than to Santa. One of the many celebrity cameos in the film includes a quick appearance by Princess Leia. Plus, it features the legendary creator of the entire Star Wars saga.

How Spielberg Secretly Cast Fisher And Lucas In Hook

Yes, George Lucas and the late Carrie Fisher appear together for a short moment in the film Hook, standing on a bridge in London. During this scene, Tinker Bell, played by Julia Roberts, carries Robin Williams' character from the real world to Neverland, sprinkling her famous pixie dust from above. Just as they share a tender kiss, the pixie dust envelops them, causing the surprised couple to float momentarily off the ground.

Fans were unaware that Lucas and Fisher were the actors behind Hook's floating couple until the film celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016. Just days before Fisher's passing in December of that year, The Wrap verified with "two filmmakers from Hook — and Fisher herself — that she and the creator of Star Wars [Lucas] performed together in that scene."

Although Fisher wasn't formally acknowledged, she played a significant part in shaping the character of Hook beyond just making a brief appearance. Spielberg turned to Fisher for help with enhancing Tinker Bell's dialogue, relying on her renowned talent as a script consultant to infuse some extra magic into Roberts’ role. According to Screen Rant, “As a gesture of appreciation for her contributions to Hook,” Spielberg offered Fisher a cameo in the movie. Furthermore, since Lucas had been a close friend of Spielberg's and had collaborated with Fisher on the original Star Wars trilogy, Spielberg also included him in the cameo.

Although Lucas and Fisher's well-known faces aren't visible in their brief appearances, they're not the only stars Spielberg brought onto the set of Hook for memorable cameos. Glenn Close pops up as a bearded pirate who gets tossed into a "Boo Box" filled with scorpions by Hook (played by Dustin Hoffman) as a form of punishment. The late Jimmy Buffett plays a Neverland pirate attempting to steal Peter Pan's shoes. Musician David Crosby can be heard shouting, "long live the Hook!" in the film's opening scene, and even Spielberg makes a quick appearance, leading the pirates as they board Hook's ship.

Watch Hook on Peacock now.