As we approach the one-year anniversary of Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher’s sudden death, fans worldwide are celebrating the release of the latest film in the franchise, The Last Jedi. The long-awaited sequel to 2015’s The Force Awakens hit theaters on Dec. 15, and everybody and their mother seems to be watching it this weekend. That “everybody” even includes Fisher’s dog, Gary Fisher, who met fame when his owner appeared with him several times on The Force Awakens press tour. If sweet animal stories usually make you cry, brace yourself for this one.
Hello Giggles reports that the beloved French bulldog, accompanied by his new owner and Fisher’s former assistant Corby McCoin, attended a screening of The Last Jedi in costume. It seems that afterwards, McCoin spoke with a reporter, who then took to Twitter saying that Gary totally recognized Fisher when she appeared as Leia onscreen. Cue the breaking of my heart.
The late @carrieffisher‘s dog Gary just watched #TheLastJedi! He sat on Fisher’s former assistant’s lap during the film. She said his ears perked up every time she was on screen @starwars @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/2rCCGIi6Al
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) December 15, 2017
“She said his ears perked up every time she was on screen,” ABC reporter Veronica Miracle wrote.
After Fisher’s death, Gary, who has a sneaky cameo in The Last Jedi, initially lived with her daughter Billie Lourd before becoming McCoin’s dog. The fact that he still recognizes Fisher’s voice after a year is beautiful yet heartbreaking. He was not alone in remembering the star — Miracle also shared video of fans at a L.A. screening taking a moment of silence to honor Fisher.
#WATCH: A moment of silence and a tribute to the late @carrieffisher. Fans raised their light sabers in unison ahead of the first showing of #TheLastJedi at @ChineseTheatres. @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/OOY8WRXKAj
— Veronica Miracle (@ABC7Veronica) December 15, 2017
I don’t know about you, but I’m hugging my dog a little tighter tonight after hearing about Gary.