'He's doing great,' JJ Abrams on Harrison Ford

LOS ANGELES: Han Solo made a nostalgic appearance in the trailer of "Star Wars" but actor Harrison Ford, who is recovering from a plane crash, could not make it to the fanfare event of the movie with director JJ Abrams and the team.

Abrams, however, assured fans that the actor was doing fine.

"He sends his best, and he's doing great and working hard. I had respect for him all my life, but I've never had more respect for a guy until I saw how he landed that plane -- that was an amazing thing that he did. He's more of a hero in that move than I think he's been in all the movies he's been in. That was an incredible thing to do," Abrams said.

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy echoed Abrams' sentiments, adding that she anticipates Ford will be fit for promoting the film when it bows in December.

"The amazing thing about Harrison... is that he's the only person that can make an emergency landing on a golf course in front of two doctors.

"So he's home and resting and getting well as fast as he can. I can't even begin to tell you how much he wanted to be here... But by the time we open this movie, I know that Han Solo will be very actively involved in what we're doing," she said.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" releases in theaters December 18.