Mark Hamill has addressed the possibility of hisStar Warsreturn, confirming that he’s finished his run and believes the franchise should move on. The heroes of theStar Warsoriginal trilogy may have seen their stories end in the sequel trilogy, but the franchise as a whole loves to hop around the timeline, meaning they can return.Mark Hamill, for example, has twice now reprized the role of Luke Skywalker, and many viewers hope he’ll return again inupcomingStar WarsmovieThe Mandalorian and Grogu. But that seems unlikely.
Speaking toComicBook.com, Hamill conceded he never expectedStar Warsto define his career like this - but that he thinks his run is over.
“I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the day, the humble days when George called ‘Star Wars’ ‘the most expensive low-budget movie ever made. We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my deal is, I had my time. I’m appreciative of that, butI think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.”
Hamill couldn’t resist cracking a joke about Luke Skywalker’s death inStar Wars: The Last Jedi. “And by the way, when I disappeared in [The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind. And there’s no way I’m gonna appear as a naked Force ghost.”
Mark Hamill Really Does Want To Move On As Luke Skywalker
He Believes He’s Passed On The Torch
This isn’t the first time Hamill has indicated he believes hisStar Warsstory is over. The very fact he’s repeating the point really does seem to underline it; Hamill isn’t just making a PR statement to misdirect fans. Rather, he wants audiences to understand that his relationship withStar Warshas come to an end.He believes the time has come to pass the torch.
This doesn’t necessarily meanLuke Skywalker’sstory should be over, of course. We recently learned thatHamill himself believes Sebastian Stan could play Luke, a popular fancast that would allow the Jedi Master to appear in Mandoverse movies and TV shows. Lucasfilm has traditionally been averse to recasting - Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy routinely blames recasts for the poor box office performance ofSolo: A Star Wars Story- but there have been signs that may be beginning to change.
Our Take On Mark Hamill’s Argument
He Does Have A Point
Star Wars' aversion to recasting has been a bone of contention among the fanbase. It’s further required ever more expensive deepfake technology, with Lucasfilm digitally placing a reproduction of Hamill’s face on that of another actor. There’s been something of an uncanny valley effect undermining this, which has been rather distracting. It will be good to see this particular bad habit come to an end.
That said, I don’t believe Hamill is entirely right; there’s still clearly a lot to be said of Luke Skywalker’s story, and I can’t imagine Luke sitting out the war withGrand Admiral Thrawn. But Hamill is right that it’s time to pass on the torch - to Daisy Ridley for her New Jedi Order movie(s), and perhaps to anyone who plays a recast Luke Skywalker.Star Warsdoes indeed need to move on.
