Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill has been out promoting his appearance on the upcoming season of the History Channel series Knightfall, and naturally (just as he has been for the past 42 years) he was asked about Star Wars. In a pair of interviews, one with the Radio Times and another with Den of Geek, Hamill spoke about Carrie Fisher appearing in Star Wars Episode IX (released three years after her tragic death in 2016) as well as his experience with The Last Jedi (and the reaction to the film).
Speaking with the Radio Times, Hamill shared his thoughts on the Episode IX production team using unused footage of Fisher so that Leia could appear in the film. "Something tells me she’d get a real kick out of the fact she had a hit
movie years after she left us," he said. "That was just her."
He also reflected on his experience with The Last Jedi, specifically about the reaction to the film and certain (toxic) fans twisting his words to make it seem like he hated the movie. Hamill told Den of Geek,
"The thing is, Luke changed so much between the first trilogy and the
last trilogy. I got myself into trouble. I made a vow – I said that I’m
not going to talk about the movies anymore, because I think it’s
important for the audience to see them. My problem was, I wasn’t dealing
with social media back then, where you say something and it goes around
the world in 24 hours! If I were to answer your questions on paper, I’d
think: oh, that sounds a little strong, or, I shouldn’t say this. But I
have a tendency just to talk and talk and talk, and you can cherrypick.
You know, I’ll be reading something, and say, 'What moron said this?',
and then realise, 'Oh, it’s me.' They can take selective comments you’ve
made out of context and use it to support their argument: 'See, Mark
hated Star Wars!' 'Did I?'"
That's not to say Hamill doesn't have some issues with the new films. He explained to Den of Geek,
"I’m sort of like a musician. I read the music, and I try to play it to
the best of my ability. That doesn’t necessarily mean I like the tune,
but that’s not my job."
One thing he admits he's disappointed about was that there was never a scene where Luke, Han, and Leia were reunited. Another is that he expected Luke would have a more significant role in all three films, instead of just Episode VIII. He explained,
"I thought: oh, okay, you should push my death off to the last one.
That’s what I was hoping when I came back: no cameos and a
run-of-the-trilogy contract. Did I get any of those things? Because as
far as I’m concerned, the end of VII is really the beginning of VIII. I got one movie!"
Hamill is back for Episode IX, but from these comments it sounds like Luke's role will be similar to that of Alec Guiness as Ben Kenobi in Return of the Jedi, popping in as a Force ghost at a key moment to provide Rey with some important advice and wisdom.
This isn't the first time Hamill has had other ideas for what should happen to Luke. Back during the original trilogy, he suggested to George Lucas that Luke should turn to the dark side. Obviously, that never came to pass and Hamill seems to have come around to what ultimately happened to Luke (hence his initial trepidation about Luke's story in The Last Jedi). He also seems to have come around on The Last Jedi, having called the film "an all time great" and stated that he was "wrong" about his criticisms of Luke's arc.
Star Wars Episode IX hit theaters on December 20th, 2019. The
film is directed by JJ Abrams, with a script by Abrams and Chris Terio.
The film stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac,
Kelly Marie Tran, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Keri Russell, Richard
E. Grant, Naomi Ackie, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Joonas
Suotamo, and Carrie Fisher.
Sources: Radio Times, Den of Geek
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