Mark Hamill Only Returned to STAR WARS Because of Harrison Ford

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Approximately ten years ago, Luke Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, reappeared in “The Force Awakens” following a 32-year hiatus. However, this comeback almost didn’t occur. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the legendary actor shared that it was solely due to Harrison Ford that he agreed to return. Hamill never imagined that Ford, who at one point suggested George Lucas have Han Solo killed off, would pilot the Millennium Falcon once more. But when Ford did, along with Carrie Fisher, Hamill didn’t want to be left behind, as he explained to THR:

Here’s a different way of expressing what you said: I was quite hesitant about returning, as I believed it would be a mistake to revisit old characters instead of creating new ones. It seemed like trying to capture lightning in a bottle twice wasn’t a wise choice. But when I learned that Harrison had agreed to return, I felt compelled – almost as if I were being conscripted, knowing that if I refused, I might face the wrath of the nerd community.

This version attempts to maintain the original meaning while using slightly different words and phrases for a fresh perspective.

Although he initially had some doubts, Hamill found joy in reprising his role as the younger Luke in “The Mandalorian,” or at least contributing his likeness and voice. He’s often expressed his regret about never getting a chance to portray Luke during his prime years. In an interview with THR, he mentioned, “I agreed to do ‘The Mandalorian’ because Luke had a definite beginning and end. There was no middle… You never got to see Luke as a Master Jedi at the height of his abilities.” Both “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett” gave him that opportunity.

In the depths of his thoughts, it’s likely that Hamill had at least entertained the idea that he would once again use his lightsaber, given that as early as the ’80s, he mentioned George Lucas’ plan for him to return as a wise mentor character. This was likened to passing down Excalibur to a new generation. However, Lucas initially believed this reappearance would happen in 2011 for Episode VII. Although that turned out to be about four years off, as The Force Awakens premiered in 2015 instead. Regardless of Hamill’s thoughts on his sequel return, we believe his performance in The Last Jedi deserved recognition, and we continue to hold this belief.

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2025-09-11 22:02