Mark Hamill defends Jake Lloyd and the Star Wars prequels
Actor Mark Hamill has opened up about the much maligned Star Wars prequels, and in doing so, defended young Anakin Skywalker actor, Jake Lloyd….
Make no mistake, Mark Hamill is the banner carrier for the Star Wars cinematic universe. Whether he’s playfully tweeting to and interacting with his millions of fans, or simply being a fantastic human being and taking time out of his filming schedule to visit with a Star Wars fan with cancer, Mark Hamill embodies all that is good and is right with Star Wars as a whole.
Recently, Hamill spoke with Vulture at the Sundance Film Festival and opened up about his disbelief over the sheer amount of hate directed toward the Star Wars prequels, and in particular, young Anakin Skywalker actor, Jake Lloyd.
"“I’m still angry about the way they treated Jake Lloyd. He was only 10 years old, that boy, and he did exactly what George [Lucas] wanted him to do. Believe me, I understand clunky dialogue.”"
Image Credit: Lucasfilm
It’s good to see such a prominent figure in the Star Wars community speaking up for Jake Lloyd. Sadly, Lloyd has had a rough go of it in recent years, battling mental illness, and not once has the Star Wars fandom seen the Disney/Lucasfilm family speak up for the young former actor.
Hamill went on to talk about his befuddlement over Star Wars fans’ hyperbole filled outrage over the Star Wars prequels themselves.
"“I couldn’t believe some of the things they wrote about the prequels, you know. I mean really beyond, ‘I didn’t like it’, ‘you ruined my childhood.'”"
I personally have never understood the hate that some Star Wars fans invest into the prequels. While yes, they may have some clunky dialogue, and yes there is Jar Jar Binks, the prequels are forever a part of the Star Wars saga, and they tell a deep and fantastically abiding story that all fans should be able to enjoy, regardless of how many Gungans are in them.
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We want to hear from you: Are you glad Mark Hamill spoke up in defense of the prequels and Jake Lloyd? We are! Let’s discuss in the comments below.