Actor Mark Hamill has been playing Star Wars characters since Star Wars began. He first portrayed Luke Skywalker in 1977’s A New Hope. But while he has appeared in many of the franchise’s films since, he doesn’t expect to do so in the next film. At least, not as a Skywalker.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor made it clear he wasn’t confident that Luke would appear in Lucasfilm’s next movie said to feature Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker.
“Everything is confidential. So, if I were involved, I wouldn’t be able to tell you. And if I were not involved, I wouldn’t be able to tell you,” he responded. “So, I don’t know. We’ll all find out together, I guess… I don’t have any expectations of that happening.”
Hamill’s career in Hollywood has expanded beyond the Skywalker legacy, but just because he might not play Luke in a movie starring Daisy Ridley again doesn’t mean he’ll distance himself from Star Wars. He recently appeared in an ad for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor alongside fellow Star Wars actor Cameron Monaghan. He’ll likely always keep Star Wars close to his heart, even if he’s okay with someone else playing Luke.
While not much is known about the “Rey Skywalker movie” at this time, many Star Wars fans believe it’s likely time to leave the franchise’s legacy characters behind — at least as far as future movies are concerned. The actors seem to be okay with this idea. Can’t we be, too?
Perhaps we need to stop asking actors questions they aren’t allowed to answer honestly and start asking them about where they’d love to see their character go next. Give them something they can and might actually be interested in talking about, for a change.
Hamill has made plenty of appearances in Star Wars outside of his role as Luke Skywalker. So even if he doesn’t play the character he’s most well-known for playing again, this doesn’t mean he’s “done” with Star Wars. We’d all be much better off playing Spot the Hamill Cameo in future projects anyway.
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