Star Wars icon Mark Hamill finally reveals if he's quit franchise after nearly 50 years as Luke Skywalker
Star Wars legend Mark Hamill has finally revealed his future in the iconic franchise after nearly 50 years playing Luke Skywalker.
The 73-year-old actor - who made his debut as the Jedi in 1977's Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope with Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, emotionally discussed hanging up his lightsaber in an interview with Willie Geist, which will air on Sunday Today.
Now, with the announcement a new Star Wars film starring Daisy Ridley 's Rey is in development, Hamill revealed he won't be back for a starring role, but is adamant he did not quit.
He said: 'Well, let me say: they haven't asked me. It's not like they said, 'Please come back.''
'I don't want to make a big PR pronouncement like "This is my decision,"'
'I'm just saying that it really felt like a conclusion. My character was given complete closure. I died, ironically by overdosing on the Force, I might point out.'
Hamill starred as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy; which also included 1980's Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.
He then reprised the role again in 2015's the Force Awakens.
In the 2017 film The Last Jedi, Skywalker dies at the end, melding with The Force. He put on the mantel for what appeared to be the final time in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, as Luke's spirit.
Hamill said completing the Skywalker trilogy allowed for other adventures under the Star Wars umbrella.
'It was a whole new era for them,' the action star explained.
'George (Lucas) gave them this amazing canvas, the entire galaxy. They can do westerns, mysteries, comedies, whodunits, anything within that realm of Star Wars,' he said.
'And they're doing so well' he added. 'I love Rogue One, Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett.'
Hamill made brief appearances in both The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett as Luke with the help of de-aging and motion capture effects.
'I had my time,' he said of his tenure in the 'galaxy far, far away.'
'I'm really appreciative, but I'm really looking to the future for all these new projects.'
Hamill made headlines in late May when he told ComicBook.com 'I left my robes behind. And there's no way I'm gonna appear as a naked force ghost.'
Responding to the response following his remarks, the BAFTA winner humbly said, 'Well, let me say: they haven't asked me. It's not like they said, "Please come back."'
Hamill is currently starring in The Life of Chuck, which opened Friday in theaters, playing the grandfather of the title character, whose life is portrayed over the years by four different actors.
'It's so positive. It's so optimistic about life,' he said of the story based on a Stephen King novella. It also teaches you there are moments that, in life, you think are trivial that collectively become very important.'
Fans can see the full interview with Hamill June 15, Father's day on Sunday Today.
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