Mark Hamill On Why He Won't Return As Luke Skywalker In ‘Star Wars' Franchise: 'I Had My Time'
Mark Hamill is in a galaxy far, far away from the Star Wars universe.
In a recent interview with ComicBook.com, the veteran actor cautioned that fans should not expect him to return as a world-weary Luke Skywalker in any forthcoming installments and that Lucasfilm/Walt Disney Pictures would do well to hone in on new faces in the franchise.
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'I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the days, the humble days when George called Star Wars 'the most expensive low-budget movie ever made,'' he began. 'We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my view is, I had my time. I'm appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.'
Hamill last notably appeared as Rey's (Daisy Ridley) cynical mentor in 2017's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, helping her hone her Force powers before becoming one with the metaphysical realm itself as a wise forbearer.
'And by the way,' Hamill joked, 'when I disappeared in [The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind. And there's no way I'm gonna appear as a naked Force ghost. I'm just letting you know that right now.'
The Life of Chuck actor did, however, reprise his role as the spiritual leader (in fully clothed blue-tinged ghost form) in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, once again guiding Rey as she took on Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). His last appearances, in Disney+ series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, have been as a de-aged CGI Luke.
Coming up next in the franchise are the following: Star Wars: Starfighter from director Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, set five years after the conclusion of the sequel trilogy; 2026's The Mandalorian & Grogu with Pedro Pascal, Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's continuation of Rey's story.
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