Mark Hamill has said it before, but now he’s saying it again—with a little more finality. While promoting his new film, The Life of Chuck, Hamill has once again addressed his status in Star Wars. And as far as he’s concerned, his time as Luke Skywalker is over.
“Listen, I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the days,” he told ComicBook.com. “I never expected it to become a permanent franchise.”
Hamill, now 73, has been the face of Star Wars since 1977. In recent years, he has returned to the role in various ways—voicing Luke in animated projects like Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2017) and LEGO Star Wars, and even lending his likeness to de-aged versions of the character in The Mandalorian Season 2 and The Book of Boba Fett (2021).
But it seems like the Skywalker story, at least for him, has come to an end.
“I had my time, you know, I’m appreciative of that. But I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters,” he said, referring to an extensive roster of relatively new faces that include anyone from Rey (Daisy Ridley) to Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson).
Then, in classic Hamill fashion, he added a little humor. “By the way, when I disappeared [in Star Wars: The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind, and there’s no way I’m appearing as a naked Force Ghost.” The actor is, of course, referring to his death at the end of the divisive 2017 film, where he crosses over into the Force after battling Kylo Ren (Adam Driver).
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While Hamill stepping aside might disappoint longtime fans, his legacy as Luke is secure. And Star Wars, for better or worse, is moving on.
The next wave of stories includes an untitled sequel-era film set sometime after Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019), with Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey Skywalker. First, there’s director Shawn Levy’s anthology film Star Wars: Starfighter, which stars Ryan Gosling in the lead role and is set for release on May 28, 2027.
As for Hamill, his Force ghost days seem behind him. But fans will likely still hear his voice pop up from time to time—more than likely in the LEGO specials.
Who would you like to see step into the role of Luke Skywalker in the future? Let us know in the comments down below!
