Mark Hamill indicated that he hopes the upcoming Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker will be his last Star Wars film.
Hamill spoke to the Associated Press on the red carpet during the premiere of Child’s Play, where he voices the new Chucky doll.
When asked if The Rise of the Skywalker would be his last Star Wars appearance, Hamill responded, “I sure hope so.” When pressed on why, Hamill elaborated, “Well, cause you know, I had closure in the last one, you know?” He then went on to spoil how his character will appear in The Rise of the Skywalker, “The fact that I’m involved in any capacity is only because of that peculiar aspect of the Star Wars mythology where if you are a Jedi, you get to comeback and make a curtain call as a Force Ghost.”
HAMILL’S LAST HOPE: #MarkHamill (@HamillHimself) is hoping to retire from his Jedi job in @StarWars’ next installment #RiseOfSkywalker pic.twitter.com/Kvdb53Sw31
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) June 20, 2019
Hamill’s answers to the Associated Press are radically different than his first interview for The Force Awakens where he was optimistic and hopeful about the film and the future of the franchise.
Back in 2015, Hamill’s first interview for The Force Awakens was with Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine. In the interview, Hamill noted he was thrilled and excited.
“The new storyline, the new characters, and especially the actors that they chose to play them, are thrilling beyond words.”
He would add how “wonderful” it is.
“It is about setting up the next generation of heroes and villains, but the fact that half a dozen cast members from the originals can be there to place it in some sort of context, to be there for the historical side of things, I think it’s wonderful.”
He then added just how exciting the story could be for Star Wars fans.
“I think [THE FORCE AWAKENS] could be every bit as exciting for the audience, [but] it’s not going to be like it was then, when we’re rattling around in the Death Star, and exchanging quips, and jockeying for the affections of the princess. It’s going to be age appropriate. The story has moved on, and our purpose in the story is different than it was then.”
While Hamill was definitely optimistic, hopeful, and even excited about the potential for new Star Wars films, his tone would change following Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi. Hamill has openly criticized the film for its lack of understanding of just who Luke Skywalker is.
In fact, in an interview this past March, Hamill recalled a moment where Rian Johnson instructed Luke Skywalker to walk past C-3PO and not acknowledge him.
“They had me walking by 3PO, not even acknowledging him. I said: “I can’t do that! He (The Last Jedi’s director, Rian Johnson) said, “Okay, go over and do whatever.” So I went over, and I did whatever. They say it in the script: “Forget the past, kill it if you have to”, and they’re doing a pretty good job!’”
Hamill will appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker when it hits theaters on December 20, 2019.
What do you make of Hamill’s comments regarding The Rise of Skywalker? Do you think he’s fed up with Star Wars?