Latest news with #LukeSkywalker
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mark Hamill Shares the ‘Much, Much Darker' Luke Skywalker Backstory He Created for ‘The Last Jedi'
Did you know that Luke Skywalker had a wife and child? According to Mark Hamill, the Jedi has a tragic backstory that never made it to screen. The 'Star Wars' actor went on NPR's 'Bullseye With Jesse Thorn' as part of a press tour for Mike Flanagan's latest Stephen King adaptation, 'The Life of Chuck.' On the podcast, the pair discussed Luke Skywalker's role in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' — a version of the character Hamill famously struggled to get behind. The original trilogy actor told Thorn that he created a backstory for Luke that would help him understand the character's actions in the eighth film of the Skywalker Saga. Let's just hope it isn't canon. 'I said, 'Can I make up my own backstory of why he is the way he is? I don't want to just say, you know, that I have bumped and I have brain damage,'' Hamill said of a conversation with 'The Last Jedi' director Rian Johnson. 'He said, 'Yeah, do whatever you want.' So I made up a much, much darker backstory that I thought could justify him being that way.' Darker is one word for it. You can watch the interview below: The backstory goes like this: Before cutting himself off from the Force, Luke Skywalker gets married. He and his wife then have a child. When the child is still a toddler, it 'picks up an unattended lightsaber, pushes the button and is killed instantly.' Luke's wife, overcome by grief, kills herself in turn. It's not quite the family-friendly tone George Lucas built the franchise on. Hamill said he drew inspiration for the origin from stories of families who leave guns unattended around children in the United States. It's a tragically common occurrence — in 2025 alone, reports 87 unintentional shootings by children. In 2023, this number surpassed 400. 'That resonated with me so deeply,' Hamill said. 'But he [Johnson] didn't have the time to tell a backstory like that, I'm guessing.' Despite receiving broad critical acclaim, 'The Last Jedi' remains the most divisive 'Star Wars' movie. To this day, the 2017 film often finds itself at the center of renewed discourse on social media. The film can be viewed as a flashpoint moment for culture war debates over franchise entertainment. When he first received Johnson's script, Hamill struggled with his role in the film. 'The Last Jedi' sees Luke abandon the Force after Kylo Ren razes his temple of students for his New Jedi Order. At one point, Luke considers killing a young Ben Solo in his sleep after seeing a vision of Kylo Ren's campaign of terror across the galaxy. Hamill praised Johnson as a director, saying he should have kept a tighter lid on his concerns with the project. 'I've heard comments from fans who think that I somehow dislike Rian Johnson,' Hamill said. 'Nothing could be further from the truth.' The post Mark Hamill Shares the 'Much, Much Darker' Luke Skywalker Backstory He Created for 'The Last Jedi' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Mark Hamill Once Again Shared His Dark Motivations for Luke in ‘The Last Jedi'
Luke Skywalker had a wife and a kid who both killed themselves. Well, not really, but that's what Mark Hamill internalized in order to get into the headspace of the character for Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. The actor has shared this information before, but it's been a while, so we figured it was worth discussing again with a little distance. Speaking on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, Hamill explained the headcanon he created to try and understand why Luke Skywalker would have left the Jedi in the sequel trilogy. You can watch the clip here and we'll quote it below. Mark Hamill's MUCH darker backstory idea for Luke in the sequel trilogy 😳 Check out Saturday's episode of Last Week in Star Wars for our thoughts… — Star Wars Explained (@StarWarsExplain) June 26, 2025'I thought, what could make someone give up a devotion to what is basically a religious entity, to give up being a Jedi. Well, the love of a woman,' Hamill said. 'So he falls in love with a woman. He gives up being a Jedi. They have a child together. At some point the child, as a toddler, picks up an unattended lightsaber, pushes the button and is killed instantly. The wife is so full of grief, she kills herself.' He goes on to explain how that sad story resonated with him because of its parallels to modern society and unattended guns and that he didn't really buy the explanation that writer-director Rian Johnson gave in the movie. Over the years, Hamill has been pretty vocal that he didn't agree with Johnson's plans for Luke, which he reiterates here. But that always bothered us a bit. That's because, if you remember back, it was J.J. Abrams, not Rian Johnson, who put Luke on that island. Abrams made a whole movie about Luke on the island, explained nothing, and then just left it to the next guy. That next guy, Johnson, then created a pretty freaking dark and interesting way to explain it all: Luke almost killed his own nephew, who then betrayed him and murdered many, many children as a result. Why his own version worked better for the actor over the one in the movie is unclear. Maybe it's just that Hamill needed a more direct, emotional connection. Whatever the case though, all that matters is he found something to get him to the place where an audience believed. Which he did. Hamill is fantastic in the movie, which we feel is an unexpected but fitting send-off for Luke Skywalker. We're sure every single other person on the internet agrees. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Star Wars fans not impressed at price for a Mark Hamill autograph
Mark Hamill, known for his role as Luke Skywalker, is reportedly charging fans a minimum of $400 for an autograph. Prices for his autographs at a FanExpo event were listed as $400 for an 8x10 photo, $500 for a premium autograph, and $700 for a 'bulky' autograph. The high cost of the autographs has generated significant discussion and criticism among fans on Reddit, with many expressing unwillingness to pay. Some online commenters defended the pricing, suggesting it could be a strategy to deter resellers or manage interactions with overly enthusiastic fans. Hamill recently shared an anecdote about his late co-star Carrie Fisher, who once urged him to embrace his Star Wars fame after he omitted it from his Broadway biography.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mark Hamill sparks outrage after charging Star Wars fans 'sickening' amount for autographs
Star Wars legend Mark Hamill has shocked fans with the 'sickening' amount he is charging for his autograph. The acclaimed actor, 73, who famously played Luke Skywalker in the classic George Lucas films alongside Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, is charging up to $700 a pop to scribble his signature on various items. A photo shared on Reddit exposed the eye-watering fees for Hamill's signature, sparking controversy in the comments. According to the snap, which was taken at a FanExpo event, the star is charging $400 to sign an 8x10 photo, while it costs $500 for a premium autograph. Meanwhile, a 'bulky' autograph – on a action figure or other similar merchandise - will set fans back a hefty $700. Outraged fans took to Reddit to complain about Hamill's prices, with one going as far as saying they've lost respect for him. One said: 'I wouldn't pay $400 for a meet and greet with my favorite celebrity, much less an autograph.' Agreeing, another said: 'I wouldn't pay $400 to sleep with my favorite celebrity.' 'Love Mark, but gotta say I've lost a little respect for him for this,' wrote a third. 'I know he's not the only one, and people have to make a living, but come on.' A fourth blasted: 'This is sickening.' 'I'll never quite understand paying for an autograph,' another quipped. 'Looking at a framed Luke Skywalker, ah remember when I paid 500 bucks at some convention hall to sign this! What a fun memory!' Others, however, defended Hamill and reasoned that his sky-high prices will deter crazed fans. 'I feel like this would just filter out the normal non-weird fans,' one pointed out. Another said: 'Sometimes people set these high prices because they don't really want to do it. At his age, with his popularity, it might be a way to set the pace.' But others were critical of this idea, with one slamming: 'Then don't do it? It's such a scummy practice.' Outraged fans took to Reddit to complain about Hamill's prices, with one going as far as saying they've lost respect for him Earlier this month, Hamill revealed his future in the iconic franchise after nearly 50 years playing Luke Skywalker. In an interview with Willie Geist, he said he won't be back for the new Star Wars film starring Daisy Ridley 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, Luke 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,' he 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 'I left my robes behind. And there's no way I'm gonna appear as a naked force ghost.'
Daily Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
Star Wars legend Mark Hamill insists that fame hasn't ‘changed' him
Bang Showbiz | Los Angeles Mark Hamill hasn't let fame 'change' him. The 72-year-old actor had only made a handful of appearances on programmes like 'The Bill Cosby Show' and 'General Hospital' when he was cast as Luke Skywalker in the first 'Star Wars' film series alongside Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher but despite the global recognition he has achieved with his success, he has managed to stay the same person he always was. Speaking on Sunday Sitdown With Willie Geist, he said: 'I was completely unknown. You just try and reassure yourself that nothing changed, people around me are the same.' The Hollywood star was then asked where his passion for acting first placed, and recalled going to the movies as a youngster. He said: 'Well, two things stick out: seeing a black-and-white movie, my mom had to walk me out because I was crying and terrified. But I just wanted to go right back in and see what happened. And my sister said I should go into acting, because I loved make-believe so much.'
