MOVIE NEWS – Fans of the Star Wars franchise have long debated the merits of the various films, and for years, Return of the Jedi held the dubious distinction of being considered one of the weaker entries, especially due to its focus on the Ewoks. However, the actor who brought Luke Skywalker to life, Mark Hamill, recently shared his own disappointment with the script for Return of the Jedi—a film that he believed could have taken a much darker turn. Speaking at the ‘Mark Hamill Live’ panel at this year’s Fan Expo Chicago, Hamill reflected on his initial reaction to reading the script and how it clashed with his expectations for the character of Luke Skywalker.
Return of the Jedi was released in 1983 and served as the climactic conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy. It was meant to bring resolution to the epic saga, with Luke Skywalker finally confronting his father, Darth Vader, in a final battle that would determine the fate of the galaxy. Fans were excited to see how Luke would navigate the moral complexities of the Force, especially after the shocking revelations of The Empire Strikes Back. However, Hamill revealed that he was surprised and somewhat dismayed to discover that the film’s script took a different direction than he had envisioned.
During the Fan Expo panel, Hamill described how he had expected the third film to delve deeply into Luke’s inner struggle with the dark side, given the character’s evolution throughout the trilogy. With Luke having lost a hand and now wearing a black glove, Hamill assumed the story would naturally explore the possibility of Luke succumbing to the darkness. Instead, Hamill found himself reading about the forest moon of Endor, inhabited by the now-iconic but initially divisive Ewoks. He shared:
“I read the third one. I, sort of, was thinking that the plot would be—because Luke lost a hand, he has a black glove, he’s now dressed in black and, as we all know, villains dressed in black. It’s a rule. So I thought the third one would [show] Luke struggling to decide between the light and the dark, and I was reading it and thinking ‘Ewoks?!'”
Hamill’s comments highlight an alternative vision for Return of the Jedi, one where Luke’s moral conflict would have been at the forefront, potentially offering a more intense and introspective conclusion to the trilogy. Despite his initial disappointment, Return of the Jedi eventually found its place in the hearts of fans, who have come to appreciate its role in the larger Star Wars narrative. Nevertheless, Hamill’s perspective offers an intriguing glimpse into what could have been a very different film.
Moving on to his current work, Mark Hamill is now promoting his latest film, The Wild Robot, which he has compared to Star Wars in terms of its magical storytelling and emotional depth. The Wild Robot, a DreamWorks adaptation based on the beloved novel by Peter Brown, tells the story of a humanoid robot who becomes stranded on a deserted island. Voiced by Lupita Nyong’o, the robot must learn to survive in the wild and ends up becoming the caretaker for a young gosling. During the promotion of the film, Hamill drew parallels between The Wild Robot and his experience with Star Wars, emphasizing how both films resonate with audiences of all ages. He explained:
“You just have to see it. It reminds me of back in the day when I was trying to describe Star Wars to people who hadn’t seen it. It’s sumptuous. It’s emotional. It works on so many levels. The kids will love it. The whole family will love it.”
The Wild Robot is slated for release in 2024, and the anticipation is building as fans look forward to seeing if this new film can capture the same sense of wonder that Star Wars did so many years ago. As Hamill continues to be a beloved figure in the world of sci-fi and fantasy, his latest project is sure to draw interest from both old fans and new audiences alike.
Source: MovieWeb
