Mark Hamill has opened up about his time on the set of Star Wars, revealing that one line got cut - and he's happy it did.
Hamill, best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, has had a career shaped by the iconic franchise ever since the original film hit theaters in 1977.
But things could have turned out very differently for Luke Skywalker had this one line not been cut out.
The Cut Line That Almost Changed Luke Skywalker
One particular scene from Star Wars that didn’t make it into the final cut still stands out in Hamill's memory, as he told the Hollywood Reporter.
During a screen test, there was a line that, as he puts it, "thank God" never made it into the film. The line occurred while Luke was aboard the Millennium Falcon with Han Solo, preparing to approach the Death Star.
Hamill recalled: “There was a line in the screen test — thank God it was cut, and I’ve never forgotten it. I can do it for you right now. We’re in the Millennium Falcon, no Wookie. It’s just me and Han Solo.
"He says, when he gets toward the Death Star, ‘OK, that’s enough for me. We’re turning around. I’ve held up my side of the bargain.’
"Then I say, ‘But we can’t turn back. Fear is their greatest defense. I doubt if the actual security there is any greater than it was on Aquilea or Sullust. And what there is is most likely directed toward a large-scale assault.'"
Hamill himself was taken aback by the complexity of the dialogue, admitting, “Who talks like this?”
He further explained the challenge of delivering the line in a way that felt natural: “Now, I could break it down for you and diagram it. As a sentence, it makes sense. But to make it sound like it’s an original thought that just occurred to you and deliver it in a spontaneous way is really, really hard.”
The Challenges of Working with George Lucas
Working with Star Wars creator George Lucas was an experience that shaped Hamill’s approach to playing Luke Skywalker.
According to Hamill, Lucas’ direction was unconventional in that he didn’t focus on detailed backstories or motivations for the actors. Instead, Lucas cast actors who were naturally aligned with the roles he envisioned.
“George Lucas is not an actor’s director in the sense that he doesn’t want to hear about backstory or motivation or all that,” Hamill shared. “He cast actors who are so close to what he wants that he’s not going to have to do a lot of that.”
Hamill reflected on Harrison Ford’s easy-going approach to the role of Han Solo, saying: “Harrison is endlessly laid-back and cool the minute he walks in the room. The only decision I made — that turned out to be the right one — is I’m going to do this as sincerely as I can.”
Luke Skywalker’s Return in The Mandalorian
Though Luke Skywalker’s journey seemed to come to a close in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Hamill’s character made an unexpected return in The Mandalorian.
Thanks to modern technology, Hamill reprised his role in a younger form through digital effects, allowing him to explore a version of Luke that had only been hinted at in earlier films.
Hamill expressed his admiration for the work of The Mandalorian creators Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, stating, “Boy, do they get Star Wars. They get it. They’re speaking the same language that George did in a way that I questioned in the sequels.”