Mark Hamill’s career is diverse, spanning from his iconic role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars series to his remarkable work in voice-overs, particularly as the Joker in various Batman animated movies and games. However, 2025 stands out for a different reason – it’s the year Hamill is associated with the works of Stephen King. In a year that saw six adaptations altogether, Hamill appears in two: Mike Flanagan’s intense drama The Life Of Chuck and Francis Lawrence’s chilling thriller The Long Walk. This will be the second and third time Hamill has been part of a King production, but it’s not surprising if you don’t recall his first one – it was more than three decades ago, and even Hamill himself almost forgot about it.
For this week’s The King Beat, I am thrilled to share my main article – an engaging chat I recently had with Mark Hamill about his unique journey with King during the LA press day for The Life Of Chuck. However, this piece is not just about that conversation; it also delves deep into the premiere trailer for MGM+’s highly anticipated series, The Institute, set to unveil its first two episodes in a matter of weeks. As always, there’s plenty to explore, so let’s dive right in!
Mark Hamill Made His Stephen King Movie Debut In Sleepwalkers, But He Forgot About It Until Being Recently Reminded
As I stand on a seaside cliff in Bodega Bay, California, gazing upon a chilling scene unfolds before my eyes – a house adorned with grotesque decorations featuring slain cats strung up like macabre ornaments. As a movie lover, this eerie tableau reminds me of a horror flick. The lead officer on the case, a man in a light blue uniform and sporting a thick mustache and slicked-back blond hair, steps inside with his partner. The house is eerily deserted, save for another lifeless feline they stumble upon. But it’s what lies behind a closet door that truly sends a shiver down my spine – a trapped cat (a classic jump scare)! However, the real horror comes to light when they discover a mummified corpse of a young girl, and a rose delicately placed behind her ear, leaving us all in a state of bewilderment.
The initial scene in Mick Garris’ film “Sleepwalkers” serves as its introduction. This movie is unique because it was the first one based on an original screenplay by Stephen King, and the man portraying Jenkins is none other than Mark Hamill, though his role isn’t explicitly credited, it’s still easily identifiable. As a devoted fan of trivia like this, I’ve always been curious about the backstory of Hamill’s cameo. So, during the “Life Of Chuck” press day last month, I couldn’t resist asking him more about it.
During interviews alongside Benjamin Pajak, Hamill shared that there isn’t any major backstory for his brief appearance in the Sleepwalkers prologue. Instead, he was drawn by Mick Garris’ skills, and when given the opportunity to play a minor role, he enthusiastically accepted the offer.
I nearly overlooked that incident. You see, Mick Garris is someone I knew, and he asked me if I’d like a small role in the movie he was working on. Since I wanted to help him out, as I think he’s an exceptional writer and director, I decided to take it impulsively. I’m not sure if my name even appeared in the credits, meaning I wasn’t one of the leading actors.
Approximately three decades past, Mark Hamill is taking on more substantial roles in two fresh Stephen King films, and the most appealing aspect of these parts is that they are strikingly dissimilar. In “The Life Of Chuck“, Hamill portrays the grandfather to the main character, who nurtures him throughout his teenage years. He can be stern, and he has a propensity for excessive drinking, but he harbors a deep affection for his grandson and eventually fosters in him a passion for mathematics (which Charles later develops into a career as an accountant as an adult).
Towards the end of this year, Hamill will have a significant role in “The Long Walk,” where he’ll embody a villainous character. Originating from Stephen King’s first published novel under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, the movie revolves around a lethal march called “The Long Walk.” This competition pits teenage boys against each other, with the goal of surviving longest to emerge as the sole victor, receiving both a significant cash prize and the fulfillment of a wish. In this film, Hamill portrays The Major, an unnamed, militaristic figure in charge of the event who lacks compassion for the participants, instead seeking to inspire pride for a dystopian version of America.
It’s well-known that Mark Hamill is a cultural icon, yet even icons admire others they look up to, and for Hamill, Stephen King holds a special place. Despite not meeting during the filming of Sleepwalkers, they finally met last fall at the world premiere of The Life Of Chuck at the Toronto International Film Festival. Seated next to each other for the screening, Hamill shared some thoughts about the moment with me.
Just the other day, it occurred to me anew. That’s when I had the chance to encounter Stephen King. We were seated side by side at TIFF. And let me tell you, despite my inner excitement being sky-high, I managed to maintain a composed demeanor. In truth, I was thinking, ‘Wow!’ But I didn’t show it. I had so many questions for him, like “Why wasn’t Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining to your liking?” or other curious inquiries. However, our acquaintance isn’t deep enough yet for such exchanges.
Mark Hamill, known for his role as Luke Skywalker, has spent decades encountering fans who are awestruck by his presence. Recently, he found himself in a similar situation, sitting close to one of today’s most significant thinkers, experiencing the same feeling of reverence from the other person.
After the screening, as Hamill mentioned, the two men have kept in touch through social media platforms. Contrary to a popular saying, their friendship hasn’t been affected by familiarity, but instead, it’s grown, providing the actor with even more opportunities to express his nerdy side enthusiastically.
Currently, we’re connected on social media platforms. At some point, he mentioned that he had some kind words about a film, and he said something like, “I was trying to share the trailer, but with some trouble, however, thanks to my friend Mark Hamill, he helped me sort it out.” Now, I won’t go overboard as a fan online, but I plan on having that tweet printed, framed, and hung on my wall.
If you’re intrigued or maybe looking to style your home like Mark Hamill’s, check out the related post over on Bluesky.
After a limited debut in theaters last week, “The Life Of Chuck” will be widely available in theaters across the country this coming Friday, June 13th. As for fans eagerly awaiting “The Long Walk“, it is set to premiere in cinemas on September 12th.
The Institute Trailer Reveals A Significant Change From The Stephen King Book, And It Concerns Ben Barnes’ Character
2025 marks the year when one Stephen King adaptation graces our screens, followed swiftly by another. After Osgood Perkins’ “The Monkey” hit screens in February, fans can now look forward to “The Life of Chuck”. In a matter of weeks, we’ll all be treated to the premiere of “The Institute”, set to air on MGM+ on July 13. Benjamin Cavell (from 2020’s “The Stand”) and Jack Bender (“Mr. Mercedes”) are involved in this new production as executive producers. To build anticipation, the first trailer for the show has been released online.
Judging from the previews, it seems the adaptation will closely follow the original content. In the narrative, a brilliant young boy named Luke Ellis awakens in a room identical to his bedroom, which is actually his living space within a government complex called The Institute. It’s been discovered that he and other children possess extraordinary psychic abilities, such as telepathy or telekinesis, and they have been forcibly taken to boost their powers. As the kids start to comprehend the grim truth of their situation, they collaborate on a plan to break free.
In the trailer for “The Institute,” something that stands out to me is the inclusion of Tim Jamieson, portrayed by Ben Barnes. Unlike in Stephen King’s novel, where Tim is initially introduced as a police officer who moves from Florida to South Carolina, only to reappear later and live far away from the facility, the trailer suggests a more prominent role for him. It seems that in this adaptation, Tim will be an outsider investigating The Institute, while Luke and his friends are trying to escape.
What’s the plan for the remaining episodes to align with Stephen King’s initial concept? I’m really eager to learn more, and I promise there will be further discussions about the series in my upcoming articles as we approach its release date.
In summary, this week’s The King Beat has concluded, but if you’re yearning for more Stephen King, I strongly recommend catching up with the movie The Life Of Chuck in the near future. It’s an outstanding and inspiring cinematic journey. After that, don’t forget to look out for my next column, which will be published here on TopMob on the following Thursday.
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2025-06-12 19:10