In a conversation during the promotion of his latest movie, “The Life of Chuck,” Mark Hamill highlighted a significant distinction in the approach to making Star Wars films between George Lucas and Disney. On the morning show “TODAY,” he shared memories from his time in the legendary sci-fi series. He recounted an instance during the filming of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” when he questioned whether the movie should delve deeper into Luke’s internal conflict over joining the dark side. Lucas, the director, advised Hamill to remember the young audience that Star Wars was aimed at, which was also the primary reason behind Lucas’ reluctance to eliminate main characters.
As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I recall a conversation I had with George Lucas in regards to Luke Skywalker’s character development in the third film. I suggested that since he’d lost his hand and donned a black glove, it seemed logical for him to grapple with the temptation of the dark side. But George gently reminded me, “Mark, it’s for kids.” That’s why he chose not to endanger any of our beloved main characters back then. Now, in these newer installments, they’re taking us down one by one.
In the sequel trilogy, Hamill, Ford, and Fisher once again took on their iconic roles from the original trilogy. Regrettably, in each film, one of these legacy characters meets their end: Kylo Ren fatally shoots Han Solo in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Luke Skywalker selflessly perishes at the climax of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, and Princess Leia succumbs to her injuries in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” following a heartfelt plea to Kylo Ren, urging him to return to the light. Conversely, the trio of new Resistance heroes – Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron – all emerge victorious from the trilogy’s events.
Since Luke Skywalker has passed away, Mark Hamill has expressed little desire to resurrect his character as a Force spirit in future projects like the movie “Star Wars: New Jedi Order.” He believes it’s time for the Star Wars franchise to progress and concentrate solely on fresh characters.
Despite initially opposing the deaths of the primary characters from the original trilogy, Lucas appeared more amenable to such outcomes in later years. Before transferring Lucasfilm to Disney, Lucas drafted his own concept for a sequel series, where Luke was slated to die in Episode VIII. Although Lucas had no qualms about killing secondary characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, it’s possible he intended on bringing back the legacy characters in supporting roles, making it easier for him to consider Luke’s demise. In this scenario, Skywalker would no longer be the central hero young people admired. However, since Lucas’ sequel trilogy remains only a treatment, he may have chosen to adjust certain aspects had he been given the chance to produce the films. Throughout his career, Lucas was known for continuously refining his ideas; initially, Darth Vader wasn’t Luke’s father.
For longtime Star Wars enthusiasts, it was painful to witness their cherished classic heroes meeting their end in each film of the sequel trilogy, but one could argue that the filmmakers made wise decisions in this regard. The films strove to blend the introduction of fresh characters with the ongoing narratives of the original trilogy’s principal trio. From a narrative standpoint, it would have been challenging to assign substantial, impactful roles to six characters across all three movies. By selecting one of the legacy characters to serve as the main supporting actor in each film (Leia was set for a larger role in Episode IX before Carrie Fisher’s demise) and using those films as farewells for them, the approach proved effective. If Lucasfilm manages to launch the New Jedi Order, it will be intriguing to see if Rey eventually meets a heroic end, passing the mantle to the next generation.
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2025-06-10 19:16