Mark Hamill, 71, reveals he sees no ‘reason’ to play Luke Skywalker again on CBS Sunday Morning
Mark Hamill revealed he sees no ‘reason’ to reprise Luke Skywalker, but is open to returning to the role during an interview with CBS Sunday morning.
The 71-year-old Star Wars star spoke to CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent Tracy Smith, 54, at his home over the sea in Malibu, California.
“I’ve had my time, and that’s good,” Hamill said of playing the Force-enabled hero. “But that’s enough.”
“So even if you say you’re not going back, there’s always a chance you can go back?” Smith asked.
‘Well, never say never. I just don’t see any reason to. Let me put it this way: I mean, they have so many stories to tell, they don’t need Luke anymore,’ Hamill replied.
Sci-fi star: Mark Hamill revealed he sees no ‘reason’ to reprise Luke Skywalker but is open to returning to the role during and interview with CBS Sunday Morning
“You know a lot of people would say, ‘They always need Luke,'” Smith said, which made Hamill laugh.
Smith also asked if he’d accepted being forever associated as Luke Skywalker.
‘Yes. Well, I don’t care,’ Hamill said. “I mean, the truth is I never expected to be remembered for anything. I just wanted to make a living doing what I liked. And I thought, ‘Well, it could be worse. I could just about be known as the best actor to ever play Adolf Hitler, you know?’ ‘At least Luke is an admirable fellow!’
During his segment introduced by CBS Sunday Morning host Jane Pauley, 72, Hamill promoted his new movie The Machine.
The action comedy film is inspired by the 2016 stand-up comedy routine created by 50-year-old Bert Kreischer.
The film stars Bert as a fictionalized version of himself who accidentally stumbles across the Russian mob while on a 1999 trip to Russia as a college freshman.
Hamill plays Bert’s father Albert Kreischer, Sr. in the movie directed by Peter Atencio, 40.
‘I was attracted to the project because of the relationship between the son and the father. I mean they’re at odds trying to understand each other,” Hamill said.
Legendary movie: Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford appear in a still from director George Lucas’ 1977 film Star Wars
Reprising role: The 71-year-old actor played Luke again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Presenter: CBS Sunday Morning host Jane Pauley, 72, introduced the segment with Hamill
New correspondent: CBS News Sunday Morning correspondent Tracy Smith, 54, interviewed Hamill at his home over the sea in Malibu, California
Hamill recently told Esquire that he had a “tumultuous relationship” with Carrie Fisher, his co-star from the Star Wars franchise, who died of a heart attack in December 2016 at age 60.
He also opened up for CBS Sunday Morning about auditioning for Star Wars in 1976 with Harrison Ford, 80, not sure what to make of the George Lucas dialogue.
“The problem was they didn’t give us the whole script. And yes, I couldn’t figure out, is this a Flash Gordon broadcast or what? You couldn’t say that because no one talks like that!’ Hamill said.
And I asked Harrison, because he had been in American Graffiti. I said, ‘You know George. Is this a joke? Should we send it? Joking about it?’ ‘Whatever. Do it.’ So he was no help!” Hamill said of Harrison landing the role of Han Solo.
Hamill also recalled working with the late Sir Alec Guinness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars.
“He took me out to lunch to get to know each other a little bit. And I kept calling him Sir Alec. And at one point he tapped my face, a little harder. I went, ‘Ouch! What?” ”I want to be known by my name, not my award,” Hamill said.
“I said, ‘So, can I call you ‘Big Al’?” Hamill recalled.
Latest video: ‘I was attracted to the project because of the relationship between the son and the father. I mean, they’re at odds trying to understand each other,” Hamill said of his latest father-son film The Machine.
Fond memories: Screened in June 2019 in Hollywood, Hamill also recalled working with the late Sir Alec Guiness, who played Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars
Father figure: Hamill portrays Bert’s father Albert Kreischer, Sr. in The Machine
Hamill is active on social media and has 5.2 million followers on Twitter.
Last month, Deadline reported that Hamill will star in a film adaptation of Stephen King’s short story, The Life Of Chuck, alongside 42-year-old Tom Hiddleston.
Hamill will play a character named Albie, while Hiddleston will play the title character.
The Life Of Chuck is based on the story of the same name from King’s 2020 collection of four previously unpublished novellas, If It Bleeds.