Mark Hamill’s favourite ‘Star Wars’ movie
Some actors – including castmate Harrison Ford – have long since grown weary of being repeatedly asked about their most iconic roles for decades on end, but Mark Hamill has always remained fully appreciative of the fact he wouldn’t be where he is today without Star Wars.
As much as he’s managed to carve out a side career being one of the most talented and in-demand voice actors around, Hamill has long since made his peace that Luke Skywalker has been, continues to be, and will always be the defining character of a career that shows no signs of slowing down more than 45 years on from his debut as the youngster from Tatooine with a galaxy-defining destiny.
That doesn’t mean Episode IV is his personal favourite, though, after he revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he’s got a softer spot for its equally illustrious sequel: “It’s like, pick your favourite child,” he said. “You like them all for different reasons. I guess I’d have to go with Empire, only because it was so unexpected to have the protagonist be so soundly defeated.”
The jaw-dropping conclusion remains one of the most unforgettable and iconic moments in all of pop culture, with Hamill admitting that part of The Empire Strikes Back‘s unique charm was that “this was the first time where anyone really cared about secrecy and leaks and so forth,” even if it’s been customary for Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters to maintain the thickest veil possible for a long time.
Reflecting on why exactly Empire makes his personal cut, Hamill was both drawn to its stunning final act and the way George Lucas pioneered the “darker and more mature” sequel path that his contemporaries have been walking down ever since: “Losing the hand and the dad Vader, all of it was pretty unexpected. And it was much more cerebral,” he continued. “Yoda is such an important addition to the mythology and I thought it was so clever of George, the concept of the Force, so you can talk about religion and spirituality without making everyone uncomfortable. So, for that alone.”
As for his least favourite Star Wars production? Hamill once regaled Vanity Fair with how he told The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson that “I fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character,” but he’s since voiced his regret at being so scathing. In turn, that makes the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special the winner by a landslide.
Speaking to Insider, Hamill remembers that “when I read the script, I said I’m not doing this,” before Lucas eventually changed his mind. Having the last laugh, though, the long-time Jedi was proven right, with its creator the one left with a red face instead: “He’s never lived it down. He once said, ‘If I could find every copy of that holiday special, I’d smash them with a hammer.'”
