Mark Hamill Bids Farewell to Luke Skywalker and Star Wars

Mark Hamill, the heart and soul behind Luke Skywalker, has decided it’s time to part ways with the Star Wars galaxy. In a chat with ComicBook.com, the 73-year-old actor shared his feelings with warmth, saying he’s ready to let go of the role that made him a star.“I had my time,” he said with a grin, rooting for Lucasfilm to dive into new stories with fresh characters.

• Mark Hamill has officially said goodbye to playing Luke Skywalker, expressing support for Star Wars to focus on new characters
• Hamill reflected fondly on his decades-long journey with the franchise, ending with a Force ghost cameo in The Rise of Skywalker
• As Lucasfilm moves ahead with projects like New Jedi Order, fans are divided—some nostalgic, others eager for a fresh chapter

Hamill first slipped into Luke’s shoes in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, sparking a love for the Jedi hero that’s lasted decades. He returned for the original trilogy, the sequels, and even surprised fans as a younger Luke in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. His final moment came as a Force ghost in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, cheering on Rey (Daisy Ridley) against Emperor Palpatine. Not everyone loved Luke’s moodier turn in 2017’s The Last Jedi, and Hamill’s been open about wishing his character kept that old-school hopeful spark.

As Lucasfilm looks ahead to projects like New Jedi Order, where Rey rebuilds the Jedi Order 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker under director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Hamill’s all for letting new heroes take center stage.  “I’m grateful to George Lucas for letting me be part of that back in the day,” he said, reminiscing about the franchise’s early days.

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Fans are feeling a mix of emotions. Some are excited for what’s next, while others are tossing around ideas like recasting Luke—Sebastian Stan’s name keeps popping up. For now, Hamill’s turning his attention to new gigs like The Life of Chuck, leaving behind a legacy that’ll keep the Force strong with fans forever.