Mark Hamill Bids Farewell to Luke Skywalker

In a recent interview with ComicBook.com while promoting his new film The Life of Chuck, Mark Hamill confirmed what many fans had long suspected: his time portraying Luke Skywalker in Star Wars has come to an end. The beloved actor, who originated the role in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, reflected fondly on his decades-long association with the franchise, but emphasized that the future of Star Wars should now belong to a new generation of characters.

“I had my time,” Hamill said. “I’m appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.”

Hamill’s portrayal of Luke Skywalker helped define the original trilogy and later shaped pivotal moments in the sequel trilogy, from The Force Awakens through The Rise of Skywalker. He also contributed to the Disney+ era, providing voice work and motion capture for Luke’s appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. His last on-screen performance as Luke was as a Force ghost guiding Rey in The Rise of Skywalker.

Though many fans expected Luke to reappear in the upcoming film New Jedi Order, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and featuring Rey training a new generation of Jedi, Hamill’s comments cast doubt on any such cameo. With characteristic wit, he joked, “There’s no way I’m gonna appear as a naked Force ghost,” referencing his character’s dramatic final scene in The Last Jedi.

Hamill’s statement may mark a symbolic turning point for the franchise, as Star Wars continues to evolve beyond its original heroes. With younger audiences now identifying more with newer characters like Rey, Finn, and Poe, Hamill’s farewell signals the end of an era—and the beginning of another.