Mark Hamill, the actor who famously portrayed Luke Skywalker, expressed strong admiration for Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, and Dave Filoni, the creator of Ahsoka. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamill emphasized that both creators have a deep grasp of the Star Wars universe that aligns closely with the vision of George Lucas. This recognition highlights Favreau as a Jon Favreau Star Wars creator in the truest sense, capturing the spirit and language of the original saga.
Hamill said,
“I think Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, boy, do they get Star Wars. They get it. They’re speaking the same language that George did in a way that I questioned in the sequels.”
—Mark Hamill, Actor
Motivation Behind Hamill’s Return as Luke Skywalker
Hamill detailed his reasons for returning as Luke in the season 2 finale of The Mandalorian, explaining that the character’s story lacked a pivotal middle chapter. He compared Luke’s journey to a three-part James Bond story, where the earliest phase is discovering a new world, the next is intense training, and the final stage sees full mastery. This middle story, where Luke is a Master Jedi at his peak, had never been told on screen.
He elaborated,
“The reason I did Mandalorian was that Luke had a beginning and an end. There was no middle. It was like making a trilogy about James Bond as a young boy who first became aware of the Secret Service and wanted to be a part of it. Part two was him training to be an agent. Part three is earning his license to kill – The End. No From Russia With Love, Dr. No or Goldfinger. You never got to see Luke as a Master Jedi at the peak of his powers. He was the most idealistic character in that series. He was someone who would take adversity and double down and come back and counter his setbacks. We didn’t see any of that. So when I got the chance, I thought, ‘Geez, this is wonderful.’”
—Mark Hamill, Actor
Limited Return and Thoughts on Future Star Wars Stories
After appearing again as Luke Skywalker in The Book of Boba Fett, where his character trains Grogu, Hamill indicated that he does not expect to reprise the role further. He encouraged the Star Wars franchise to focus on new characters and stories moving forward rather than revisiting old roles.
Hamill remarked,
“I had my time. I’m appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters,”
and added,
“And by the way, when I disappeared in [The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind. And there’s no way I’m gonna appear as a naked Force ghost.”
—Mark Hamill, Actor
Upcoming Star Wars Projects to Watch
Fans can look forward to the upcoming release of The Mandalorian & Grogu, scheduled to premiere next May, which will continue to explore the adventures of the titular characters. Additionally, Ahsoka’s second season is expected to arrive soon, expanding the Star Wars narrative further under the guidance of creators like Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni.
