Mark Hamill Shares Dark Luke Head Canon for 'The Last Jedi'

Mark Hamill has shared extensive details about the personal backstory he created for Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, while clarifying his initial dissatisfaction with Rian Johnson's narrative choices.

The veteran actor has been vocal about disagreeing with Luke's in-film motivation for exiling himself and becoming the disillusioned hermit Rey encounters. In the movie, Skywalker blames himself for Ben Solo's fall to the Dark Side, leading him to abandon the Jedi Order. When Rey seeks his help for the Resistance, he refuses.

Now, eight years after the film's release, Hamill has elaborated on his own vision for why Luke withdrew from the galaxy.

During an interview on Bullseye with Jesse Thorn to promote his new film The Life of Chuck, Hamill discussed his discomfort with Luke's arc in The Last Jedi.

He began by praising Johnson, calling him "one of the most gifted directors I’ve ever worked with" and emphasizing his admiration for films like Knives Out and Looper. However, Hamill stood by his critique of Luke’s characterization.

"I kept saying to Rian, ‘This would just make Luke double down even harder...' but he wanted a brief explanation. To me, it didn’t fully justify Luke’s retreat," Hamill explained. "I saw entire planets destroyed—real adversity would strengthen Luke, not break him."

Given creative freedom from Johnson, Hamill developed a much darker backstory to rationalize Luke's isolation.

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Hamill's alternate version involves Luke falling in love with a woman, leaving the Jedi, and raising a child together. Tragedy strikes when their toddler accidentally activates an unattended lightsaber, resulting in a fatal accident. The grief drives Luke’s wife to take her own life, explaining his subsequent exile.

"I wanted something that would genuinely shatter someone—something profound," Hamill said. "Of course, I understood Rian didn’t have time for such a backstory... But I committed fully to making his vision work on screen."

He also dismissed any notion of personal conflict with Johnson, reaffirming his professional respect for the director.

This follows Hamill's recent confirmation that he won’t reprise his role in future Star Wars films, quipping, "There's no way I'm appearing as a naked Force ghost."

Meanwhile, Rey’s story continues in an upcoming sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, set several years after The Rise of Skywalker. The Mandalorian and Grogu arrives in 2026, followed by Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter starring Ryan Gosling in 2027.