With production underway on J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII, Mark Hamill has been cast not just into the film, but back into the spotlight as well. In a recent interview, he talks about his time in the original trilogy, his reaction to the prequel trilogy, and his involvement in the new trio of films currently underway. While there's not much in the way of plot or even his character arc revealed in this interview, he does talk a bit about George Lucas' vision for the Star Wars characters and his reaction to Disney purchasing Lucasfilm. Hamill also comments on fans' expectations and the current culture of movie spoilers. Hit the jump for more.
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Hamill talked about a wide range of topics from Disney park attractions to voicing the Joker. You can find all of those comments and more over at the link provided, but we've supplied a few Star Wars-related tidbits below.
Hamill says he was perfectly content with leaving the franchise behind after Return of the Jedi:
“In my mind, there was a beginning, and a middle and an end for me and my association with George’s trilogy. It was firmly in the past. When the prequels came out, I watched from a distance, but I was totally fine.”
Of course, now he's back in a presumably significant role for Episode VII , and he talked a bit about his preparation and time on set:
“I’ve altered my diet. I’ve started working out. There’s that. But on the film itself: I toured the departments, I’ve looked at wardrobe, and I saw the creature shop. I went around and met all the cast people, saw the technicians working on some new things.”
Hamill went on to say that Lucas "always liked the idea of seeing the original characters as elderly characters," and indeed he got his wish as Hamill is joined by Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher in J.J. Abrams' follow-up.
“I hadn’t seen Tony Daniels or Carrie [Fisher] or Harrison [Ford] or Peter Mayhew in ages. … I was wonderful to see them again, because I didn’t expect to. Again, this is all so unexpected. It’s like getting out that pair of pants you haven’t worn in five years and finding a 20-dollar bill in the pocket. Oh, this is nice.”
The actor also touched on saying "yes" to Episode VII, saying potential fan reaction was one of the factors in motivating him to sign on:
“Look, I’m aware that a lot of people don’t care one way or another, but for the UPFs – the ultra passionate fans – they would come after me like the angry townspeople with torches in the old Frankenstein pictures. I would have a lot to answer for if I didn’t at least try to make the effort. It’s not like I had a choice. I feel like I was called up for service by the Selective Service.”
Hamill also admits that he's not nearly in the same league as the fans when it comes to Star Wars knowledge:
“I haven’t seen those movies since they were in movie theaters. I don’t watch them on home theater or DVD. There are people who are far more expert in it than I am. They know more, way more, about them than I do, and they care more. … You don’t have to love them, but I am surprised sometimes at how vehemently they get if they’re not satisfied, which is scary. I have this feeling that no matter what we do there’s going to be a faction that really is disappointed. You just can’t live up to that. Any kind of reunion type endeavor, whatever it is … you can never go home again.”
Finally, Hamilly touched on the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney:
"I think he [George Lucas] really feels a great relief of passing this property into the right hands. I couldn’t be more excited even nominally a part of the Disney family.”
