Iconic Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill has shared his experience auditioning for Star Wars, revealing the uncertainty and newness surrounding the franchise at the time. In a recent podcast interview, Hamill shared that he had no idea who George Lucas was when he auditioned for the role of Luke Skywalker, and that he was initially unsure if the film would be a comedy or a sendup.
Hamill recounted that his agent had scheduled an audition for him ten days in the future, but when he arrived at the casting session, he was surprised to see a room full of 50 other actors being auditioned for the role of Luke Skywalker, which would eventually become Luke.
Hamill shared that he didn’t realize George Lucas was the director until he met him and Brian De Palma, the director of Carrie, in the casting room. He humorously recalled that he even referred to Lucas as “the guy with the beard who didn’t say a word”.
Hamill wasn’t the only one who was unsure about the potential of Star Wars. Many of the original trilogy’s actors, including Hamill, haven’t spoken about how they had no idea the franchise would become as massive as it did. It’s impossible to predict the success of a show or movie, especially one that would go on to become a cultural phenomenon.
Despite the uncertainty, Hamill’s initial impression of the project was that it might be a comedy or sendup, largely due to the world-building and concept of the Force, which didn’t have the same cultural resonance as they do today. However, looking back, Hamill’s perception makes sense, given the extensive world-building in A New Hope.
Despite the uncertainty, Hamill went on to land the role of Luke Skywalker and has since become an integral part of the franchise, attending conventions, speaking about Star Wars, and reprising his role as Luke.
