“Star Wars”: Lead role was a godsend for Mark Hamill

In the late 1970s, the foundations for the space adventure “Star Wars” were laid. A crucial twist happened behind the scenes when Mark Hamill unexpectedly took on the lead role in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. Instead of Harrison Ford, who was favored at the time.

Mark Hamill was still finding his place in the entertainment industry. However, he was surprised that he would immediately become one of the faces of “Star Wars”.

The surprise came with the script

In a conversation on Omaze, the actor revealed his initial confusion over the roles in the film. In the video on YouTube, Hamill looks at his casting for “Star Wars.” He remembers how he experienced Harrison Ford as Han Solo and assumed that Han Solo was the main character, while he himself only played a supporting role with Luke Skywalker. He compared the situation to the characters Captain America and Bucky from the “Marvel Cinematic Universe.” In this comparison, Ford was the shining star while he perceived himself in his shadow.

Hamill’s surprise came when he received the script and realized that his character, Luke Skywalker, was the main character of the story. The front page read: “The Star Wars: The Adventures Of Luke Starkiller As Taken From The ‘Saga Of The Whills’.” This realization was like a revelation for the now 72-year-old.

Today, both Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill are icons of popular culture. Although Ford is considered the one with the more iconic roles – including Han Solo, Indiana Jones and Deckard in “Blade Runner” – Hamill also found his place in film history with the character Luke Skywalker.