Mark Hamill Regrets Publicly Questioning Luke Skywalker’s Direction In ‘The Last Jedi’

Months before The Last Jedi hit theaters, alarm bells blared in the heads of fans when Mark Hamill recalled when he told director Rian Johnson: “I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character.” What could possibly happen to make Luke Skywalker himself feel that way?

*Spoilers*

We now know that Luke is a broken man that has all but given up on the ways of the Jedi. He’s turned his back on his friends, his family, and worst of all, he’s let his emotions get the best of him, opting to turn his lightsaber on his own family while they sleep, rather than turn the darkness festering within them. Hamill expanded his thoughts after the movie released by saying “he’s not my Luke.”

Fans who hated the movie (there are many), applauded his honesty and pointed to it as the ultimate critique. If Luke Skywalker can’t get behind the direction The Last Jedi took, why should they?

Those comments have spread across the fandom without the full context or the full interview, however. Yes, Hamill said those things, but he’s also given Johnson plenty of credit for getting him and audiences outside their comfort zone in order to grow. Hamill understands that it had to be done, even though it’s painful for him and the fans that have been by his side for four decades.

Now part of an interview that shows Hamill isn’t completely sour on Episode VIII has been making the rounds, and it’s led to an explanation from Hamill:

Hamill said: “I regret voicing my doubts & insecurities in public.Creative differences are a common element of any project but usually remain private. All I wanted was to make [a] good movie. I got more than that – Rian Johnson made an all-time GREAT one!”

It’s nice to know Hamill doesn’t actually hate The Last Jedi, but that doesn’t explain all these clips of him seeming to be more Harrison Ford about the whole franchise than his usual, bubbly self.