Mark Hamill Reflects on a Year of Loss and New Ventures

LOS ANGELES, California — Mark Hamill, the beloved actor best known for his role as Luke Skywalker, is having a busy year despite facing personal challenges. In January, the 74-year-old actor lost his home in the Palisades fires and had to relocate with his family. However, he is now promoting three major projects that highlight his enduring presence in Hollywood.

Hamill’s latest projects include Mike Flanagan‘s fantasy drama, “The Life of Chuck,” set to stream on Hulu beginning Dec. 26, an adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Long Walk,” and the animated feature “The SpongeBob Movie: Searching for SquarePants,” where he voices the ghoulish Flying Dutchman.

“You can’t really control it, but this was a really, really active year,” Hamill told Variety. “I don’t have anything lined up, so maybe next year won’t be so active.” He once considered retirement after reprising his iconic role in the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, expressing a desire to leave the industry on a high note.

His perspective shifted when he was offered a part in “The Fall of the House of Usher,” a role that rekindled his passion for acting. Hamill appreciates that voice acting enables him to explore diverse roles without the constraints of age or physical appearance. “They cast with their ears, not their eyes,” he explained.

While Hamill continues to embrace his craft, he admits to feeling anxious about AI’s impact on Hollywood. “It’s hard to predict the future,” he stated, considering what might happen to his legacy in the “Star Wars” universe. He has already had conversations with his family about potential future appearances using AI after his passing.

Hamill finds joy in playing the Flying Dutchman, a character he initially thought was new to the franchise. After realizing the character has a legacy, he decided to approach it uniquely. “With a character like a ghost pirate in the world of ‘SpongeBob,’ you can go as big as you want,” he said. “There is no too big.”

Reflecting on his career, Hamill expressed gratitude for the opportunities he has had and remains dedicated to using his platform for good. He has been involved with charity work through organizations like Make-A-Wish. Social media allows him to stay connected, albeit he has left platforms like Twitter and Facebook due to concerns over how they handle political discussions.

His enthusiasm for storytelling remains, and he continues to believe in the power of escapism amid a chaotic world. “It’s healthy in troubling times to have an escape,” he noted.

As he remains a fan of “Star Wars” and other projects, Hamill concludes, “They’re doing great without me.”