Star Wars: The Last Jedi is one really special film for all Star Wars fans. Not only is this the last time that we'll see Carrie Fisher on the big screen in the franchise but this is also Mark Hamill's departure from the iconic film series. Episode 8 will see a darker shade of Luke Skywalker, one who is completely different from what we saw in the second trilogy. Mark plays Luke again after forty years just for the character's departure from the series. Harrison Ford bid farewell to the franchise in the last film, The Force Awakens after his onscreen son, Kylo Ren, kills him. Mark spoke to DNA at the red carpet premiere of the movie in Tokyo about working with Rian Johnson, the director of the film. (ALSO READ: Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Watch this video to find out what Luke Skywalker would say to the traffic police)
Here are excerpts from the interview.
You have played Luke Skywalker, for over four decades. What is different about playing Luke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Well, he’s in a much more different frame of mind, a much different Luke than we’ve seen before. One thing I learnt about the character is that he never appeared the same way. When we first meet him, he’s sort of a just a teenager, nothing special about him. He’s not particularly intelligent, not physically imposing. So he was very relatable. The princess is royalty, Han Solo is cynical, a gambler and womaniser. Children would feel comfortable around me because they had seen a lot of people in their lives who were like me. Then, of course, he changes throughout the first movie till he discovers these inner mystical powers. So, his journey begins each time you see him. In training with Yoda, he progresses to a different kind of Luke, finding out the terrible revelation. I mean, you think you have bad parents, how about having dad Vader?!! Oh my God, what a nightmare! (laughs)
When I read the script of The Last Jedi, I was like, are you kidding me? This is not the time for the Jedi to end, this is not the Luke I knew and I said this to Rian. He said we want to push the envelope and we want to give people what they don’t expect. And I’m all for that, but I said I could see him being traumatised by what happened for a year or so, but a Jedi doesn’t give up. But look, at the end of the day, it’s my job to take the script and do the best I can to realise his vision. There was the George Lucas Star Wars and then the next generation of it with Rian Johnson, who was a little boy when the first film came out. Now he’s in charge and the last thing they want to hear is, ‘well in my day, blah blah blah...’ They should be able to do the films they want to do. So if he wants Luke to be dark and pessimistic, that’s my job. But that’s the way it should be. And look, I’m just happy to be back. It’s so much fun. If you can’t have fun being in a Star Wars movie, there’s something seriously wrong with you!
Do you compare your approach of training Rey, to Yoda’s?
That’s the implication that I will be training her, but even now I can’t reveal anything. It’s so weird to be promoting a movie you can’t talk about. It’s a paradox. But I will say that if I had been another benign, benevolent Jedi training her or bringing her information like Obi-Van, it would be just a variation of what you have already seen before. I had to trust Rian. I told him I’m out of my comfort zone but I totally trust you, and I think that’s the best decision I could have made.
Tell us a bit about working with the director, Rian Johnson.
He’s the most wonderful person and it’s amazing, but I have never heard him raise his voice or abuse anyone. Someone asked me if I can think of something bad to say about him and I said.’oh ya, he’s too nice!’ (laughs) He’s a really great storyteller and a gifted filmmaker and I have worked with some real terrors! I won’t take names but I have just flipped on one TV movie and I just hated the guy so much that I just screamed my head off at him. I went to the trailer and I sat there shaking, waiting to be fired when the AD comes and tells me the shot is ready. He said the director loved you for standing up to him! I lucked out! I think he was trying to goad me into standing up for myself or maybe that was his technique to make me be better, but it was just awful. Because if you can’t have fun doing your job then you’re in the wrong business.
(Text by Deepali Singh)
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