Mark Hamill Rejects Star Wars Return, Rules Out Force Ghost Role

If you were hoping for Mark Hamill to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker's Force ghost, prepare for disappointment. The legendary actor has definitively closed the door on returning to the iconic sci-fi franchise, stating it's time for Star Wars to shift focus from legacy characters to new narratives.

While promoting his new film The Life of Chuck in an interview with ComicBook.com, Hamill was asked about potentially appearing as a Force ghost in the upcoming Rey-led New Jedi Order film. His response couldn't have been clearer - after Luke's symbolic exit in 2017's The Last Jedi, his Star Wars journey is complete.

"I'll always be grateful to George [Lucas] for giving me this incredible opportunity back when Star Wars was just 'the most expensive low-budget movie ever made,'" Hamill reflected. "We never imagined it would become this cultural phenomenon. But that chapter has closed - I've had my time. It's important now to let new characters and stories take center stage."

The actor added with his trademark humor: "Besides, when my character disappeared in The Last Jedi, he literally left his robes behind. I'm certainly not appearing as some sort of nude Force ghost!"

Meanwhile, Daisy Ridley's Rey will return in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's directorial effort set about 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, as she establishes a new Jedi Order. Details remain sparse, but Ridley teased to AlloCiné in early 2024: "When I understood the story's direction, I knew I had to be part of it. It presents fresh, exciting possibilities within the Star Wars universe."

The Star Wars slate includes Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) and Shawn Levy's Ryan Gosling-starring Starfighter (2027). Lucasfilm announced three additional films at 2023's Star Wars Celebration: Dave Filoni's New Republic film, James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi, and the aforementioned Rey continuation.

Upcoming Star Wars Projects

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While details may evolve, one thing remains certain: Mark Hamill's Force ghost won't be appearing in any upcoming Star Wars productions. The galaxy far, far away continues expanding - just without its original farmboy-turned-Jedi.