Mark Hamill Originally Felt That George Lucas Was ‘Sort Of Intimidating’ – Looper

Fortunately, Mark Hamill’s storied “Star Wars” journey didn’t end with the controversial “Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker.” Rather, Luke lives on in the past courtesy of “The Mandalorian.” Thanks to showrunner Jon Favreau, Luke’s life continues post “Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi,” as Skywalker arrives in Season 2’s “The Rescue” to save the day and Grogu, aka Baby Yoda. Hamill is obviously comfortable in his Jedi robes today, but in 1977 he was actually uneasy around “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.

“I wish I knew what I know about George now when I did the first ‘Star Wars’ because he’s a very introspective fellow and can be sort of intimidating when you really don’t know him,” Hamill said during a 1988 interview printed in Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine No. 3 (via Star Wars News Net). “And he’s really very easy going and free.”

According to the same interview, Hamill’s experience with the filmmaker on the original “Star Wars” set was fantastic. However, Hamill was surprised that Lucas didn’t helm “Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” “I had no idea when he was directing ‘Star Wars’ that it would be a possibility that he wouldn’t direct anymore,” Hamill said. In fact, when Lucas folded up his directing chair in 1977 (per IMDb), he didn’t return to that galaxy far, far away until 1999’s “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” 22 years later.