George Lucas made the right call about Luke Skywalker in ‘A New Hope’

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The iconic film “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” is approaching its 50th anniversary since its release, and it remains a captivating story for many. George Lucas’s tale about a farmer from Tatooine who saved his father and the galaxy from an eternal doom revolutionized the realm of science fiction and filmmaking.

In the process of creating “A New Hope,” things didn’t always run smoothly. There were numerous adjustments made during production, one of which was a significant change in Luke Skywalker’s character that Mark Hamill, the actor portraying him, found uncomfortable. According to The Direct, Hamill shared this information on a recent episode of ITV’s This Morning. Interestingly, Hamill revealed that his character’s original name was Luke Starkiller, but it was eventually changed to Luke Skywalker.

In a surprise turn of events, Hamill disliked the change and was caught off guard because he had already filmed the scene where Luke Skywalker, disguised as a stormtrooper, rescues Princess Leia Organa, his sister. Later, Hamill expressed his confusion by asking why they were reshooting that scene, to which the response was that his character’s name had been changed. They explained that he would now be known as Skywalker. Hamill felt it sounded weak and disliked it intensely.

Initially, Hamill found the name underwhelming and felt it didn’t convey enough strength. However, Lucas’s decision to change Luke Skywalker’s original name from Starkiller ultimately proved to be shrewd. Over the years, this was just one of many adjustments Lucas made to “A New Hope”. Lucas himself had reservations about Starkiller as it gave off a negative vibe and didn’t suit Luke, who embodied more savior qualities than killer ones. In retrospect, Starkiller appears too weighty for a character like Luke, who was more of a redeemer than a destroyer.

It came as no surprise that Mark Hamill had reservations about the name change from Starkiller to Skywalker. Since Luke was conceived to represent hope, a name like Starkiller seemed too grim and intense. George Lucas recognized the significance of his creation’s moniker and its impact on the audience. A character’s name often serves as our initial perception of them, and it’s possible that many wouldn’t find Luke Starkiller as inspiring as Luke Skywalker.

While Mark Hamill has shared his thoughts about Luke Skywalker and his role in Star Wars, I feel that some personal reflections might have been better kept private. After all, there are other characters who carry the Skywalker name, and even before them, Anakin Skywalker held a significant place in the Star Wars universe. His mother, Shmi, came before him as well. As we look forward to the future of the Skywalker lineage following Rey, and contemplate the origins of the ‘Skywalker’ name, it’s fascinating to consider how this could be woven into a new Star Wars tale.

I’m curious to learn more about Shmi Skywalker, as she is the initial known member of the Skywalker lineage according to canon. Could you provide some insight into how she ended up on Tatooine, her parentage, and whether there were any notable Skywalkers prior to Shmi and Anakin?

The 50th Anniversary of “Star Wars: A New Hope” will be commemorated with a re-release of “Episode IV” on April 30th, and this will be followed by the Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles. Further details about Lucasfilm’s year-long celebration of “Star Wars” will be revealed as we approach the anniversary date.

Star Wars is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-08-23 22:22