I have to say, I was really struck by what Mark Hamill had to say in a recent interview with *Variety*. He’s voicing some serious concerns about the increasing use of AI in filmmaking – specifically, the idea of digitally created actors. He didn’t hold back, describing it as frankly “terrifying,” and used some pretty strong words like “ghastly” and “ghoulish” to express his discomfort with the whole concept. It’s a thought-provoking point, and he’s definitely making us think about where Hollywood is headed.
Interestingly, the very person criticizing AI actors has themselves been digitally altered by Disney, essentially becoming one to some extent.
The Jedi Who Fears the Machines
I was really struck by something Mark Hamill said while he was talking about Mike Flanagan’s *The Life of Chuck*. He was asked about Tilly Norwood, that AI actress everyone’s been buzzing about, and if she was supposedly getting signed by agencies. Honestly, his reaction was pretty disheartening – he seemed really worried about it all.
You know, it really freaks me out to think about the future of deepfakes. Mark Hamill was saying how he worries that after he’s gone, someone might pay his family a ton of money to digitally recreate him as, say, his 28-year-old self. It’s a weird thought, and honestly, a little scary to consider what they could do with someone’s likeness after they’re no longer around.

He also wondered if it was right to use a person’s image for advertising after they’ve died. He questioned whether someone like Gene Kelly would have approved of being in a vacuum cleaner commercial, admitting, ‘We just don’t know what he would have thought,’ and highlighting the many uncertainties involved.
Mark Hamill has voiced concerns about the increasing use of technology in Hollywood, but his position seems less convincing when you consider that Disney already used AI to digitally recreate him, with his permission.
The Truth About Hamill’s Digital De-Aging
Mark Hamill’s appearances as Luke Skywalker in *The Mandalorian* and *The Book of Boba Fett* weren’t simply fan service; they were a chance to try out new technology.
As a huge fan, it was amazing seeing Luke Skywalker return in *The Mandalorian*! What people might not realize is that Mark Hamill was actually on set for those scenes, but Lucasfilm used some incredible technology. They combined his performance with a younger version of his face, created using machine learning, and seamlessly blended it onto his body and even a stand-in actor, Max Lloyd-Jones. It was a really clever way to bring that iconic character back!

The filmmakers didn’t just use computer graphics; they used AI to make the actors look younger, relying on old footage and advanced computer mapping techniques.
Two years after his initial appearance, the technology used to bring a younger Luke Skywalker to life in *The Book of Boba Fett* became even more advanced. Lucasfilm hired Shamook, a deepfake artist from YouTube, to improve the effect. His team used artificial intelligence to meticulously recreate Mark Hamill’s younger face for each frame of the footage. They also created a synthetic voice using decades of archived audio recordings, employing a program called Respeecher to algorithmically reproduce his younger vocal tone.

It’s ironic, really. Mark Hamill is right to be concerned about AI ‘actors,’ but he’s already experienced it firsthand! Disney actually created a digital version of him – his face and voice – using the same technology he now finds unsettling. The key difference is that he gave his permission and was compensated for it, which is a huge point he’s making about protecting actors’ likenesses.
Hamill Hollywood Hypocrisy
It seems hypocritical that Hamill is now worried about AI. He’s benefited from the technology for years, even praising Disney’s digital recreation of Luke Skywalker. Now that studios are considering replacing established actors with AI, he’s suddenly expressing concern – a convenient time, perhaps.

It appears the issue isn’t about right or wrong, but about who holds the power. The studio is happy to use AI when it benefits established brands and includes the original performer in the profits – they see that as positive. However, when AI could create competition or reduce an actor’s control over their image, it’s suddenly viewed negatively. It also seems he didn’t want his family to be able to profit from his digital likeness after he’s gone.
It’s an easy line to draw when your image has already been immortalized in pixels.
The Industry Problem No One Wants to Admit
Hollywood has been carefully choosing when to bring actors back to life using digital technology. We’ve seen it happen with Peter Cushing in Rogue One, Carrie Fisher in both Rogue One and The Rise of Skywalker, and most recently, Harrison Ford was made to look younger using artificial intelligence in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Every time, the industry cheered the spectacle.

It’s ironic that people are now upset about AI potentially replacing actors, when they weren’t concerned about similar changes before. The real issue isn’t about what’s right or wrong, but about the financial impact.
A Galaxy of Irony
Mark Hamill has always been known for being part of innovative stories, but his recent criticism of AI actors seems less like a thoughtful caution and more like worry about being replaced – a fear he may have already witnessed firsthand.

As a huge movie fan, it’s a little unsettling to think about the tech that brought Luke Skywalker back to life also potentially taking work away from real actors. It makes this whole ‘futuristic filmmaking’ thing feel a bit less exciting and a little…well, scary, honestly.
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2025-10-14 18:34