Movies

Mark Hamill starred in the ultimate battle of good and evil. Now he just wants to make America normal again

BBG News

Mark Hamill had reached a stage in his life where he yearned to swap the mystical energy of the Force for a leisurely pool float and a peaceful crossword puzzle in the shade.

After spending five decades embodying one of pop culture’s longest-lasting legends – Luke Skywalker, the naive farm boy from Tatooine who became a Jedi knight in “Star Wars” – Hamill had finally found his own cozy nook in the galaxy. He had a beloved home, a family that kept him down-to-earth, and no urgency to appear on camera anymore.

In a casual conversation on a sunny Los Angeles afternoon in May, Hamill, aged 73, expressed his sentiment with a casual shrug about Skywalker’s death in “The Last Jedi” (2017). He admitted, “‘This is perfect’ – I was killed off, and I no longer had the passion or ambition. When you lose the spark within, it’s simple to spend your days lounging by the pool, playing board games like Yahtzee. At my age, I no longer wish to appear on camera. My agent is the only one who disagrees, wanting his commission, and my wife, wanting me out of the house.

That was the plan, anyway — until the world caught fire.

In a temporary residence in Los Feliz, the actor lounges on a couch, his Edgar Allan Poe-themed socks peeking out from discarded shoes. His house in Malibu, purchased with earnings from “Star Wars” in 1978 and where he married his wife Marilou, raised their three children, and held many memories – has been left untouchable due to the fires in January that ravaged significant parts of the city, leaving most of his neighborhood in ruins. The Palisades fire forced Hamill and his wife to evacuate as flames engulfed both sides of the road. “Every house bordering our property, except one,” he explains, “was reduced to ashes. 270 houses – only 60 survived.

Four months on, the hills near his home remain charred and poisonous. It’s not just his area that seems singed. To Hamill – one of Hollywood’s most vocal and biting critics of Trump – the country itself appears damaged, barely a few months into what he views as a hazardous second term. For someone who symbolized the victory of good over evil close to fifty years ago, it can be challenging to discover fresh optimism.

He remarks, ‘The state of things today is truly astounding; we’ve had the pandemic, political unrest, and this terrible incident.’ It’s challenging to exclaim, ‘I’m overjoyed! Our home is safe!’ when you come to terms with the fact that all your friends have lost everything.

In “The Life of Chuck,” directed by Mike Flanagan, there’s a constant, subtle feeling of bewilderment, as if the world is falling apart – it permeates this peculiar yet tender adaptation of a 2020 Stephen King novella. After receiving acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival last year and winning the People’s Choice award, this Neon film is set to hit theaters this Friday. It offers an unforeseen and slightly daring choice for summer viewing – a quiet, contemplative character study that unfolds from the end of the world, delving into a thoughtful reflection on memory, mortality, and legacy.

In this film, Hamill stars alongside Tom Hiddleston and Chiwetel Ejiofor, portraying Albie, a widowed, mathematically inclined Jewish grandfather who approaches the end of his life with tranquil dignity and firm integrity. This role, reminiscent of actors like Richard Dreyfuss, Peter Falk, or Judd Hirsch in an earlier time, may come as a surprise to many given Hamill’s post-“Star Wars” career primarily revolving around voice acting. Known for his versatile work as the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series” and numerous other TV and video game projects, Hamill took on this role when Flanagan, who had previously cast him in the Netflix horror miniseries “The Fall of the House of Usher,” presented it to him. Despite his initial reservations, which he didn’t explicitly express, Hamill accepted the offer.

Flanagan shares over the phone, “Mark expressed something no actor has ever shared with me before: ‘I’m not sure if I can pull this off, but you believe I can, so I should.’ This sentiment left me astonished. It felt like I was called upon to meet such a high level of trust.

In the filming process, Hamill perfectly embodied his character. Albie doesn’t make an appearance until over an hour into the movie and is only present for a handful of scenes; however, he serves as the foundation of the story with his tranquil, consistent demeanor that finds solace in routine, tradition, and numerical patterns. To establish his on-screen persona, Hamill requested the hair and makeup team to bleach his hair and mustache completely, followed by experimenting with various glasses. Upon seeing his transformed reflection, he burst into laughter: “Wow, I’m Geppetto! I look just like the Disney interpretation.

Hamill was attracted to how subtle the role was – quite different from the grandiose or quirky characters he’s usually known for in animation and genre productions. As he puts it, “He’s just like a friendly grandfather.” He enjoys his wife, adores his grandchild, but challenge his opinion on math being dull, and you’ve touched a nerve. You’ve found his weak spot. I appreciate that he takes pleasure in being an accountant, loves numbers – something that for me, brings the character to life, absolutely.

The heart-touching core scene of the movie is a lengthy soliloquy where Albie speaks alone at a desk – a peaceful contemplation about the unnoticed elegance in mathematics and life as a whole. Hamill, not usually given such opportunities for grounded, dramatic performances on screen, approached it with some apprehension.

Initially, speeches are often lengthy, stretching over several pages as one might notice, he comments. Fortunately, I received a heads-up about five to six weeks prior to filming, and I dedicated each day to refining it.

Mark Hamill’s on-screen roles, such as the grandfatherly character, contrast greatly with his off-screen persona in recent years. Off-screen, Hamill has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most outspoken and critical voices against Trump. On social media platform X, where he boasts a following of 4.7 million, he leverages his cultural influence and political anger to create a satirical showcase, delivering witty comments as swiftly as proton torpedoes.

On May 4th (Star Wars Day), he playfully ridiculed a White House post with an AI-created image showing Trump wielding a red lightsaber, traditionally associated with the franchise’s antagonists. “Evidence that this man is steeped in SITH,” Hamill posted on Bluesky, sparking a wave of memes combining Sith and Trump themes.

Proof this guy is full of SITH.

— Mark Hamill (@markhamillofficial.bsky.social) 2025-05-04T19:44:09.954Z

Hamill acknowledges that his open political views might draw attention, yet he can’t resist expressing them, as seen during this conversation. He admits, “I didn’t want to discuss politics – I know when I do, it becomes the main topic.” However, despite his words, he soon delivers a passionate critique of Trump. He adds, “I don’t consider myself an activist,” but when the term ‘The Resistance’ was used, he felt a connection, recalling that he had portrayed a form of resistance in a fictional context for many years. Now, he realizes, it’s happening in reality.

According to Hamill, his stance is driven by both emotional and strategic factors. He mentions a book where 37 psychiatrists discussed Donald Trump’s toxic narcissism, suggesting that people like him are particularly vulnerable when they are ridiculed. As a long-time comic book fan who frequently uses superhero analogies in his speech, this influences his perspective. Hamill explains that Trump is so skilled at manipulation that if he tweeted something complimentary towards the former president, he would likely receive an invitation to Mar-a-Lago. However, he politely declines such an offer, having visited the White House three times under Presidents Carter, Obama, and Biden.

Hamill acknowledges that his online activities aren’t always beneficial to his well-being. He keeps a close eye on the number of his followers, observing a significant decrease of around 70,000 following Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, and now spends the majority of his time on Bluesky. “I don’t block people,” he shares, “because I don’t want to grant them that victory. Instead, I mute them quite frequently — mute, mute, mute. One moment I realized I had been muting users for 45 minutes!.” He lets out a weary sigh before chuckling dryly. “Harrison Ford is wise — he stays off social media.

Hamill, who characterizes his father as a “Nixon-era Republican,” understands that “Star Wars” was intended to be a timeless story about good versus evil, appealing to fans regardless of political affiliation. Now, given his perceived role as a contemporary figure of resistance, he finds himself in a challenging position.

Hamill expresses his belief that he frequently encounters individuals who support the “MAGA” movement, humorously advocating for “MANA: Make America Normal Again.” He clarifies that even if these people wore a “MAGA” badge, he wouldn’t have any disagreements with them. He’s grateful to his fans because without their support, he wouldn’t be in his current position.

Although politics frequently fill his social media feeds, the show “The Life of Chuck” served as a reminder for Hamill that acting continues to fulfill a deeper part of him. Now, he’s channeling this energy into several upcoming ventures. In September, you can catch him in another Stephen King adaptation titled “The Long Walk.” This is a chilling dystopian thriller set in a future America, where 100 teenage boys are compelled to participate in an endurance contest on national television. The rules are simple: keep walking without rest or be shot if you stop – until only one survivor remains.

When I first learned about the storyline, I informed director Francis Lawrence that it felt like a gruesome intellectual’s movie. It was so disturbing, I wasn’t sure if I could even watch it, let alone participate in it. However, Hamill has always enjoyed playing complex villains, and with its themes of authoritarian rule, the role of the Major seemed perfect: “The State is the antagonist, and I embody the State.

Come December, he’ll breathe life into the character of The Flying Dutchman once more with his cherished voice acting skills, appearing in the animated follow-up titled “The SpongeBob Movie: Quest for Neptune’s Underpants.

Flanagan expresses optimism that “The Life of Chuck” will signal a fresh phase in Hamill’s acting career, stating, “I was thrilled to be there for this one – not only as the director but also as a fan who cherished his lightsaber.” He adds, “Mark is content with his accomplishments. However, I ponder what more he might have explored if given additional chances. There’s still so much more to come from him. I can hardly wait to see what’s next on his agenda.

Even though Hamill may one day decide to retire, he hopes it will be on his own accord. As much as an impressive entrance is important, a graceful exit is equally so – one where you’re not found in the latest edition of a bizarre movie like ‘The Human Centipede’. (Yes, he confirms, this was indeed a real offer.)

I’d rather keep it under wraps,” I say, “Why should I broadcast it? After all, someday, someone might find me in a trivia game like ‘Jeopardy!’ as the response to ‘Who is Mark Hamill?’

Currently, his attention is centered on a task closer to his heart: rebuilding. Miraculously, his Malibu residence escaped the flames, largely due to a retired firefighter friend who bravely stayed in the guesthouse during the evacuation and successfully put out embers that sparked the wooden floorboards. Unfortunately, the fire rendered the property unlivable. He and his wife, who have added some personal touches to their temporary abode with a few family photos, are eagerly anticipating a return sometime next year. However, he is aware that the recovery process will be laborious and heartbreaking, as some neighbors might not return.

He shares, “Two days ago, I returned and witnessed the devastation. We didn’t venture onto the site due to needing a hazmat suit. It makes one ponder their own life span. If I’m fortunate, I might have another ten years. I shrug uncertainly. ‘Maybe,’ I say, ‘I don’t know.’

Previously, I enjoyed smoking and fast food, but Marilou prohibited McDonald’s in the 90s. Those habits are long gone now. However, priorities… Despite the hardship, everyone was safe, and that should be sufficient.

Since the fires occurred, Hamill has been trying to maintain a philosophical outlook on what was destroyed and what remains important to him. He isn’t overly attached to keepsakes. However, upon the arrival of the fires, he recognized that there were still items in his possession he wasn’t yet prepared to part with.

He remarks, with a blend of nostalgic longing and genuine admiration, “This is the helmet I wore when I saved Carrie, during the rescue mission where Luke disguised himself as a Stormtrooper to free Princess Leia. It’s a bit tattered now, with pieces of rubber falling off. It was my privilege to be part of the modest beginnings of what George Lucas dubbed ‘the most expensive low-budget movie ever made.’ Although it’s just a broken piece of plastic today, it holds deep sentimental value for me.

For the record, it still is.

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2025-06-03 13:32

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