Many considerGeorge Lucas’Star Wars prequel trilogyas a dark time in the franchise’s long history, with everything from Jar Jar Binks to the digitally-created backdrops to the performances byJake LloydandHayden Christensencoming under intense scrutiny by fans. Now that the sci-fi series is more popular than ever, thanks to the massive success ofStar Wars: The Force AwakensandRogue One: A Star Wars Story, one of the saga’s biggest icons,Mark Hamill, is defending the prequels and its once young starJake Lloyd. The actor also revealed in a recent interview that he was scared to return as Luke Skywalker, saying that he almost appeared in the 2010 anti-Star Wars documentaryThe People Vs. George Lucas.
Defending theStar Warsprequels seems to be en vogue as of late, withStar Wars 8directorRian Johnsondefending the trilogy on Twitter in December, stating that all three movies combine into a “7 hour long kids movie about how fear of loss turns good people into fascists.“Vulturecaught up withMark Hamillwhile he was promoting his new filmBrigsby Bearat the Sundance Film Festival, where he spoke about out about fans and their treatment of the prequel trilogy.
“I couldn’t believe some of the things they wrote about the prequels, you know. I mean really, beyond I didn’t like it you ruined my childhood. I’m still angry about the way they treatedJake Lloyd. He was only ten years old, that boy, and he did exactly what George wanted him to do. Believe me, I understand clunky dialogue.”
WhileGeorge Lucasis widely praised for this galaxy far, far away that he created, he is often criticized for his dialogue. The actor went on to add that he does have his “issues” withGeorge Lucas, but that they are still good friends. He also adds that he almost participated in the 2010 documentaryThe People vs. George Lucasuntil he realized what the film was really about.
“I almost got hornswoggled into appearing in that documentary. They weren’t calling itThe People Vs. George Lucasat the time, but I could tell from the questions they were asking that it was an open invitation to trashGeorge. I have issues withGeorge, but I love that man. I don’t talk outside the family. It’s just brutal. One of the reasons I would never let my kids be in show business. Wait ‘till you’re 18, because it’s going to be an endless life of rejection, ridicule and unemployment.”
During his wide-ranging conversation at Sundance,Mark Hamillalso spoke about how he wasn’t sure he wanted to come back as Luke Skywalker inStar Wars: The Force Awakens. Naturally, he did end up returning, alongside original trilogy starsHarrison FordandCarrie Fisher, but he thought there was no wayHarrison Fordwould agree to return as Han Solo. Here’s what he had to say.
“Let’s leave well enough alone. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end. The only thing we can do is come back and disappoint people. I thought, if they do another trilogy, it won’t have us in it. It will be all new characters, so I was really frightened about it. I knew I couldn’t resist the challenge, but I said, Here’s the thing. If it’s not in solidarity with Harrison and Carrie, that’s my escape route. I said he’ll never do it. He’s too rich and too cranky, he’ll never do it. He gets cranky aboutStar Warsbecause he has such a varied resume, but once he said in the press that he was doing it, I thought, ‘Well, I just got drafted.’ Because if I said no to this, these people are going to be outside my house like the angry villagers inFrankenstein, with lightsabers instead of torches. I’ll be the most hated man in fandom. I was shocked that I was only in the last minute or so, but it was the best of both worlds because I could really sort of enjoy it. I was sorry that I didn’t get to reunite with any of the original characters, but I could enjoy it all without having the responsibility on my shoulders. So if it was horrible and everybody hated it, I could say, ‘See, it’s not my fault.”
Barring some sort of unpredictable surge in popularity, theStar Warsprequel will likely be seen as the black eye of this franchise for many years to come, although it hardly matters in the grand scheme of things. This year, fans will be treated toStar Wars 8, with aHan Solospin-off coming in 2018 andStar Wars 9in 2019, along with another spin-off in 2020, rumored to center on Boba Fett. Take a look at these new videos withMark Hamillat Sundance, where he talks about theStar Warsprequels and more.
