Mark Hamill talks meeting with George Lucas about the new Star Wars trilogy

Apparently, Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, was privy to the news that George Lucas was planning on making a new Star Wars trilogy before all of us, although not the news that Lucas would be selling to Disney.  Hamill, who predominantly does voice work (and has had an epic run as the Joker in various animated Batman projects, amongst others) caught up with Entertainment Weekly and shared these tidbits about meeting with Lucas, his own reaction to the news, and what, if anything, he knows about the new trilogy.

On his own reaction to Lucas selling to Disney:

“I had no idea that George was going to sell to Disney until I read it online like everybody else. He did tell us last summer about wanting to go on and do [Episodes] VII, VIII, and IX, and that Kathleen Kennedy would be doing them. He seems to be in a really good place. He’s really happy. And that’s nice because I know that when we were making the movies, he was not a jolly guy on set. [Laughs] I always felt badly for him because he agonizes over details, and I’m sure after imagining it in his head for so many years, to see it realized — he’d look up and just hang his head and groan. Harrison [Ford], Carrie [Fisher], and I were always trying to cheer him up and joke him out of his doom and gloom.”

On Lucas revealing plans to make a new trilogy:

“…last August, he asked Carrie and I to have lunch with him and we did. I thought he was going to talk about either his retirement or the Star Wars TV series that I’ve heard about…So when he said, “We decided we’re going to do Episodes VII, VIII, and IX,” I was just gobsmacked. “What? Are you nuts?!” [Laughs] I can see both sides of it. Because in a way, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end and we all lived happily ever after and that’s the way it should be — and it’s great that people have fond memories, if they do have fond memories. But on the other hand, there’s this ravenous desire on the part of the true believers to have more and more and more material. It’s one of those things: people either just don’t care for it or are passionate about it. I guess that defines what cult movies are all about. We’ll see. I’m anxious to know what’s going on, but the main story [yesterday] was the sale to Disney. I have mixed feelings about that, but they haven’t done badly by Marvel and the Muppets and Pixar. It’s one of those big decisions that at first seems unusual but then the more you look at it, the more it makes sense.”

On what he knows about the new trilogy:

“…he was just talking about writers and the fact that he wouldn’t be directing. I guess he wanted us to know before everybody else knew. He said, “Now you can’t tell anybody!” [Laughs] Even now I’m nervous about saying anything. I just don’t know!”

It’s always good to hear from Hamill, who is oftentimes very honest and open.  As a kid, Hamill was kind of my hero, especially since RETURN OF THE JEDI was the first Star Wars film I saw in theaters that I was fully cognizant of what was going on (I was six at the time).  Whether he’s involved in the new trilogy or not, the man has left an indelible mark on the Star Wars legacy.

As the speculation train begins its long journey towards 2015, I’m sure there will be tons of news (and non-news) flooding the internet on a regular basis, but there’s definitely a newfound interest. Obviously.  Prior to this news, the most we could offer was a trailer for the animated Clone Wars, but that’s about it.  It’ll be nice to share some solid Star Wars news, but rest assured I won’t be inundating you with an update everytime Lucas farts in a room. 

STAR WARS VII is set for release in 2015.