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Starting withA New Hope, George Lucas crafted the iconic space operaStar Wars,which continues tocaptivate millions for decades. While the filmmaker remains the mastermind behind the galactic saga, the cast has also occasionally contributed to its development, with actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Harrison Ford suggesting enhancements to improve the final product on screen.
Mark Hamill, who took on the iconic role of Luke Skywalker in the saga, also stepped in to defy the wishes of the crew and suggested an alternate approach, which proved to be a game-changing decision and saved a crucial scene from the brinks of the failure inThe Empire Strikes Back.
Mark Hamill’s Suggestion Prevented a MajorStar WarsBlunder
The iconic Dark Side Cave scene fromThe Empire Strikes Backwhere Luke Skywalker has a vision of being attacked by Darth Vader, portrayed byDavid Prowse. However, when he decapitates the dark lord with his lightsaber, he sees his own head staring back at him from the Vader’s destroyed mask.
The scene, which the audience is treated to in the final cut, has been executed pretty greatly. However, it could have turned out to be one of the biggest disasters in the ionic franchise if it was not for Hamill’s suggestion.
Initially, the filmmakers intended to use a prosthetic head in Darth Vader’s mask for the sequence. However,Mark Hamillwas not very satisfied with the quality of the prop, leading him toreportedlysuggest that he would pose for the sequence instead of using the molded prop.
The scene was eventually filmed with Hamill poking his head into the Darth Vader helmet from beneath the stage. The actor later shared his experience filming the sequence, as herevealedthat the prop head was rejected and“It was my head protruding through an opening in the set floor.”
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He also shared that trying not to blink while surrounded by the smoke was nothing less than a challenge.“The hardest part was trying not 2 blink as that smoke wafted across my face,”hesaid. And it was not the only instance when Hamill felt the need to alter his character in the franchise.
Mark Hamill Convinced George Lucas to Cut Awkward Dialogue
Mark Hamill also openly expressed his discontent with the dialogue he was given inA New Hope. In an appearance onThe Tonight Show,he recalled a specific instance where he askedGeorge Lucasto cut a particularly awkward line.
After the destruction of Alderaan, a scene featured Han Solo (Harrison Ford) telling Luke and the others that he would drop them off on the nearest asteroid. Luke’s original response was,
But we can’t turn back, fear is their greatest defence. I doubt if the actual security there is any greater than it was on Aquilae or Sullust and what there is is most likely directed towards a large-scale assault.
Hamill was not too pleased with his lines, and questioned its practicality, asking Lucas,“Who talks like this, George?”He also pointed out that delivering such clunky lines would likely lead to the actors being criticized.
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“This is really not fair, because you know we’re the ones who are gonna get vegetables thrown at us. Not you!”he recalled. Lucas eventually agreed with Hamill’s suggestion, removing the awkward dialogue and sparing both the audience and the actors from a potentially cringe-worthy moment.
TheStar Warsfilm series is available to stream on Disney+.
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3449
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
