Mark Hamill ‘drafted’ into new ‘Star Wars’

Mark Hamill knew he had to say yes when George Lucas told him about plans for a new Star Wars trilogy.

“It’s not like a choice. It’s like I was drafted,” he told a massive crowd night at a Star Wars celebration of his decision to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

“Could you imagine if for some reason I said ‘I don’t think I want to do it?’ I would have all of you surrounding my house like villagers, angry villagers with lightsabers instead of torches,” joked the 63-year-old.

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Hamill admitted he was caught off guard when Lucas invited him to lunch. When Hamill’s wife surmised that perhaps there was a film in the works, Hamill laughed, as Lucas had told him specifically that he was done making Star Wars movies after the prequels. He assumed Lucas was going to announce a 3D release or roll out another box set.

When things started coming together, Hamill said he was cautiously optimistic about JJ Abrams, the chosen director .

“I was a little suspicious because he was a Star Trek guy,” he said laughing.

He went on to compliment Abrams for his inclusiveness. Abrams, Hamill noted, is also the first Star Wars director to be borne out of true fandom of the original films.