It’s interesting to learn about Mark Hamill’s perspective on the ending of the original Star Wars trilogy. Like many fans, he also was left with many unanswered questions that bothered him. But it’s not just the happy ending in Return of the Jedi that he disliked, there was something bigger that couldn’t let him sleep at night. That something was Boba Fett’s fate. Hamill held high expectations for the character, yet it emerged that George Lucas had a divergent vision, one that Hamill didn’t see eye to eye with.
Despite Fett eventually becoming a crucial figure in various series such as Clone Wars and The Mandalorian, over time and even securing his own spin-off show, The Book of Boba Fett, Hamill couldn’t help but feel let down by Lucas. He believed that Lucas had managed to ruin a character that had captured the hearts of millions despite having minimal lines and screen time.
Mark Hamill Believes George Lucas Ruined Boba Fett’s Big Reveal in Return of the Jedi
The mysterious allure and distinct appearance of the space bounty hunter is what made him one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. This achievement becomes even more impressive when considering the scarcity of his spoken lines and the limited duration he graced the screen. As the credits rolled on The Empire Strikes Back, Mark Hamill, along with countless fans worldwide, harbored a collective desire to delve deeper into Boba Fett’s persona before the trilogy’s conclusion.
Yet, George Lucas had a different script written for the character, diverging from Hamill’s initial expectations. In a candid conversation with CNN, Hamill vented his frustration, openly attributing Lucas with forever ruining the mystic of the character he held dear, he said,
“I haven’t been shy about saying that. When I read the third one I mostly was upset with the cavalier attitude towards Boba Fett — he had been built up as this monumental bounty hunter and he … just flies away. I thought that was going to be a major revelation, off comes the helmet, oh my God it’s my mother, she’s a double agent working for the good guys, who knows.”
Fortunately, Hamill was avenged and so was Fett, but after many years. As the franchise grew, a choice was made to fix things and give the character the story it deserved.
Mark Hamill Did Not Agree With George Lucas’ Return of the Jedi Ending
Mark Hamill found himself at odds with the way Return of the Jedi resolved all the narrative threads in a cheerful manner. His disagreement extended to the portrayal of his character, Luke Skywalker, who resisted succumbing to the Dark Side. Hamill harbored a belief that the franchise should have been kept to the darker course set by The Empire Strikes Back. In the same interview, he continued saying,
“I mean we had all these nutty sort of [ideas]. We were just like you — hey George, wouldn’t it be great if. … And I complained. But I answered my own question because he reminded me the original intent was to do fairy tales for very young children. And he was ignoring the pressure of what happened to the movies by going back.”
Lucas firmly held the belief that Star Wars should primarily cater to younger audiences and thus conclude on an optimistic note. His conviction stemmed from his vision to maintain the saga’s resonance with younger audiences just like it started, a stance that Hamill might not have fully embraced, yet he comprehended the reason behind it. This decision marked a calculated departure from the darker shades to balance epic storytelling with a sense of hope and positivity that would leave a lasting impact on audiences of all ages.
Source: CNN
