‘The Lengthy Stroll’ Needed Mark Hamill for His ‘Star Wars’ Sequels Efficiency

Mark Hamill hasn’t been shy about discussing his, shall we embrace, dislike of Luke Skywalker’s arc within the Star Wars sequel trilogy, particularly within the film the place the character has essentially the most prominence: The Final Jedi. He’s all however closed the door on ever returning to his most well-known character, however the prolific actor has saved extraordinarily busy with different roles, together with two Mike Flanagan initiatives, The Fall of the Home of Usher and Lifetime of Chuck. He’s additionally in The Long Walk, one of many few Stephen King variations nowadays that doesn’t contain Flanagan, and it seems his latter-day Luke performances helped recommend him for the half.

In The Lengthy Stroll, directed by Francis Lawrence (The Starvation Video games) and scripted by JT Mollner (Unusual Darling), Hamill performs the Main, who oversees the title occasion—during which younger males march and march till they win or die—with a merciless, ruthless hand.

“There are folks we may have gone for who’re clearly Main materials,” Mollner advised Collider about Hamill’s casting. “However within the newer Star Wars films, there’s a weariness to getting older Luke Skywalker that I actually wished for the Main. And Mark conjured that in a robust approach.”

Weariness comes with getting older, inevitably, however in Luke’s case, that’s additionally wrapped up in self-loathing and deep regrets, which makes what’s lurking beneath that gruff shell all of the extra fascinating when it begins to crack. In different phrases, Hamill is excellent at portraying simultaneous layers of anger—a top quality that seemingly made him a very good match, albeit in a completely totally different context, for The Lengthy Stroll.

The Lengthy Stroll additionally stars Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Judy Greer, Josh Hamilton, and extra. It hits theaters September 12.