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

Mark Hamill hasn’t been shy about discussing his, let’s consider, dislike of Luke Skywalker’s arc within the Star Wars sequel trilogy, particularly within the film the place the character has probably 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 tasks, 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—wherein younger males march and march till they win or die—with a merciless, ruthless hand.

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

Weariness comes with getting old, 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 high quality that seemingly made him match, albeit in a very completely 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.