Mark Hamill Claims The Last Jedi Was a “Nice Exit” From Star Wars After Years of Bashing Luke’s Direction

Mark Hamill is now describing Luke Skywalker’s ending in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as a “nice exit” from the franchise — a notable shift in tone from the actor who spent years publicly criticizing the film’s portrayal of the iconic Jedi.

In a recent interview with CBS Mornings, Hamill was asked whether he could ever return to Star Wars. His answer was definitive: he believes Luke Skywalker’s story is finished and should remain that way.

Mark Hamill at the Star Wars: The Last Jedi Japan Premiere. Photo Credit: Dick Thomas Johnson from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

“I think I’ve had my time,” Hamill said, noting that his role in the sequel trilogy was limited outside of The Last Jedi. “The only time he (Luke) was part of the narrative was in Episode 8, and they wrapped up my story.”

Hamill went on to joke about Luke’s death — calling it an “overdose of the Force” — before concluding that the character’s fate represented a dignified farewell.

“I thought that was the right time to leave that franchise,” Hamill said. “I thought that’s a nice exit. Because as much as you enjoy a good entrance, you want to dignify a good exit.”

Mark Hamill’s pants fall down and he tries to play it off.
🤣🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/mnHzgmbk9S

— Script Trooper (@ScriptTrooper) February 18, 2025

Those comments stand in sharp contrast to Hamill’s long history of publicly criticizing writer-director Rian Johnson’s creative decisions for Luke Skywalker.

Hamill Previously Rejected Rian Johnson’s Vision for Luke

During the lead-up to The Last Jedi and in the years immediately following its release, Hamill repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with how Luke was written.

At one point, Hamill admitted he had to mentally separate the character he was playing from the Luke Skywalker audiences knew from the original trilogy.

Rian Johnson speaks at Wondercon – Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

“I almost had to think of Luke as another character,” Hamill said. “Maybe he’s Jake Skywalker. He’s not my Luke Skywalker.”

The remark quickly became emblematic of fan frustration with the film and was frequently cited as evidence that even the actor who originated Luke did not recognize the character onscreen.

“I Fundamentally Disagree With Virtually Everything”

Hamill also described a direct confrontation with Johnson over Luke’s characterization after reading the script.

“I told Rian, ‘I fundamentally disagree with virtually everything you’ve decided about my character,’” Hamill said in a widely circulated interview.

Luke Skywalker Drinks Green Milk in Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi – Disney+

In another version of the same story, Hamill stated he told Johnson, “I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character.”

While Hamill emphasized that he ultimately committed to performing the role as written out of professional obligation, the comments left little doubt about the depth of his disagreement with the film’s direction.

Hamill Later Attempted to Walk Back the Criticism

Following backlash and viral circulation of his remarks, Hamill later said he regretted airing his creative disagreements publicly, explaining that such disputes are common in filmmaking but are typically kept private.

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker contemplates murdering his nephew Ben Solo in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017), Lucasfilm

However, Hamill never retracted the substance of his criticism. He did not claim he was misquoted or misunderstood, nor did he say his opinion of Luke’s portrayal had changed at the time. His regret centered on making the disagreement public — not on the disagreement itself.

A Noticeable Shift in Tone

Hamill’s latest description of Luke’s ending as a “nice exit” marks a clear tonal shift from his earlier statements, which openly rejected Johnson’s vision of the character.

The comments arrive years after The Last Jedi fractured the fanbase and as Disney continues to struggle with theatrical Star Wars projects and legacy character handling. With Luke Skywalker firmly in the past, Hamill’s reassessment carries little risk — but it does highlight how dramatically the narrative around the film has softened over time.

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars Episode IV: Return of the Jedi (1983), Lucasfilm

Whether this represents genuine reevaluation or simply distance from the controversy, the record remains unchanged: Mark Hamill once publicly rejected the direction of Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi — and is now calling that same ending a “nice exit.”

How do you think Mark Hamill really feels about The Last Jedi? Sound off in the comments and let us know!

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