‘Star Wars 7’ News: Mark Hamill Thought Luke Skywalker Would Turn Evil

The latest Star Wars 7 news could be a shocker, though hardcore fans might have suspected the possibility after director J.J. Abrams (Star Trek) erased the extended universe as canon. In a round table discussion with Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Kevin Smith (Clerks), Jason Lee (Mallrats), and Marvel legend Stan Lee back in 2005, it was suggested by the Luke Skywalker actor that he would eventually turn to the dark side.

In the extended universe, Luke Skywalker had originally become the head Jedi, teaching others about the Force. As he courted Jabba’s previous slave, Mara Jade, after she’d tried to kill him for reasons involving Palpatine’s influence, it was originally Han and Leia’s son who’d turned into the next great Sith Lord. Ten years ago, before J.J. Abrams had even turned Zachary Quinto into the younger version of the iconic Vulcan Spock, Mark Hamill had revealed an alternate idea to George Lucas that Luke Skywalker would eventually take the same route as his father.

Obviously George Lucas wasn’t going to take that route, though fans have expressed being in favor of the idea, as reported by A.V. Club.

As the recent third and final trailer was released, no footage has yet revealed any Star Wars 7 news about the iconic Jedi whose actions led to the fall of the Empire. While it’s a popular concept that Luke battled and defeated Darth Vader, he actually didn’t. He convinced Vader to betray Palpatine and sacrifice himself for his son.

Eventually, Hamill suggested to George Lucas that Luke would suffer from the pain of losing most of his family and turn evil. Considering the lack of any scenes with Luke in the final trailer, it might still happen.

Anakin had lost his mother in The Phantom Menace, and that had traumatized him enough to eventually send him to the Dark Side. It was the rising political star Palpatine, who had secretly been a Sith the whole time, who used Anakin’s pride to convince him to turn on Obi-Wan and leave the prestigious order.

In this latest Star Wars 7 news, Mark Hamill said he had thought Luke Skywalker would take the same route after losing not only most of his family, but his mentors. During Dinner For Five in 2005, he’d recounted his meeting with Lucas where he’d aired the idea.

“I pitched that to Goerge. As an actor that would be more fun to play. I just thought that’s the way it was going from when we finished [Empire]. I figured that’s what will be the pivotal moment. I’ll have to come back, but it will be I have Han Solo in my crosshairs and I’ll be about to kill him or about to kill the Princess or about to kill somebody that we care about. It’s an old cornball movie, like World War II movies.”

It might still happen, as there has been little Star Wars 7 news about what Luke’s role will be. We’ve seen Han Solo and Chewbacca reunite, and Leia even tell someone new that “the Force is calling you, let it in.” Mark Hamill may yet get his wish for Luke to be evil for a while, possibly as a secret mentor to Kylo Ren.

Vulture has even stated that Mark may have convinced Abrams to make it happen ten years ago.

After all, where did Kylo Ren get the helmet if he wasn’t on the Death Star when Lando fired the shot that destroyed it? According to this round of Star Wars 7 news, Luke may have taken it with him and kept it as he turned himself.

Mark Hamill told J. J. Abrams he wanted #LukeSkywalker to turn evil…10 years ago https://t.co/ukNQ6xzdAf #starwars pic.twitter.com/QaB1E9nclm

— IMDb (@IMDb) October 22, 2015

Mark Hamill may be playing a secret villain like Emperor Palpatine did, as Han and Leia seek help from a young new Jedi to stop his understudy. As old as the actors are now, it’s doubtful Luke Skywalker will still be the nimble-footed hero he once was.

What do you think of this new Star Wars 7 news? Could Luke Skywalker be the secret mentor behind Kylo Ren?

We’ll all know when Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens hits theaters in December.

[Photo by Sascha Steinbach/Getty Images]