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Mark Hamill: Luke Skywalker Reports To ‘Star Wars: Episode VIII’ Set

By Dustin Wicksell
Published on: 01:41 PST, Sep 16, 2015

According to new reports from Ireland, Mark Hamill has reported to the set of Star Wars: Episode VIII, putting Luke Skywalker back in action in the sequel to The Force Awakens.

The Irish Examiner reports that the cast and crew of Rian Johnson’s as-yet-unnamed Star Wars sequel has reported to County Kerry in order to film scenes on the rocky island of Skellig Michael. The location also served as a backdrop for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, though the exact nature of the scenes filmed there remains unknown. Among the cast who were on hand was Hamill, who is reportedly set to appear once again as Luke Skywalker in the upcoming film.

“A crew of around 100 people and cast members, including Mark Hamill who will reprise his Luke Skywalker role, are expected to be on the boats due to leave Portmagee today at 7am.”

Though the group was set to head to Skellig Michael on Monday, adverse weather conditions kept them away, postponing filming until Tuesday, September 15. On Monday afternoon, Hamill’s son, Nathan, was photographed while checking in at the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville.

The trip to Skellig Michael isn’t the first for Hamill, who reportedly filmed several scenes there for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opens worldwide in just a few months. This week, reports surfaced that suggested Hamill was nearly injured while filming at the island some time ago.

During the production of The Force Awakens, Harrison Ford suffered a well-publicized injury on set that postponed filming briefly. According to a new report by the Times, Hamill nearly suffered a fatal fall at Skellig Michael just a few weeks later when he slipped while climbing a series of 618 stone steps that lead to a monastery. A guide from the Irish Office of Public Works was on hand, however, and was able to prevent Hamill from falling. Though some have claimed the story is overblown, Skellig Michael has seen two fatal falls in recent years.

Secrecy surrounds the newest Skellig Michael shoot, with those who are involved locally having signed confidentiality agreements. Though fans will have to wait nearly two years to see the production’s work this week on screen, Mark Hamill will return as Luke Skywalker (alongside Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher) in just a few months, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens.

[Photo by Jesse Grant / Getty Images]

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