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You may remember the mini-controversy Mark Hamill set off back in May 2017. That was the one where he was quoted in the Vanity Fair cover story on The Last Jedi, talking about his character, Luke Skywalker. Here’s what Hamill says he said to writer/director Rian Johnson after having read the script:
I pretty much fundamentally disagree with every choice you’ve made for this character. Now, having said that, I have gotten it off my chest, and my job now is to take what you’ve created and do my best to realize your vision.
He later clarified those remarks:
I got in trouble, because I was quoted as saying to Rian that I fundamentally disagree with everything [he] decided about Luke, and it was inartfully phrased. What I was, was surprised at how he saw Luke. And it took me a while to get around to his way of thinking, but once I was there it was a thrilling experience. I hope it will be for the audience too.
So, the question still remains – what was it, exactly, that he was fundamentally objecting to?
I’m exploring that in the podcast today (full spoilers, FYI), looking at it from Johnson’s point of view when he said that once he nailed the reason why Luke’s on Ahch-To, that everything would flow from that. And I’m also looking at it from Hamill’s point of view, specifically in regard to something he’s said a few times in interviews, about how he wanted (or hoped for) the climactic lightsaber battle to go at the end of The Force Awakens.