During a recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Mark Hamill revealed a shocking secret about his time filming Star Wars. It turns out that Hamill didn’t let his co-star Carrie Fisher in on the big twist that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father.
Hamill explained that during the first Star Wars film, he didn’t think much of the script. In fact, he thought it was quite goofy and even passed it around to some friends for their thoughts. However, by the time they were filming the second film, the scrutiny and attention had intensified. Hamill recalled a scene in which Vader reveals the truth to Luke, saying, “Obi-Wan killed your father.” He was amazed by the revelation, especially considering that Alec Guinness, the actor who played Obi-Wan Kenobi, was seen as the hero up until that point.
The director, Irvin Kershner, took Hamill aside and handed him a piece of paper that said, “I am your father.” Hamill was shocked and asked if it was true. The director simply replied, “Search your feelings.” From that moment on, Hamill knew the secret, but also understood the immense responsibility of keeping it quiet. Kershner warned him that if the secret leaked, they would know it was him.
For a year and a half, Hamill remained silent about the revelation, not even telling his co-stars Fisher and Harrison Ford. In fact, he and Ford used the secrecy to their advantage, often testing Fisher to see if she could keep a secret. Hamill recalled a screening of the film where Fisher reacted to the reveal, prompting Ford to turn to him and say, “Hey, you didn’t [ __ ] tell me that!”
Hamill’s ability to keep the secret was no small feat, especially considering that it was in the days before social media and the prevalence of leaks. As someone who admits to talking in his sleep, the burden of keeping such a massive secret was undoubtedly heavy.
This revelation from Mark Hamill provides a fascinating look into the behind-the-scenes drama and secrecy of the Star Wars franchise. It’s a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the cast and crew who worked tirelessly to preserve the surprises for audiences worldwide. The talk show aired on [air date], and fans of The Graham Norton Show and Star Wars alike won’t want to miss this captivating episode.
