Mark Hamill reflects on Luke’s innocence in deleted Star Wars scene

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Upon his introduction in STAR WARS, you would never guess that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) would become one of the greatest Jedi of all-time, but fans know that Luke's original introduction in the film gave even more insight into the character's innocent nature. Before it was deleted from the film, our first glimpse of Luke Skywalker arrived with Luke using his electrobinoculars to view the battle between Darth Vader's Star Destroyer and Princess Leia's Tantive IV above Tatooine, after which he heads to the Tosche Station to meet up with friends.

While speaking on the Russo Bros. Pizza Film School, Mark Hamill reflected on that original introduction and why it was so good for his character, although he does understand why the scene was cut.

There a couple of things that are good for the character. Number one, he is ridiculed roundly by his peers, so he's not particularly cool or popular. Koo Stark is the only other female in the movie… she calls me 'Wormie'… So I am not popular. Then I bump into Biggs Darklighter, played by Garrick Hagon, and I go 'Wow!' You can see we're old friends… He's dressed in an Imperial uniform and I'm going, 'Wow! That's so great! I can't wait until I can get off the dump of a planet and join with you.' And he takes me outside and says, 'Luke, I gotta let you know, as soon as I get the chance, I am going to jump ship and join the Rebels.'

"The only reason that is interesting to me is that Luke has no political persuasion," Hamill continued. "He thinks it's great he's in the Empire! Luke wants to be in the Empire if it will get him off the farm! So he is completely pure in that he is not politically motivated in any way, shape, or form." Hamill went on to say that Biggs' death during the Death Star battle at the end of the film was the original motivator for Luke turning off the targeting device and relying on the Force. "In the final assault on the Death Star, we're getting picked off left and right … but the thing that motivates me to turn off the targeting device, and rely completely on the Force, is the death of Biggs Darklighter," Hamill explained. "You see me bump into him just before we go out … That's what gets Luke to turn off the targeting device when he loses his best friend. It was later that they decided to dub in Obi-Wan's voice saying 'Luke, use the Force,' and that's when he decides."