Star Wars' Mark Hamill explains why cut Luke Skywalker scene now on Disney+ is so important

Star Wars legend Mark Hamill isn't afraid to voice his grievances when it comes to some of the questionable decisions made throughout the franchise.

But there was one from the original trilogy that particularly irked him.

The actor felt pretty strongly about Luke Skywalker's original introduction scene being cut from A New Hope.

Thankfully, it's now available to watch on Disney+, but Hamill believes it would have added an extra dimension to his character had it been left in the film.

Related: Star Wars' Mark Hamill teases more about his secret roles in Solo and Rogue One

While appearing on a recent episode of Russo Bros. Pizza Film School (an Instagram Live series the Marvel directors started during the pandemic), Hamill opened up about why the cut introduction – which sees Luke look up and witness Darth Vader's assault on Princess Leia's ship, before heading to Tosche Station – is so important in establishing the character's motivations and nuances.

"There a couple of things that are good for the character," said Hamill. "No. 1, he is ridiculed roundly by his peers. So he's not particularly cool or popular. Koo Stark is the only other female actor in the movie... and she calls me 'Wormie'. So I am not popular.

"And then I bump into Biggs Darklighter, played by Garrick Hagon, and I go 'Wow!' You can see we're good 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, as soon as I get the chance, I am going to jump ship and join the Rebels.'"

He continued: "The only reason that is interesting to me is that Luke has no political persuasion. He thinks it's great he is 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."

The idea of Luke knowing no better about the Empire certainly is an interesting detail, and it just goes to show how the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. Then again, they did kind of have a massive genocide laser.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is available on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K now, as well as on Disney+, Sky Cinema Premiere and NOW TV.

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Chris Edwards

Chris Edwards is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy.