Mark Hamill explains how deleted Star Wars scene is key to understanding Luke Skywalker’s character

The scene is currently available to stream on Disney+

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has explained the significance of one of A New Hope‘s deleted scenes.

The cut scene functions as an introduction to the character of Luke Skywalker, and sees the Jedi-to-be look up and witness Darth Vader’s assault on Princess Leia’s ship before heading to Tosche Station.

Star Wars fans are now able to watch the scene on Disney+, alongside the original film.

Speaking on the Instagram Live series Russo Bros Pizza Film School, Hamill said: “There are 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 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.’”

Hamill 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 a character joining the Empire to escape their home planet would be revisited in 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, with Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo enlisting as an Imperial pilot.

Hamill appeared in all three original Star Wars films, before returning in 2015 for the Disney-produced sequel trilogy.