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Star Wars 7: Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill admits he was suspicious of 'Star Trek guy' JJ Abrams

The actor initially thought the choice was a bit 'odd'

Neela Debnath
Monday 20 April 2015 10:54 BST
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Star Wars: The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams can't wait for fans to see his movie
Star Wars: The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams can't wait for fans to see his movie

It’s one of the biggest fandom rivalries of all time: Star Wars versus Star Trek.

Now actor Mark Hamill may have fanned the flames of fandom warfare after admitting that he was initially “suspicious” of Star Wars: The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams.

The 63-year-old actor said that when Abrams was first announced as the man helming the Star Wars sequel he thought it seemed “odd”.

"I was a little suspicious because he was a 'Star Trek' guy," said Hamill joked with fans at Star Wars Celebration, adding, "it just seems odd".

Hamill was quick to clarify that he likes Star Trek and went on to praise Abrams for his deep love for Star Wars that comes from being a fan of the franchise.

"He [Abrams] feels the way you feel in terms of wanting practical effects. Real sets," Hamill said at the convention in Anaheim, California.

A teaser trailer for the forthcoming film was released last week and has now been viewed over 34 million times on YouTube.

In the short two minute trailer, Luke can be heard in voiceover saying a tweaked line from Return of the Jedi, "The force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. You have that power too."

Hamill admitted he kept fluffing the line and instead saying, "My father had it."

The trailer also featured a shot of Skywalker’s bionic hand which caused the biggest stir among fans, who took to Twitter to share their surprise.

He will be reprising his role as Jedi knight Luke Skywalker in The Force Awakens, alongside Star Wars veterans Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Anthony Daniels.

The new film picks up 30 years after the events of The Return of the Jedi in 1983 and features new stars John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac.

Along with working on the forthcoming Star Wars instalments, Star Wars Episode VIII, which is in development and set to be released in 2017, Abrams is also working on his third Star Trek film.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is set to be released in UK cinemas on 18 December.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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