'Luke Would Never Do That;' Mark Hamill Shocked by Violent Scene From The Empire Strikes Back

Mark Hamill did not expect Luke Skywalker to treat the Wampa so brutally in The Empire Strikes Back. The actor thought the sequence would look very different and was horrified by the final result.

science fiction
Zbigniew Woznicki02 January 2024
Source: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back; dir. Irvin Kershner; 20th Century Fox; 1980
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The beginning sequence of The Empire Strikes Back on the planet Hoth is certainly remembered by all fans of the Star Wars universe. Being on a reconnaissance mission, Luke Skywalker is suddenly attacked by a Wampa creature and taken to its cave. There he has to defend himself to avoid being eaten, and with the help of a lightsaber he cuts off the arm of the hungry beast, after which he escapes to return to the rebel base. Mark Hamill did not like this turn of events.

In 2017 on Twitter (now X) the actor talked about how everything looked on set. The confrontation in the Wampa's cave was supposed to look very different. Luke Skywalker's goal was solely to scare the beast away - without hurting it or seriously injuring it:

In the comments, most fans expressed their displeasure at the actor's statement. Internet users believed that Luke Skywalker's actions were justified, as the hero was defending his life. However, it is worth noting that Mark Hamill was assured that the Wampa would not be seriously injured. This may mean that the creators themselves were not convinced of the rightness of the Jedi's behavior.

Perhaps the actor would have approached the matter differently if the crew went with the original plan regarding the snow beasts. The original plan was for the Wampas to attack the rebel base and pose a real threat, as they could pass through ice walls, and the mere touch of a Wampa was capable of killing anyone. Chewbacca would barely escape with his life during his escape on the Millennium Falcon.

Zbigniew Woznicki

Zbigniew Woznicki

He began his adventure with journalism and writing on the Allegro website, where he published news related to games, technology, and social media. He soon appeared on Gamepressure and Filmomaniak, writing about news related to the film industry. Despite being a huge fan of various TV series, his heart belongs to games of all kinds. He isn't afraid of any genre, and the adventure with Tibia taught him that sky and music in games are completely unnecessary. Years ago, he shared his experiences, moderating the forum of mmorpg.org.pl. Loves to complain, but of course constructively and in moderation.

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