Mark Hamill is on board to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker in the upcoming Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens.
As the new episode takes place decades after the original trilogy, Luke is older and more like Obi Wan Kenobi was, an older master.
The producers of Star Wars wanted Hamill to take this elder statesman of Jedi Knights to a higher level, and made sure Hamill had a beard for the production. They believed it gave the character more “gravitas” than a clean shaven look.
Says Hamill:
That is what I call my contractually obligated beard. Listen: I think they look fine on other people. It’s just not me. I mean, I never got used to it. But face foliage is almost a part of the costume. And it does bring a gravitas, perhaps unearned, but nevertheless, it makes a statement that they wanted to make, and I’m more than happy to oblige them.
Do you think a beard was necessary?
