Mark Hamill Explains Why George Lucas Altered Luke Skywalker’s Original Name

In a fascinating retrospective nearly five decades after the debut of the original Star Wars film, Mark Hamill, the iconic Luke Skywalker, has shed light on the origins of his character’s name. Initially, in the early drafts of the screenplay—eventually titled A New Hope—Luke was originally referred to as “Luke Starkiller.”This early incarnation was a more formidable and aggressive moniker, starkly contrasting the heroic persona that fans have come to recognize over the years. While the rationale behind this name change has been discussed in various forums, Hamill’s personal insights provide a deeper understanding.

When I read the screenplay, which by the way, was called the The Adventures of Luke’s Starkiller. That’s taken from the Journal of the Wills, Saga number one, the Star Wars, and my name was Luke Starkiller, that I read on the call sheet. When I rescue the Princess, I had filmed it. She said, ‘Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?’ And go what? Oh the helmet? I take the helmet off. ‘I’m Luke Starkiller. I’m here to rescue you.’
So we had filmed that and I got the call sheet and I saw that scene was on there again. I said, ‘What’s up with that?’ They said, ‘Oh, well, they’ve changed your name.’
I said, ‘To what?’ And they said to Skywalker. ‘I said Skywalker, Oh, my God, like fire.’

Hamill also mentioned the involvement of a focus group during the film’s production, shedding light on their feedback regarding the title. Notably, this group initially disapproved of the word “wars,”which could have dramatically changed the film’s title. Fortunately, George Lucas adhered to his vision, maintaining the “wars”in the title, reflecting the epic conflict that the franchise embodies. However, with regard to Luke’s name, the focus group’s intervention was indeed warranted.

The Star Wars Focus Group’s Insight on Luke Starkiller

The Challenge of Imagining Him as “Starkiller”

Indeed, the focus group’s insight proved valuable, as “Starkiller”would have been an ill-fitting name for a character like Luke, who embodies compassion and bravery rather than aggression. Even with his formidable achievements, such as the destruction of the Death Star, the name “Skywalker”encapsulates Luke’s essence and has since attained an iconic status, making it hard to envision him as anything but the beloved hero that fans adore.

The Return of Starkiller in Star Wars

The Evolution of Starkiller

Starkiller in The Force Unleashed series

Interestingly, the name Starkiller has been revived in the Star Wars universe over the years. It was prominently featured in the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, released in 2008, where the character Galen Marek, also known as “Starkiller,”served as Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. Although Starkiller is now classified under the Star Wars Legends continuity, the term resurfaced in the canon as the designation of the First Order’s base on the former planet Ilum. This cycle of reinvention ensures that Starkiller remains a significant part of Star Wars‘ legacy.

Source: Politickin

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