It’s Star Wars: A New Hopelessness for weary Luke

LUKE Skywalker hasn’t gone to the dark side but doesn’t represent the optimism and hope he once did, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has revealed ahead of his appearance in Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.

As fans of the epic sci-fi franchise await the next instalment’s release on December 15, the man who played Jedi Luke has given a few more hints about its plot.

Speaking to Disney Rewards magazine, the 68-year-old, pictured, said the new film has some ‘jaw-dropping surprises’ but notably said of Luke: ‘This isn’t an evil version of him.

‘But it’s still an incarnation of the character I never expected. It has pulled me out of my comfort zone. It’s a real challenge.’

As for the surprises he mentioned, he did not elaborate on what they would be, but what everyone is waiting to find out is the identity of central character Rey’s parents.

Rey is played by Daisy Ridley. Several people believe the scavenger’s father with Jedi powers is Luke Skywalker.

Also in his interview Mark admits Luke’s line in the trailer, ‘I know only one truth, it’s time for the Jedi to end’, gives a huge insight into the mental state of the character.

Hamill admits the evil actions of Luke’s nephew Ben Solo – who became Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and murdered the new Jedi Order Luke was training – ‘have caused a profound change in Luke’s beliefs’.

But he is adamant that Luke has not turned to the dark side like his father, Darth Vader.

He said: ‘I’m sure this line is a great shock to the audience [to hear Luke say that it’s time for the Jedi to end], so you can imagine how I felt! This is a huge change for a character who once represented optimism and hope.’