Where in the galaxy is Luke Skywalker?
Mark Hamill has been virtually nonexistent in all of the promotional material for J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - a move that Abrams himself admits is intentional. Though his voice can be heard in one of the teasers, fans have yet to see his face (aside from this unofficial leaked image). Even though he's asked about it constantly, Hamill won't reveal even the slightest tidbit of insider information. According to him, keeping secrets is all in a day's work for a "Star Wars" star.
"It's crazy though, this NDA stuff, people don't know," Hamill told PC Gamer recently. "Non-Disclosure Agreements, where you're not allowed to talk about anything. I have something coming out where there's an amount of money where if it leaks because of me, I don't get that payment. If I keep it a secret until the day it comes out, I get that payment. I'm good about keeping secrets.
"I'm proud of the fact that I knew a year and a half before anybody else that he was actually Dad Vader. I didn't tell Harrison, or my wife because I thought it would be terrible if she said 'You know what...' to a fan and it got out. Irvin Kershner [director of The Empire Strikes Back] said 'I know something, I'm going to tell you. George [Lucas] knows, I know, and now I'm going to tell you and if it leaks we'll know it was you.' Because the line originally was 'You don't know the truth, Obi Wan killed your father,' and he said we're going to take out that line and put I in 'I am your father.'
"I thought well first of all if Sir Alec Guinness is the real villain that's a pretty good twist in and of itself, but this is even better. Couldn't believe it, I was so excited. Just a mind-boggling plot twist. I still remember when we saw the first screening, Harrison turned to me and said 'You never told me that.' I said 'I know, but I would have gotten in trouble if I told you.' Now it's happening all over again, I'm not even authorized to tell you I'm in Episode VII. It's all secret.'
Abrams has kept "The Force Awakens, which takes place 30 years after "Return of the Jedi," shrouded in mystery. Fans have yet to catch a glimpse of some major characters or unearth the central plot of the film.
Fortunately, all of our questions will be answered in one short month as "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" hits theaters on Dec. 18.
