10 Things You Didn't Know About Mark Hamill
There's more to this man than meets the eye...
In very, very recent years, and in a galaxy we call home (sorry), Mark Hamill came into existence. Few actors in the world are so staunchly associated with one character - except maybe Sean Connery - but Mr. Hamill is of course, our Luke Skywalker. It's an eternal conflict for the working actor to avoid being linked to one character only, yet leaping at the opportunity to take a role so massive, it's seared into the cultural conscience. Such has the situation been for Hamill.
Wonderful though the role is, it's a trap. (Sorry again). After Star Wars, it was Harrison Ford who's career blasted into the stratosphere with a stream of fantastic films. Mark Hamill, on the other hand, went in a completely different direction. He followed his other passions, channeling his creativity in a whole host of ways other than marching out in front of the camera at any given opportunity, and he's had his hand in projects that you may not suspect. The upshot of course, is that he slid out of our minds, forever known as Luke.
The fact is though, that he's Mark, not Luke. He's no one-job actor without much else. He's a savvy, impassioned, prolific guy, and he's been a very busy bee. Here is 10 things you didn't know about the man...
10. He Wrote A Comic Book
In keeping with his contribution to the world of comics, Hamill has gone one step further than doing voice work, and actually co-written a comic of his very own. The name is Black Pearl, and the publisher is the perhaps appropriately named, Dark Horse Comics.
Caught in a vaulting tornado of media sensationalism and inner conflict, the comic's hero, Luther Drake, is dragged into the spotlight and perceived as a do-gooder because he prevents a woman's abduction. Drake doesn't like this, not least because he's surrounded by (the very topical issue) of Media Frenzy. His vigilante status is a burden and the surrounding world mercilessly tries to make money off his name.
The reluctant hero in a ruthless version of the modern world, is a tasty storyline. The reaction to the comic series has been positive, for the most part, and in true modern cinema style, it's been pushed for a movie adaptation. After years of trudging around and looking for the right people to back the film, Hamill announced, at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival no less, that the film will be made. It'll be faithful to his view of the story, and he would be the director. It'll gritty, it'll be uncompromising, and as such, this writer would love to see it.