Mark Hamill reveals Star Wars secret unknown for nearly 50 years

Mark Hamill has revealed a previously unknown secret about the first Star Wars film, which went unknown for nearly 50 years.

In 1977, George Lucas transformed the genre of sci-fi fantasy forever with the release of Star Wars, later retitled Episode IV – A New Hope, which kickstarted a decades long franchise and introduced us to iconic characters such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Darth Vader.

Nearly 50 years, numerous films, TV series and video games later and Star Wars is easily one of the most recognisable media franchises in the world. However, it would appear there's still plenty we don't know about the goings on in a galaxy far, far away.

This was proven by Mark Hamill earlier this month, as the 74-year-old revealed an interesting piece of Star Wars trivia in a recent interview.

The actor has reflected on his stint playing Luke Skywalker (JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Images)

Reflecting on how he shaped the character of Luke Skywalker while chatting to The Hollywood Reporter, Hamill was asked if there was ever a moment which he was sad to see cut from the final film – and it turns out there was a moment which was exactly the opposite for The Life of Chuck actor.

"No, but I can do the reverse. There was a line in the screen test — thank God it was cut, and I’ve never forgotten it," Hamill revealed, going on to share a piece of epically clunky dialogue which had been written for his character.

"I can do it for you right now," he continued.

"We’re in the Millennium Falcon, no Wookie. It’s just me and Han Solo. He says, when he gets toward the Death Star, 'OK, that’s enough for me. We’re turning around. I’ve held up my side of the bargain.' Then I say: 'But we can’t turn back. Fear is their greatest defence. I doubt if the actual security there is any greater than it was on Aquilea or Sullust. And what there is is most likely directed toward a large-scale assault.'

"And I thought: 'Who talks like this?'

One could only imagine how Han Solo would've reacted to that line (Lucasfilm)

"As a sentence, it makes sense. But to make it sound like it’s an original thought that just occurred to you and deliver it in a spontaneous way is really, really hard."

Of course, Lucas has been known for writing notoriously clunky pieces of dialogue over the years – such as 'I hate sand, its coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere' – however, Hamill felt particularly strongly about the exchange.

"Now, like I say, George Lucas is not an actor’s director in the sense that he doesn’t want to hear about backstory or motivation or all that. He cast actors who are so close to what he wants that he’s not going to have to do a lot of that," he continued.

"The only decision I made — that turned out to be the right one — is I’m going to do this as sincerely as I can."