Say what you will about the oft-ridiculed Prequel Trilogy and the divisive Sequel Trilogy, but the Star Wars Holiday Special may still be the most infamous chapter in the franchise’s 42-year history, and even in 2019, Mark Hamill continues to show remorse over the 1978 TV movie.
Amidst an excruciating series of Wookie sitcom scenes and awkward variety show sections, Hamill makes a couple of brief onscreen appearances in the Holiday Special, as well as lending his voice to an animated segment. But while the Luke Skywalker actor had the good fortune of sitting out most of the film, he apparently still feels the sting of regret, and in a tweet quoting convicted lobbyist Paul Manafort, the star reflected on his involvement:
“‘To say I feel humiliated and ashamed would be a gross understatement.
I ask you to be compassionate.
I have lived an otherwise blameless life.’
#InfamousIgnominy”
Though the Holiday Special has never been rebroadcast or officially released on home video, the work has found sustained life as a so-bad-it’s-good cult flick, much to the embarrassment of George Lucas. Speaking of which, Hamill’s tweet also includes a famous quote from the the director about the film’s refusal to go away:
“If I had time and a hammer, I’d track down every bootleg copy and smash it.”
Though Hamill hasn’t said anything nearly as harsh about the newest Star Wars films, he also hasn’t been shy lately about sharing his criticisms. In a recent interview with Den of Geek, for instance, the star lamented Disney’s decision to release Solo: A Star Wars Story mere months after The Last Jedi – a move that almost certainly contributed to the spinoff movie bombing at the box office.
In the same interview, Hamill also recalled his disappointment at Han Solo being killed off in The Force Awakens, since this essentially prevented the Sequel Trilogy from ever reuniting Han, Luke and Leia. But despite his objections, Hamill will be back to wrap up the Skywalker Saga when Star Wars: Episode IX hits theaters on December 20th, 2019.