Star Wars‘ Mark Hamill Avoided „Fans“ With Wheelchair Disguise

Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill is one of the most fan-friendly members of the Star Wars cast, with daily conversations with fans on Twitter and regular convention appearances. But that doesn’t mean he always wants to stop and chat to everybody.

Hamill was recently spotted at JFK airport in New York, hunched over in a wheelchair, leading fans to speculation about his health. However, the actor has now confirmed that he is fit and well, and was using the wheelchair as part of a disguise to avoid unscrupulous autograph-hunters.

Hamill replied to the fan’s concerned tweet with, „HA! Arriving 5AM I tried the old ‚wheelchair trick‘ JUST 2 avoid autograph $alesmen/Dealer$ who constantly badger me (& my family) 2 increase value of their items. All the better 2 gouge TRUE FANS later on Ebay #TheyCanGoForceThemselves #NoMoreAirportSignings.“

Hamill was also in the news this week when he revealed that he was „horrified“ by a classic Star Wars scene. When a fan posted an image of a gruesome Star Wars themed-cake, playing tribute to the moment in The Empire Strikes Back in which Luke chops off a Wampa’s arm, the star had a surprising response.

„When filming [the] scene I was assured my lightsaber swipe toward camera (creature not on set) would simply singe fur to scare him off,“ Hamill tweeted. „[I was] horrified to later see amputation and unnecessary cruelty. Wampa was HUNGRY (not EVIL). Luke would never do this!“

Hamill will be seen in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which hits theaters on December 15. There has been plenty of promotional activity for the movie over past couple of weeks, including a TV spot in which Chewie smacks a Porg, and another that focuses on Luke’s relationship with Rey.