Mark Hamill Says It’s Possible Luke Skywalker Is Gay

Mark Hamill, who originated the role of Luke Skywalker, believes it’s possible that the beloved character could be gay.

Mark Hamill On Luke Skywalker Sexuality

In a recent interview with The Sun, Hamill was asked about Skywalker’s sexuality in light of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens’ director J.J. Abrams hinting that there will be LGBT characters in the Star Wars universe. Hamill revealed that it’s a question that fans have asked him, and that he responds by suggesting that Luke’s sexuality is whatever the viewer wants it to be.

“In the old days, you would get fan mail, but now fans are writing and asking all these questions: ‘I’m bullied in school … I’m afraid to come out.’ They say to me: ‘Could Luke be gay?’ I’d say it is meant to be interpreted by the viewer,” Hamill told The Sun. “If you think Luke is gay, of course he is. You should not be ashamed of it. Judge Luke by his character, not by who he loves.”

Back in February, Abrams stated that LGBT characters in Star Wars are an inevitability. After making the decision to cast a young woman as the lead in The Force Awakens, and an African American (John Boyega) and a Guatemalan American (Oscar Isaac) in two of the main supporting roles, it should come as little surprise.

“When I talk about inclusivity, it’s not excluding gay characters, it’s about inclusivity, so of course,” Abrams said at the US-Ireland Alliance Oscar Wilde Awards Thursday. “To me the fun of Star Wars is exploring the possibilities, so it seems insanely narrow-minded to say that there wouldn’t be a homosexual character in that world.”

Star Wars: Episode VIII is slated to hit theaters Dec. 15, 2017.