The worst mistake in Star Wars‘ sequel trilogy is the one which hurts probably the most. Star Wars is constructed on the large success of A New Hope and its two sequels, and its iconography is inseparable from the right casting of its primary characters. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher have been the right actors to embody Luke, Han, and Leia.
Episodes VII by means of IX arrived with monumental expectations and equally monumental scrutiny. Whereas it delivered large spectacle and a few robust performances, Star Wars‘ sequel trilogy usually struggled to justify its inventive decisions. A lot of its flaws may be debated over time, however its most painful mistake stands out as a result of it squandered one thing that may by no means be fastened.
Mark Hamill Actually Needed Luke, Han & Leia To Reunite In The Sequel Trilogy
JJ Abrams Shut Down Hamill’s Thought Of Star Wars’ Authentic Solid Reunion
At The Hollywood Reporter‘s first Actors Roundtable of 2026, Mark Hamill and 5 different actors have been requested which residing actor they wish to work with. Hamill was fast to reply, saying he would have favored to behave alongside “the sequel trilogy’s Harrison Ford,” as he by no means obtained to reunite with the Han Solo actor within the Star Wars franchise following Return of the Jedi.
“Properly, within the sequel trilogy’s Harrison Ford, ‘trigger I solely had two cameos. I mentioned, ‘aren’t we gonna have a second the place all three of us get collectively and lift the roof, it will solely take thirty seconds.’ And JJ [Abrams] mentioned, ‘properly, Mark, it isn’t Luke’s story anymore.’ I mentioned, ‘Star Wars wasn’t Obi Wan’s story however Alec Guiness had a vital dedication, …’ Anyway, no one listens to me.”
For a saga constructed on the legacy of the Skywalker household, particularly within the sequel trilogy, the thought of a single shared second the place the three faces of the franchise reunite on the large display appeared quite apparent. A quick reunion would have had an immense impression on followers and honored the foundations which have made Star Wars endure throughout many years. Sadly, it’ll stay hypothetical.
Hamill was additionally proper on a story stage. As he identified, Star Wars is rarely strictly “Luke’s story” or “Obi-Wan’s story,” however an ensemble delusion the place veteran characters information the following era. Alec Guinness’ Obi-Wan performed a pivotal position with out overshadowing Luke’s arc. Bringing Star Wars‘ authentic trio again would have solely bolstered the sequel’s trilogy passing of the torch. As a substitute, brushing Han, Luke, and Leia apart within the identify of focus finally weakened the sequel trilogy.
The Authentic Solid’s Unmade Reunion Is The Final Image Of The Sequel Trilogy’s Failures
Star Wars Missed The Clearest Probability At A Grand Return
Legacy franchises have been leaning exhausting into grand returns for greater than a decade now. Jurassic World, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Creed, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and even the aggressively corrective Terminator: Darkish Destiny have gone the additional mile to convey their authentic casts again, generally to detrimental results. Star Wars inexplicably handed on one of the vital natural alternatives to do the identical.
The unique trio’s reunion was served on a silver platter. Luke, Han, and Leia returned within the sequel trilogy, however they have been by no means in the identical room on the similar time. Sadly, this error is now irreversible. Carrie Fisher’s passing makes a real Leia return inconceivable, and Harrison Ford has repeatedly signaled his lack of curiosity in revisiting the franchise.