Mark Hamill Endorses Dave Filoni as Lucasfilm Leader

Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Mark Hamill told USA Today he can’t think of better hands for Star Wars than Dave Filoni, endorsing Filoni’s new role as Lucasfilm co‑president and chief creative officer.
- Dave Filoni now runs the Star Wars studio alongside Lynwen Brennan after Kathleen Kennedy announced her exit in January.
- Mark Hamill said Filoni “understands the Star Wars franchise so well” because he worked directly with George Lucas on Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
- Mark Hamill highlighted his collaboration with Filoni on the Disney+ series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, where Luke Skywalker was brought back via de‑aging VFX.
- Mark Hamill previously criticized The Last Jedi for portraying Luke as a “miserable, hardened recluse,” yet later praised director Rian Johnson as “one of the most gifted directors I’ve ever worked with.”
- Mark Hamill confirmed he has no plans to return as Luke Skywalker, saying his time is over and the franchise should focus on future characters.
Why it matters: Hamill’s endorsement gives Filoni immediate credibility with longtime fans, potentially smoothing the transition after Kennedy’s departure, while Hamill’s open criticism of The Last Jedi and his decision not to reprise Luke signal that the franchise will move beyond legacy characters toward new stories.




