“I don’t have the fire in my belly anymore”: The Long Walk Casting Mark Hamill Is Special After His Sad Update

Mark Hamill, the legendary face of Star Wars, has stepped into a new phase of his career, one that looks very different from the galaxy far, far away. At 73, Hamill admitted to GamesRadar that he no longer has the same “fire in his belly” for big blockbuster roles or movies that take him across countries, far from home. After decades of working in the industry, he’s now only motivated to take on atypical roles. 

The older you get, the less you care. I said to my agent, ‘I’ll keep doing voiceover, but I just don’t relish the idea of going off on location and leaving my family.’ Because [with] voiceover, they’re four-hour sessions. 

You might have two on one day, but then you go home to your wife and your dogs, and you sleep in your own bed. All I was saying is I’m at a point where I don’t have the fire in my belly anymore.

According to Hamill, he is interested in choosing projects that surprise him, challenge him, and most importantly let him stay closer to home with his family. During his press tour for The Long Walk, the actor revealed that while fans may dream of seeing him in Marvel or another heroic franchise, those roles no longer excite him. He’s drawn instead to voiceover work, animation, and unique films that feel fresh and unexpected. 

Mark Hamill Embraced the Unusual Role of The Major, Stepping Away From Heroes

Following Mark Hamill’s comments via GamesRadar, about choosing unusual roles rather than playing the hero, it seems that The Long Walk perfectly fits the new direction he spoke about. In this Stephen King adaptation, instead of shining as a savior like Luke Skywalker, Hamill stepped into the shoes of The Major, a cold and authoritarian figure. 

It’s a part that allowed him to step outside of his usual comfort zone, something he admitted he has been craving in recent years. Plus, what makes this role even more special is that Hamill was not just looking for another project, he wanted something unexpected. And considering how The Major is ruthless, intimidating, and far from the hopeful hero he has portrayed, that contrast is what drew him in. 

Hamill said he wants roles that challenge him, and The Long Walk gave him just that. In fact, despite claiming how he prefers projects that keep him close to home, like voiceover work, he still accepted The Long Walk that required him to travel to Canada. It shows just how much of the film’s uniqueness convinced him to accept the offer even when it flew him off to a different country. 

With The Long Walk, that was done in Canada. It’s such a beautiful country. And in a way, it works because you’re isolated. You’re away from home. You’re really much more committed to the material at hand because you’re not dealing with your books and your toys and your TV set and all this stuff you have at home. 

I mean, it’s more of a commitment to be far away. And I realized if they’re offering me, like, interesting things like this, they’re motivating me in a way I wouldn’t have imagined if I were on my own.

For Mark Hamill, this was more than just another job, it was a chance to reinvent himself. Playing The Major let him embrace darker, more complex material while proving he can go beyond the heroic image that defined his career. That’s why his casting in The Long Walk feels so special, both for him as an actor and for fans who get to see a new side of him.

Mark Hamill Had Almost Turned Down The Long Walk Because of Gun Violence

Meanwhile, despite being fascinated by the role of The Major, Mark Hamill almost refused to take part in The Long Walk. Why? Because of gun violence. Hamill has been very vocal about his dislike of guns and the harm they bring to American society. In fact, he has turned down violent projects before, such as The Human Centipede 2, because of excessive use of violence.

So, speaking with EW and explaining how much he hates the widespread gun violence that has plagued the United States, Mark Hamill mentioned that it was the initial reason why he refused the role. Pointing out that shootings decreased when assault weapons were banned and rose again once the ban was lifted, Hamill noted that The Long Walk initially felt like the darkest realities of America. 

Gun violence is just one of the worst aspects of American life. I remember when they banned the assault weapon under [President Bill] Clinton, and it lapsed under [President] George W. [Bush]. You see the statistics where there’s a steep drop in shootings without an AR-15, and then they go right back up when it’s allowed again. 

It’s the Second Amendment, people hunt, but it’s just out of control. No other country has the tragedies that we have. So, yeah, I hate guns. 

Well, he’s not wrong. After all, gun violence in the US has been brought back into sharp contrast this week following the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk. However, after reading deeper into the story, Hamill realized that the movie isn’t really about the violence at all. Realizing that while the walking contest is brutal and unforgiving, the real focus is on the human side, Mark Hamill eventually accepted the role. 

The table contains details on The Long Walk:

After reading Stephen King’s novel he realized that the way the young men cope, bond, and break under pressure, is the main theme and focus of it all. For Hamill, this was the heart of the story, and it helped him see the project in a new light. So, by choosing to move forward with The Long Walk, Mark Hamill proved that he could balance his personal values with his desire to explore unusual characters. 

Share your opinion on what kind of role suits Mark Hamill most.

The Long Walk is currently running at 3 mp, at your nearest theaters.