William Shatner accuses Mark Hamill of ruining Star Wars

William Shatner claims Mark Hamill’s comments about Luke Skywalker’s sexuality negatively impacted Star Wars.

William Shatner, best known for his iconic portrayal of Captain Kirk in Star Trek, sparked controversy on Thursday with a post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Mark Hamill of ruining Star Wars. 

Shatner responded to fans who believe Disney has altered the Star Wars universe, specifically referencing Mara Jade, a character central to the franchise's expanded lore. In his post, Shatner wrote, "I assume you are referring to Mara Jade? Hamill actually ruined it for you when he revealed Luke was gay," and included a 2016 Vanity Fair article titled “'Of Course' Luke Skywalker Is Gay, Confirms Mark Hamill, Echoing Thousands of Fan-Fiction Prayers.”

Shatner’s post sparked a wave of support from many Star Wars fans, who argued that he had a better understanding of Star Wars canon than Hamill or modern Star Wars enthusiasts. Some fans, however, mistakenly believed the article to be recent and criticized Hamill for being political.

In response, some fans clarified the context of Hamill’s original statement from the Vanity Fair interview. Hamill explained that he never definitively confirmed Luke’s sexuality, saying, “If you think Luke is gay, of course he is. Judge Luke by his character, not by who he loves.” He emphasized that his comments were meant to support fans who felt marginalized, allowing them to interpret Luke’s story as they saw fit.

Shatner's mention of Mara Jade refers to the character’s role in Star Wars expanded lore. Mara Jade, originally an Emperor's Hand, was a powerful Force user who later married Luke Skywalker. After their marriage, she took the surname Skywalker and devoted her life to the New Jedi Order, ultimately becoming a Jedi Master. 

However, in 2008, when Star Wars creator George Lucas declared there would be no sequel trilogy, he stated that elements from the Expanded Universe were not part of his official Star Wars narrative. Lucas famously explained, “Luke doesn’t get married,” effectively removing Mara Jade from the canon of the main Star Wars story.

The ongoing debate highlights the contrasting perspectives of the two legendary actors, with Shatner, at 93, and Hamill, at 73, continuing to ignite discussions about their respective franchises.