Copyright Parade
Key Points Mark Hamill agrees with Robert Irwin that The Empire Strikes Back is the top Star Wars film. Irwin went viral declaring it “peak Star Wars” and praising its story and visuals. Irwin continues global wildlife conservation efforts while expanding his media presence. Mark Hamill has been many things over the years — Jedi knight, Joker voice, and beloved pop-culture icon. But he’s also a fan at heart, and when it comes to Star Wars, he couldn’t agree more with Robert Irwin about which film reigns supreme. On Friday, October 31, Parade caught up with the sci-fi veteran at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival in Georgia, where he was honored for his legendary career and his recent work in The Life of Chuck. Reporter Clarisa Franceschi mentioned a recent interview with the 21-year-old son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and asked the question every fan wants answered. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 “[Irwin] just said The Empire Strikes Back is his favorite of the Star Wars series — is that your favorite? Do you agree?” she asked. Without missing a beat, Hamill, 74, lit up. “I have to say yeah, because it had a twist ending, and it was downbeat and totally unexpected,” he said. “And we’ll never beat the twist at the end. Dad Vader, hello!?!” Just days earlier, the wildlife star had gone viral for geeking out over Star Wars during Dancing With the Stars’ Wicked Night episode. Laughing about his “total nerd” status, he admitted he could quote the saga from memory before declaring, “Oh my gosh, Empire Strikes Back! It’s peak Star Wars — the arc, the characters, the development, the visuals. George Lucas hit his absolute prime.” Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram 🎤 SIGN UP for our The Voice newsletter to get access to exclusive news, interviews, insider info, sneak peeks & more 🎤 Aside from declaring his love for Star Wars, the animal advocate has been keeping busy far beyond the dance floor — filming new wildlife specials, joining conservation missions abroad, and fronting major brand campaigns, including a viral Bonds ad that took over social media earlier this year.
