Mark Hamill Finally Ends the Controversy Over Luke’s Infamous Kick in ‘Return of the Jedi’

While rewatching Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, many eagle-eyed fans spotted a peculiar issue that sparked much debate across the internet. 

One of the most talked-about moments is when Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, appears to perform a Force kick on one of Jabba the Hutt’s thugs during the battle at the Great Pit of Carkoon.

If you’ve seen it, you know the controversy comes from the fact that the kick looks like it misses the thug by a mile, yet the thug reacts as if he’s been hit hard.

In this scene, Luke is fighting to save Han Solo, Princess Leia, and the rest of his friends from Jabba’s clutches. 

Amidst the chaos, you see Luke kick at one of Jabba’s thugs, but the choreography and camera angle make it look like his foot misses completely. 

Despite this, the thug reacts dramatically, falling off the skiff into the Sarlacc pit. This apparent error has been a topic of discussion and amusement among fans for years.

After many years, our main character finally spoke up. 

Mark Hamill, always great at engaging with fans on social media, decided to clear up this infamous moment on Twitter. 

He playfully explained that the apparent miss was actually due to the Force, making the thug think he’d been hit and causing him to react as if he had. 

This humorous take put an end to years of fan speculation.

Here’s the tweet from Mark Hamill addressing the scene:

“How could anyone possibly be bothered by my widely celebrated, perfectly executed Force-Kick?!”

How could anyone possibly be bothered by my widely celebrated, perfectly executed Force-Kick?! https://t.co/8FdEHe6IUO

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) May 27, 2023