Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund details exactly how he helped Mark Hamill score the iconic role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. The first Star Wars film – later retitled to be Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope – was released in 1977 and became one of the first major blockbuster films. Directed by George Lucas, it introduced audiences to the now-iconic characters of Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Luke.,Since that first film in 1977, Hamill’s Luke has returned in numerous projects across the franchise. Most recently, he appeared (via some digital de-aging) in the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett. It’s impossible to imagine Star Wars without Hamill, and for years now, Englund has shared the story of how he helped make Hamill’s casting possible. The Nightmare on Elm Street and recent Stranger Things star even once said that Hamill’s agent hates that Englund takes all the credit for connecting the actor with Star Wars.,Related: Why Mark Hamill Didn’t Make A Movie For Six Years After Return Of The Jedi,Now, in a recent interview with The Guardian, Englund elaborates on how he aided Hamill’s Star Wars casting. Englund details how, while he was auditioning for Apocalypse Now, a producer told him that they were casting for a Lucas space film across the hall. Englund himself went to audition, but in the end, it would be his good friend who ventured to the galaxy far, far away. Englund recounts the experience below:,When looking to fill the role of Luke Skywalker – originally named Luke Starkiller at the time – Lucas intentionally sought out younger actors with little experience who could bring sincerity and intelligence to the role. Englund appeared to have a hunch right away that Hamill, even with only a short career of episodic TV appearances, would be perfect for the role. Star Wars was Hamill’s first major movie, thus paving the way for a long and impressive career. It’s no wonder that Englund keeps sharing this story; in a way, he helped make movie history even beyond his performance as Freddy Krueger.,While Englund admits that he was too old for the role of Skywalker, and too young to try for Han Solo, it does seem that through his suggestion, Hamill first learned about Star Wars. Connections have always been important in Hollywood, but it isn’t always about having links to notable directors or producers. Instead, it was because of a suggestion from a close friend in the acting business that Hamill came to hear about Luke Skywalker. It’s interesting to see how a chance encounter and mention could lead to one of the most beloved performances in sci-fi history. Perhaps audiences across the world really do have Freddy Krueger himself to thank for Hamill’s seminal role in Star Wars.,Next: Star Wars Wants To Leave The Skywalker Saga Behind… So Why Isn’t It?,Source: The Guardian