Mark Hamill hypes up playing the villain in Francis Lawrence’s big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s The Long Walk. Coming to theaters on September 12, the movie stars the Star Wars actor as the supporting antagonist, The Major, who oversees the annual high-stakes contest known as the Long Walk, where teens volunteer to continuously walk until only one is standing.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Hamill teased his villainous role in The Long Walk. The star described the story as “a dystopian horror show” after reading King’s novella and J.T. Mollner’s script. On playing The Major, Hamill shared that the role was “fairly unique” compared to others he has taken on before. Read Hamill’s full comments below:

It’s fairly unique. I read the script, and I read Stephen King’s novella, and it begs the question, “What kind of society do we live in that would sanction this?” And it was the 20th annual walk or something. I don’t know if they specify a number, but it’s something that’s ongoing. It’s a dystopian horror show.

Basically, what you have to do is look at the script and say, “What do I need to bring to make this script as impactful as it can be?” I had it a lot easier than these guys because I’m a fairly strident, one-note, pain in the a** that everyone hates. I’m standing in the way of them being happy and successful.

And I have to say, being a hero is fine. But as an actor, any response you get is good. I love being hated if I’m doing it right. But I was on a real disconnect because the heart and soul of the movie are these guys, and I’m only in 20% of the film, maybe.

What Mark Hamill’s Comments Mean For The Major In The Long Walk

Hamill’s The Major is the face of the Long Walk. Never to be seen without his reflective sunglᴀsses, he maintains a fearsome presence to enforce the rules and orders of the compeтιтion. As teased in The Long Walk‘s trailer, The Major is the one who gives a pep talk to the teens who volunteered for the event, reminding them that they are doing it to inspire future generations.

The Long Walk doesn’t turn out to be as inspirational as the participants thought, as it is designed to kill all but one. On a journey with no destination but purely relying on the participants’ will and strength to stay alive, things take a sinister turn when someone fails to maintain the three miles per hour walking speed.

The Major commands the Squads, a secret police force that carries out the execution duty during the walk. However, despite serving as the symbol of a totalitarian government, there’s very little to know about The Major’s personal history or his true position. Hamill’s comments teased how his portrayal of The Major will likely end up being the most despicable face in the movie.

Our Take On Mark Hamill’s Role In The Long Walk

The trailer already offered a sneak peek at Hamill’s role in The Long Walk, an authoritative figure who represents power, control, and order. Without context, it’s easy to buy into his inspirational speech, but as the movie progresses, he becomes a figure who’s easy to hate. Despite being described as more of a straightforward villain, the duality of the role is what makes The Major fascinating.

The Major oversees the Long Walk every year. However, the brutality behind the recruitment doesn’t seem to affect him. This no doubt makes The Major a villain in The Long Walk, but he’s also just one person in the chain of command. The real villains are the ones hiding behind him. Hamill’s response highlights context and encourages viewers to ask the big, important questions in The Long Walk.