Does Being in the Credits Mean You Need Their Autograph?

Earlier this year I had published an article on who I would think what signers would make for a definitive Mando Season Two cast piece, and one of the reasons why I started to put together these list is to get myself to think critically as to whether or not a really need to add someone to a multi-signed piece, and to maybe get a few other collectors to take that approach as well. When that article was posted, one thing that people had brought up a few times in the comments was “What about Mark Hamill?” While the return of Luke Skywalker in the Season 2 Finale was amazing, I did take time to seriously consider whether or not it’d be worth adding him to a piece. Even though I love the character of Luke Skywalker and have nothing against Mark Hamill, in the end, I don’t think it’s worth adding Hamill to any sort of Mandalorian item for several reasons.

Reason #1: There’s Other Famous Names in the Movies - But Do You Have Their Autograph?

Tom Hardy. Kevin Smith. Daniel Craig. Lin-Manuel Miranda. Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And even Ed Sheeran. All of these people were in Star Wars movies, some of whom did voiceover work, while others filled a Stormtrooper costume - but did you get their autograph? Do you even want their autograph on a Star Wars item?

But does being in the credits, mean you need their autograph?

Reason #2: High Cost

Mark hasn’t done an organized autograph signing since the New York Comic Con in late 2017, where his signing price was just under $300, and if he does choose to do a signing in 2021, I think it’s safe to assume that he’ll be at least $400. If you were to add him to a Mandalorian piece, you’d be paying him $8 for each word he recorded for that episode. I just don’t think that you’re getting the best bang for your dollar when you add him to a Mando cast piece, especially when you can easily add Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, and Carl Weathers all at the same price that Hamill would be at his cheapest price point.

Reason #3: Brief Appearance

The appearance of Luke Skywalker was restricted to the last eight minutes of the final episode of the season, and Hamill recorded less than 50 words for that portion. And after the way that the episode ended, I think it’s fairly safe to assume that he’s not going to be a recurring character on the show.

Reason #4: Max Lloyd-Jones

While Mark Hamill was indeed on the set for the episode, it was Max Lloyd-Jones who was the actor who put on the costume and wielded the lightsaber as he portrayed Luke Skywalker, and also had his face digitally swapped with Hamill’s. Yes, I also hear you guys who are bringing up famous Star Wars roles that had both someone portraying them physically, and another who provided their voice, and I get that - but I don’t think that applies here. It was a brief appearance, when you look at the case of Darth Vader, when Prowse and Jones were still signing, you could easily have gotten them both for under $100. It just doesn’t sit well with me forking over a chunk of change for a cameo role.

In the end, whether or not you get Hamill on a Mandalorian item is up to you, but hopefully I’ve gotten you to think a little more critically and selectively as to who you’ll add to a multi-signed piece. Well those are my thoughts on whether or not you should add Mark Hamill to a Mandalorian multi-signed item, and I’d love to hear yours.