Mark Hamill Was “Horrified” How Wampa Scene Turned Out in ‘Empire Strikes Back’

Star Wars fans who thought the wampa arm amputation scene was a little much in the opening of The Empire Strikes Back are not alone — Mark Hamill also was not pleased with the moment.

Over the weekend, the Luke Skywalker actor revealed that he was under the impression during filming that the huge snow beast would be frightened off by his character’s lightsaber. The graphic arm removal was too much, Hamill said to his enormous Twitter audience. He got on the topic when a Twitter user shared a severed wampa arm cake for #NationalCakeDay.

“When filming scene I was assured my lightsaber swipe toward camera (creature not on set) would simply singe fur 2 scare him off-Horrified to later see amputation & unnecessary cruelty-Wampa was HUNGRY (not EVIL)-Luke would never do this! #StillAngry2017,” Hamill tweeted. 

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And that is not even mentioning the special edition of Empire, which is far more graphic, showing the bloody wampa screaming in agony.

It seems that Hamill — an outspoken animal lover — believed the scene would occur as it does in the novel, a note pointed out by a Twitter user responding to Hamill’s post. 

“Heck, it was even in the book. Luke used the force to sense the Wampa’s mind,” the Twitter user said, to which Hamill replied, “My acting was much better in the book.”

Hamill is reprising his iconic role in the highly-anticipated new installment, The Last Jedi. 

Also a social media Jedi, Hamill has been whipping fans into even more of a frenzy with fun teases and jokes before the film opens Dec. 15. 

When filming scene I was assured my lightsaber swipe toward camera (creature not on set) would simply singe fur 2 scare him off-Horrified to later see amputation & unnecessary cruelty-Wampa was HUNGRY (not EVIL)-Luke would never do this! #StillAngry2017 https://t.co/QhIkOILZmw

— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) November 27, 2017

My acting was much better in the book.

— @HamillHimself (@HamillHimself) November 27, 2017

Watch the original wampa scene below.