Earlier this year, Star Citizen creator Chris Roberts announced a star-studded cast for the game’s narrative single-player module, Squadron 42, which includes several well known actors such as Gary Oldman, Gillian Anderson, and Mark Hamill. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, actor Mark Hamill discussed his role in the game, what it is like working with Chris Roberts again, and how video game acting has changed over the years.

“It’s a whole new ballgame,” Hamill said, referring to the performance capture technology used for the game. “I mean, I have seen this kind of technology on the DVD extras for Planet of the Apes and Avatar, and I found the ‘Making of’ as fascinating as the movies. I thought gee, you know, I’d like to do that someday because I always enjoy doing things I’ve never done before.”

Speaking about what it was like acting in a motion capture suit with no real sets, Hamill explained that the experience was not really all that different from a typical film production.

“It’s all pretend. It’s like when you’re playing Robin Hood in the backyard when you’re nine years old,” Hamill said. “People say, ‘Well, isn’t it hard to imagine you’re flying a spaceship?’ But I say look, you’ve been in cutaway cars on a soundstage when they’re just rocking it, so it’s really no different than more conventional scenarios.”

While Hamill may be new to motion capture, he is no stranger to video game acting. In addition to having previously worked with Star Citizen creator Chris Roberts on the popular Wing Commander series, Hamill has also voiced numerous other game characters, including The Joker in the Batman Arkham games, a role that he originated on the iconic Batman: The Animated Series.

Hamill explained that working with Roberts was one of the main reasons he jumped at the chance to act in Star Citizen.

“The advantage here was Chris Roberts,” Hamill said. “I had such a good time working with him. He not only is a wizard of all things involving games, but he’s a great director and a great friend. Really, when he asked me, I didn’t even have to read the script. I just jumped at it. I really wanted to work with him again.”

You can watch PC Gamer’s full interview with Mark Hamill on YouTube.

Screenshot via Star Citizen | YouTube