Movies & TV · 2
According to reports, at what point did Mark Hamill first learn that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father in 'The Empire Strikes Back' (1980)?
Answer
While shooting the reveal scene itself
To preserve the secrecy of the twist, Hamill was reportedly kept in the dark until the moment the scene was actually shot, so his shocked reaction on camera was genuine.
💡 Did you know?
The Empire Strikes Back's "I am your father" reveal was so guarded that only three people knew the truth; even Mark Hamill wasn't told until filming.
Other options people guess
- Weeks earlier during script table reads
- During his original audition for the role
- After the movie had already wrapped production
Topics
- star-wars
- plot-twists
- actors
- 1980s
Know your movies & tv trivia?
Play a free Movies & TV quiz and see how many you get right — no signup needed to start.
More Movies & TV facts
Movies & TV
Which 1980 Star Wars film first revealed that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father?
Darth Vader's redemption arc wasn't planned by George Lucas until 'Empire Strikes Back'—Vader was originally just pure evil with no family connection to Luke.
Movies & TV
Despite decades of fans crediting Ridley Scott, which filmmaker actually directed 1986's Aliens, the sequel to his original film?
Ridley Scott, original Alien director, didn't direct Aliens (1986)—James Cameron did—yet Scott's influence remained so strong fans often misremember him directing both.
Movies & TV
Which actress, who played Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films, reportedly received more hate mail than the actors who played all the Death Eaters combined?
Imelda Staunton, who played Dolores Umbridge, received more hate mail than actors portraying Death Eaters in Harry Potter films combined.
Movies & TV
Which HBO fantasy series ended with a shorter final season of six episodes, even though the network reportedly offered the showrunners an unlimited budget?
Game of Thrones' final season had fewer episodes than earlier ones partly because HBO offered unlimited budget but the showrunners wanted to finish quickly.
Movies & TV
Which novelist wrote the original book series in which Cersei Lannister is portrayed as less ruthless than her HBO counterpart?
Cersei Lannister's cruelty in Game of Thrones diverges sharply from books; show producers deliberately made her far more ruthless than George R.R. Martin wrote.
Movies & TV
In which 1998 Disney film did twin child actors alternate filming days to comply with child labor laws?
The child actors in The Parent Trap were actually twins who alternated days filming to comply with child labor laws.