Mark Hamill says one of his best 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' moments was inspired by Barack Obama

mark hamill sxsw 2018

"Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill revealed the story behind Luke Skywalker brushing off his shoulder in the iconic moment from "The Last Jedi."
Speaking during a panel at SXSW, Hamill said he found inspiration for the "dirt off your shoulder" gesture in former US President Barack Obama.&
Ultimately, director Rian Johnson toned down Hamill's performance.

There's an instantly iconic moment in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" when Luke Skywalker endures a barrage of blaster fire from the First Order and emerges from the dust unharmed.

Luke brushes off his shoulder like it's no big deal.

Here's the moment in GIF form:

THERE
IS
A
GIF pic.twitter.com/ahf4UbiljM
— Mrs. Who aka Preeti Chhibber (@runwithskizzers) January 11, 2018

During a panel discussion with "The Last Jedi" director Rian Johnson at the SXSW film festival on Monday, Hamill revealed the story behind the famous "dirt off your shoulder" moment.

After Luke's run-in with the First Order on the red salt planet, Hamill said he told Johnson that Luke should brush off his shoulder twice like a former US president has been known to do.

Barack Obama famously made the gesture in a stump speech on the 2008 campaign trail.

via GIPHY

"When I did the brush off, I did it brush-brush — sort of a mimicking of Barack Obama," Hamill said. But Johnson told him to do one brush "because two would be overkill."

"And again, [Johnson] was right. I had lots of horrible ideas," Hamill said.

The moment made for an incredible GIF that both Hamill and Johnson have tweeted since the movie's release. It's become "Star Wars" fans' preferred way to shove off haters.

Inventions ranked by usefulness, 2018
3. The telephone
2. The wheel
1. This gif https://t.co/YdyzCbzp6W
— Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) January 12, 2018