'Star Wars' Actor Mark Hamill Thinks Skywalker Could Be Gay

Days after "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" director JJ Abrams made headlines for saying he could see a gay character in future installments of the space opera (and upsetting the religious right), actor Mark Hamill said "of course" Luke Skywalker is gay, the Mirror reports.

"I just read online that JJ is very much open to that," Hamill told the Sun, referring to Abrams' comments earlier this week. "In the old days you would get fan mail. But now fans are writing and ask all these questions, 'I'm bullied in school... I'm afraid to come out.' They say to me, 'Could Luke be gay?' I'd say it is meant to be interpreted by the viewer."

Hamill, 64, who played Luke Skywalker in the original "Star Wars" films, added to the Sun: "If you think Luke is gay, of course he is. You should not be ashamed of it. Judge Luke by his character, not by who he loves."

The Mirror points out "Star Wars" writer Eric Diaz posted on the website Nerdist and also commented about Skywalker's sexual orientation earlier this month.

"Luke Skywalker, on the other hand, has shown almost zero sexual interest in anyone in any of the films...with the exception of a woman who turned out to be his sister. And even then, that interest seemed considerably mild. So Luke is a much stronger candidate for being a character that can go in any direction. That doesn't mean Lucasfilm and Disney will ever bring it to the screen, of course, but it's good to know that the man who brings the character to life would be completely cool with the notion if they did."

Abrams said he would "love it" to see an out character in "Star Wars," but his remarks hit a nerve with some readers of the Christian news website CNS, sparking several hateful comments.