Mark Hamill’s Best Post‑Star Wars Turn Isn’t in a King Movie — It’s the Underrated Brigsby Bear (Free on Roku)
Mark Hamill appears in a small but important on-screen role in the 2017 dramedy Brigsby Bear, and his voice work is used throughout the film. This year he also appears in two Stephen King adaptations, The Long Walk and The Life of Chuck, where he plays different supporting roles. Meanwhile, Brigsby Bear is currently available to stream for free on The Roku Channel.
- Mark Hamill has on-camera and voice roles in Brigsby Bear (2017).
- This year, Hamill appears in Stephen King adaptations The Long Walk and The Life of Chuck.
- Brigsby Bear uses Hamill both as an on-screen father figure and as the voice of the show-within-the-film.
- The film is streaming for free on The Roku Channel.
Hamill’s recent roles
In 2017, Hamill appears in Brigsby Bear and also in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. More recently this year, he takes parts in two Stephen King adaptations: he plays a character called The Major in The Long Walk, and he plays Albie, an alcoholic grandfather, in The Life of Chuck. These are credited performances in the respective films.
What Brigsby Bear is about
The film centers on James, played by Kyle Mooney, who grew up isolated in a bunker and was raised by Ted and April. When authorities intervene, James discovers that his parents abducted him as an infant and that the TV program he watched, Brigsby Bear Adventures, was created by his captor, Ted, as a private project rather than a real show.
Hamill’s role in the film
Hamill appears on camera in a few scenes at the beginning and the end of the movie as Ted, James’s adoptive father. Additionally, he provides the voice for the Brigsby Bear character and the show’s villain in the program that Ted produced. Therefore, Hamill’s work in the film spans both live-action and voice performance.
How the film treats fandom and creativity
After his captivity ends, James attempts to finish the Brigsby Bear story himself. He recruits friends and family to help make a film adaptation of the fictional show. The plot follows his adjustment to the outside world and his use of filmmaking as a way to process his past.
Cast and collaborators
Kyle Mooney co-wrote the film and stars as James. Other credited cast members include Jane Adams as April and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Spence. Greg Kinnear appears as a police officer who becomes involved with James’s story.
Where to watch
Brigsby Bear was released in 2017 and is currently streaming for free on The Roku Channel. The film is distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, and the production credits list the principal cast and crew on its release materials.
