Mark Hamill has said he was deeply disappointed by the theatrical release of *The Big Red One*, the 1980 war film he hoped would help him move beyond his association with Luke Skywalker. Although he admired Samuel Fuller’s distinctive, autobiographical script and ultimately appeared in the film, Hamill said the studio altered it so extensively that he was “appalled” by the result.

Hamill claimed the actors were not told about major changes, including extensive cuts and added narration, which he believed undermined Fuller’s original vision. A restored extended edition released in 2004, seven years after Fuller’s death, added 47 minutes of footage and more closely reflected the director’s intentions; despite the film’s critical success, Hamill continued to regard the original version as “butchered”.