CW’s recently-launched The Flash TV has been including a lot of respectful nods to the short-lived 1990 CBS incarnation of DC’s scarlet speedster, in terms of casting. John Wesley Shipp, who played the title role on that series, now plays Henry Allen, Barry’s father. And we recently were introduced to Amanda Pays, who actually played the same role on the new series as on the previous version of The Flash - DC Comics’ Dr. Tina McGee. On top of that, it was recently announced that Shipp and Pays will soon be joined by another notable alum from the show, as none other than Mark Hamill returns to play the Trickster, the villain he portrayed on the 1990 series.

Mark Hamill on Reaction to The Force Awakens Teaser

Mark Hamill as The Trickster in The Flash (1990).

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When I spoke to Hamill recently, I asked him about going back into the world of The Flash - and how it will be interesting playing a new version of the character, unlike, say, his upcoming return as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, where he’s returning to the same continuity as before.Said Hamill, “Well listen, it’s really in the embryonic stages. We discussed it over the phone. I like these guys, what they’ve already done with the show. I’m a fan. I had watched all seven or eight episodes that they had at the time.”Hamill explained that he was approached to appear on The Flash before he knew what character they wanted him to play. “When they asked me to be a part of it, the last thing I was thinking was that I would be returning to that specific role, but I think you’re going to be really pleased with what they’ve come up with. It was totally unexpected.”As for how he felt about returning to the world of The Flash, Hamill remarked, “I said this before [about Luke Skywalker]. It’s like putting on an old pair of pants in the back of the closet and finding out there’s a 20 dollar bill in the pocket. It’s like ‘Oh, wow! I forgot all about this!’ And it’s more enjoyable because it’s so unexpected.”