The fate of Luke Skywalker has been the subject of much fevered discussion among “Star Wars” fans as the release of “The Force Awakens” looms. While Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher have been prominently featured in the promotion of the new film, Mark Hamill has been conspicuously absent.

In a new interview with Empire (via SlashFilm), Hamill remained relatively tight-lipped about Skywalker’s role in the latest chapter.

“Obviously you’re seeing him in a very different time in his life,” Hamill said of Skywalker. “There are lots of surprises in this movie. You’re going to love it.”

He went on to suggest that he spent time filming solo scenes. “It reminded me of when I was in Tunisia on the salt flats,” Hamill said. “If you could get into your own mind and shut out the crew and look at the horizon, you really felt like you were in a galaxy far, far away. I had that same wave of emotion happen to me when I was on Skellig Michael in Ireland. I wasn’t anticipating it.”

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” bows in theaters Dec. 18.