Another Galaxy, Another Time (Episode 8 Spoilers!)

"Another galaxy, another time" is the original opening line to Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker, the novelization of Star Wars that was actually published 6 months before the film's release. It's not quite as catchy as "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" but I've always been fond of it.

Also, in this day and age it's unfathomable to imagine a novel coming out and spoiling a Star Wars movie a full six months before the film's release.

The secrecy surrounding The Force Awakens last year and the upcoming, as-yet-untitled "Episode 8" is staggering. And that's the way people seem to like it. Revealing spoilers in today's society is worse than insulting someone's mother or discussing religion. It's just not done in polite company. But you know who doesn't care about polite company? Mister Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill:

Thanks @rianjohnson for letting me reveal 1 SPOILER to try to reach #HAMILLION followers! STAY TUNED! #LeakingLuke pic.twitter.com/wmdBihavUQ

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 1, 2016

Hamill has been making waves today promising he'll reveal a spoiler to the new film if he reaches 1 million Twitter followers, and has even supposedly been endorsed by the film's writer/director, Rian Johnson:

Time 4 a #SWSecret-@rianjohnson OK'd release of stunning #Ep8 plot point-Tell 21,000 friends! #HAMILLION #StayTuned pic.twitter.com/B9nQM6A5st

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) April 1, 2016

Media outlets from Entertainment Weekly to the BBC have picked up on the story (it's especially newsworthy since The Force Awakens was released on digital streaming today, and will drop on DVD/Blu-Ray on Monday), proving that anyone will talk about Star Wars to get hits on their website. Including me.

Of course, it's all probably some elaborate April Fool's joke, and maybe the spoiler he's about to reveal is that "C-3P0 says 'Thank the maker!'" or something equally trite, but the fact remains that someone as classy, kindhearted and self-depreciatingly hilarious as Mark Hamill SHOULD have at least a million Twitter followers. HE'S LUKE SKYWALKER AND THE JOKER, for crying out loud.

He's also weirdly attached to this god-awful ugly sweater, for some reason:

I’ve a lot of respect for Mark Hamill’s 30 year attachment to this jumper. pic.twitter.com/Bv418Ucohd

— paul haine (@paul_haine) March 29, 2016