NEW YORK — Though the new "Star Wars" movie ends with Luke Skywalker as a baby, the Jedi Knight grew up long ago.

Since immortalizing Skywalker, actor Mark Hamill, now 53, has spent most of his time working on Broadway ("Amadeus," "The Elephant Man," "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks") and doing cartoon voice-overs.

Later this year, Hamill hopes to begin production on "The Black Pearl," an adaptation of his comic book. He is currently setting up an animated series about a city apartment building, seen through the eyes of pets.

While in New York searching for animators for the show, Hamill took a moment to reflect on that galaxy far, far away.

Q: While you're in New York, will you visit the fans camping outside the Ziegfeld Theater?

A: I don't know. I don't want to upset them. I've always been sort of fascinated with that. ...

Q: What were your expectations?

A: ... I was one of the optimist bunch, and I'm on record predicting, "This thing is going to make more money than 'Planet of the Apes.' " I said, "There's no way this will fail" — because it's got a sense of humor. It's the key element that most science-fiction films don't have, which is a sort of arch sense of humor. ...

Q: What are your feelings about the movies finally ending?

A: I've learned that the movies will never finally end. It just goes on and on. ... I mean, it's going to be in 3D, then it's going to be smellivision, then it's going to be a ride in an amusement park ... it'll never end! I accepted that a long time ago.

A: You know where it comes from? It's not so much from the industry ... but the 9-year-old kid who looks at you like a cross between Superman and Santa Claus. And you'd have to be a really, really hardened cynic not to be moved by that. Not only that, but just doing the interviews for this animation series, I can't tell you how many people have said, "I got into the business because of that movie." ... I totally understand that because I remember walking out of "Jason and the Argonauts" (1963) and saying, "I don't know how they got those skeletons to fight, but someday I want that to be my job. To make skeletons fight." ...

Q: Will you be part of the brouhaha for "Revenge of the Sith?"

A: I couldn't get on a lot of the late-night shows I wanted to for "Comic Book: The Movie." But ... when these "Star Wars" movies come out, they all want you to come in and do this sketch or that sketch. And it's tempting, but I want to hold off, because I want to have something new. ... It seems to me, that no matter how modest it is, you've got to offer them something new, so that you don't become a nostalgia artist. And that's always been what I strive to do.