Mark Hamill has an Answer to Star Wars’ Grappling Hook Conundrum

Mark Hamill finally has an answer for fans who've been wondering for decades why Luke Skywalker whips a grappling hook out of nowhere in Star Wars: A New Hope.

A New Hope might have been nothing short of a success for George Lucas, but the movie left fans with a whole lot of questions, including the kiss-for-luck moment in the movie where Luke uses a grappling hook to swing himself and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) across a chasm in the Death Star. The scene might have been incredibly dramatic, but Star Wars fans couldn't help but wonder why Luke had a grappling hook on his belt. Sure, Luke might have stolen the belt from a Stormtrooper in the Death Star in A New Hope, but fans can't help but wonder what a trooper might do with a grappling hook.

A Star Wars fan decided to take to Twitter early this morning to ask Mark Hamill about the deus ex machina, and the Star Wars legend had a pretty convenient response.

"I'm watching Episode 4 with my kids for the first time today," Lance Damrias posted on Twitter, "My 4yr old daughter asked a question I've never thought of before. Why did Luke have a grappling hook on his belt?"

Hamill's response? "It's standard Princess-rescuing equipment."

Check out the exchange down here:

It might not seem like a serious response, but it looks like fans have to make do with grappling hooks as Princess-rescuing weapons. The grappling hook might become a major topic of debate, but we can't deny that the scene shared between Luke Skywalker and a Princess we later on learn is actually his twin was pretty tender. We hope we get to see Luke and Leia share a final moment together in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres December 20, 2019.

Read: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker's Daisy Ridley Teases Dark Rey Role In Episode IX