What character in The Sandman does Mark Hamill play?

The Sandman has an impressive cast of actors that includes Joely Richardson, Boyd Holbrook, Patton Oswalt, Gwendoline Christie, Tom Sturridge and more. But one big name you might not expect is Mark Hamill!

An iconic performer known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise and voicing the Joker in the DC animated universe, Hamill has a small, but fun, role in the new dark fantasy series based on Neil Gaiman’s popular comic book series.

His character doesn’t pop up until the latter half of the season, and you might not even recognize his voice the first time you hear it.

What character in The Sandman does Mark Hamill play?

Hamill lends his voice to Mervyn, or “Merv,” Pumpkinhead, one of several dreams living in The Dreaming.

Who is Merv Pumpkinhead in The Sandman?

Merv is one of Dream’s aids and in the show, he mostly interacts with Lucienne. He’s known for his jaded demeanor and frequent wisecracks. Merv’s appearance is very distinct, as he looks like the classic version of a scarecrow, albeit with a jack-o’-lantern for a head instead of the traditional straw creation.

Those who have read the comics books know that Merv typically works on construction and other miscellaneous tasks for Dream. He often jokes that his job is somewhat pointless, since Dream could just destroy and re-create things on a whim if he wanted to. In a flashback to the distant past, Merv is also shown to have once had a turnip for a head instead of a pumpkin.

In the audio drama version of The Sandman, Merv’s character was actually voiced by Kevin Smith, but Hamill feels like a better fit to me. We don’t really get to learn a lot about Merv in the show, but he’s sure to become a fan-favorite.

The Sandman releases this Friday, August 5, only on Netflix.