Mark Hamill in Squadron 42: Steve Colton Role Explained

Mark Hamill plays Lieutenant Commander Steve "Old Man" Colton in Squadron 42, one of the campaign's central characters and one of the most meaningful castings in its history. His role continues a working relationship with director Chris Roberts that goes back more than three decades, and his scenes are among the most prominently featured in official trailers and development showcases. This page explains the character, the history and what players can expect.

Who Is Steve Colton?

Colton is a senior pilot — a veteran of the fall of Caliban — serving as the player's wingman, mentor and flight lead aboard the Idris frigate UEES Stanton in the Odin system. He is positioned as a mentor figure within the squadron: an experienced hand who has seen the war up close, guiding the rookie player through the campaign's early missions and carrying his own history with the enemy. The nickname "Old Man" appears in official promotional materials, reflecting both his age and his status within the squadron. His scenes are among the most heavily featured in trailers, making him one of the most recognizable characters in the game's marketing.

The Wing Commander Connection

The casting is a full-circle moment. In 1994, Mark Hamill played Colonel Christopher Blair in Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger, directed by Chris Roberts — a landmark in cinematic game production for its time. He reprised the role in Wing Commander IV and the 1999 Wing Commander film. When Roberts founded Cloud Imperium Games and announced Squadron 42 as a return to cinematic single-player space combat, Hamill's involvement was one of the earliest and most celebrated cast confirmations. For a generation of space-sim players, the pairing of Hamill and Roberts is the genre's defining collaboration, and Squadron 42 puts them back together in a new universe with modern technology.

The Performance

As with the rest of the cast, Hamill's performance was filmed with full performance capture: facial rigging and body capture alongside voice recording, all in the same session. In trailers, Colton's expressions and mannerisms are unmistakably Hamill's — the same screen presence he brought to Luke Skywalker and Christopher Blair, now driving a new character in a new war. The performance was recorded as part of the production push that led to the campaign reaching feature-complete status in 2023, and it will be playable in full when the game launches.

Where to See More

Official trailers and development videos on the Squadron 42 YouTube channel feature extensive footage of Colton — briefing scenes, combat chatter and moments alongside the player. The campaign itself, planned for Q2 2027 on Windows PC, will be the first time players experience his full story arc in the game.

Colton's History

The campaign's lore gives Colton a specific past: he is a veteran of the fall of Caliban, one of the UEE's deepest wounds in the Vanduul War, and he has flown nearly every airframe in Navy service. That history makes him more than a mentor archetype — he is a survivor of the era of retreat that the campaign's story is fighting to end. When the player meets him aboard the Stanton, the war is personal for him in a way it cannot yet be for the rookie. How his arc develops across the campaign's 28 chapters is "to be confirmed," but his position as the player's flight lead and teacher is established.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who does Mark Hamill play in Squadron 42?

He plays Lieutenant Commander Steve "Old Man" Colton, a veteran of the fall of Caliban and the player's mentor aboard the UEES Stanton.

Is this Hamill's first Chris Roberts game?

No. He played Christopher Blair in Wing Commander III and IV, directed by Chris Roberts, and in the 1999 Wing Commander film. Squadron 42 is their return to the same genre.

Is Colton a main character?

Yes. His scenes are among the most prominent in official trailers, and he serves as a central mentor figure in the campaign's story.