Major casting news for Star Wars: Episode VII: the role of Luke Skywalker's beard will be played by Mark Hamill's beard. It appears the beard-learner has become the beard-master, and Luke is the new Obi-Wan.

Hamill posted an on-set photo of his chinpiece to Instagram this week, pretty much confirming that the beard will be in the movie. And, in keeping with the trend we've seen in other images from the Episode 7 set, the beard appears to be a practical effect instead of yet another CGI creature.

Earlier this month, at the U.K. premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy, he explained that his new facial hair was "contractually-obligated," so it's very likely we're looking at the creature's final-stage evolution here.

[H/T Daily Dot, Photo: Instagram]