Where Is Luke Skywalker?


Luke Skywalker is on everyone’s mind nowadays. He’s the biggest mystery going into The Force Awakens – the greatest wild card. Why has he been so absent in recent advertising? Where has the character been, and what has he been doing for the past 30 years? He was notably absent in the recent poster that was released prior to the third trailer. Almost the entire cast, primary to tertiary, was present. In the latest trailer we only get a tiny snippet of him (the same clip we received in the second teaser) with his hand on R2’s shiny little dome. Because of this absence, there have been 4 primary theories that I’d like to shoot down, or at least bring down a peg, because each seems a bit silly to me.

But before that, I want to share my own take on the trailer. Believe it or not, Luke was ALL OVER IT. Maybe not Mark Hamill, but Luke’s presence. When Han exclaims that all of the stories, the Dark Side, the Jedi – they’re true, you know he’s thinking about Luke. This is the same guy that in Episode IV claimed that the Force was a bunch of ‘hokey tricks and nonsense’. Who taught him otherwise? And after Lupita Nyong’o’s character Maz Kanata tells Rey to “Let it in,” who’s theme do we hear? In soft chords, Luke’s Force theme permeates through the darkness. It’s beautiful really.

Now, let’s break down some of these theories about Luke’s lack of physical presence, and see why they’re mostly unfounded.

Theory I – Luke doesn’t have a major role/is only in the last few scenes.

Look at the movie poster again. Who’s names appear on the billing list first? Harrison Ford. No doubt he’ll have the most screentime of the original trio. And then? Mark Hamill. This is very telling. We’ve seen what… 3 minutes of original footage from the film, in all the combined trailers? The film is over 2 hours in length. Luke could be the first face we see in the new film, who knows. He could be a main character throughout. I don’t think he will be, but it’s a possibility. But he’ll be hugely significant in the second portion of the film for sure, because as everyone is well aware, his wherabouts are the prevailing mystery, and every mystery deserves a proper resolution. Especially if R2-D2 is with him. We need to see some BB-8/R2 interaction!

Some fans are guessing that he might actually show up in the last scene in the film. What a cliffhanger! Come to think of it, in no previous Star Wars film has there been a cliffhanger. They have all been standalone stories/episodes – and most of the time they end in some sort of celebratory occasion. I do not think we’ll be given a cliffhanger. It’s just not Star Wars.

Theory II – Luke Skywalker is Kylo Ren/Supreme Leader Snoke/has turned to the Dark Side.

It’s no secret that Luke has at times straddled the line between good and evil, light and dark. He is his father’s son. In pre-production for Return/Revenge of the Jedi, Lucas and Kasdan (the latter being the script writer for episodes V and VI) argued about how Luke’s story arc should end. One of the prevailing ideas for the film was that, at the end, Luke would put on Vader’s helmet and continue in his footsteps. This was inevitably vetoed by Lucas in favor of the film we got. Well, Lawrence Kasdan is now the writer for Episode VII, and Lucas is no longer in the picture. Mark Hamill has mentioned in the past that he always envisioned Luke turning to the Dark Side of the Force. It would certainly make for a great tale. But will we ever get that film?

30 years have passed. It is likely that Luke has, on occasion, been in touch with his Dark Side. That would make for a great book/series. I don’t think it would make for a great film. We have new heroes in Rey, Finn, and Poe. I’m going to guess that 2/3 of those characters will be Force sensitive beings. They will need guidance. Luke is the obvious Master.

As far as Luke being Kylo Ren, and finishing what Vader started? We have seen pictures and video of Kylo with his mask off. He’s being played by Adam Driver, not Mark Hamill. Kylo Ren’s saber is very shabby, and unrefined. This shows he has a very limited grasp on how to construct one, along with being a weak Force user (as the Kyber crystal is clearly placed insecurely). Luke has made a lightsaber previously. We’ve seen it in action in Return of the Jedi. And Kylo Ren is in search of ‘the last Jedi’, a line we hear in some of the merchandising for the film. Sure, Jedi is also a plural noun, but it sounds like he’s talking about tracking down a hidden Jedi, singular. That sounds to me like Luke Skywalker. Plus, we’ve totally seen a leaked image of Luke wearing Obi-Wan-esque robes.

What about Supreme Leader Snoke, the supposed Sith Lord of the new films, and leader of the First Order? Is it likely that Luke will be involved with this character, who is known to be played by Andy Serkis? It’s unlikely, again. See the above paragraph.

Theory III – Luke is a Force ghost.

One prevailing theory may have some credence behind it. Many believe that Luke’s big reveal is such a spoiler that they can’t even show him, lest we know what happens. That has prompted many to speculate that Luke has already died and transcended into the Force and become a ghost, in the same vein that Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Anakin have previously. That would certainly be a twist.

But it’s unlikely. We saw the moment each of those previous Jedi died to become a Force ghost. Those moments were satisfying resolutions to their lives. Would you honestly feel satisfied seeing a film in which Luke shows up only to impart a few words here and there, as a transparent blue figure? No. We would feel cheated that we didn’t see what got him in the end, and Disney doesn’t want you to feel as though the film was in any way anticlimactic.

Also, please note again the header image. A hooded figure touches R2 with a cybernetic hand – the same hand Luke lost in The Empire Strikes Back. This is almost undeniably Luke Skywalker. In the second teaser, we get a glimpse of the hooded figure just as the narrator (Luke Skywalker) exclaims that he has the Force. I can’t think of anyone else it could be.

Theory IV – Luke is scared of his own abilities and is hiding/shying away from his duties.

This is the most probable of the four theories. Unfortunately there is little to back it up. We know that Kylo Ren is looking for ‘the last Jedi,’ but that’s just about it. Noting the picture above, we can also make the assumption that Luke isn’t keeping up with appearances. He’s allowed the synthetic skin atop his prosthetic hand to fall off. This might imply some sort of self-imposed reclusion. Is he scared of something? Is he frightened of action? Is he in hiding? Are his abilities so strong he fears them? Is he protecting something? All are possible, and plausible even.

But what we know of Luke Skywalker is that he is a man of action. Knowing his friends were in danger, he forewent his completion of Jedi training with Master Yoda to save them. Luke is the guy that rushed into military action to help aid the rebellion. And what little we know of him post-Return of the Jedi is that he is still performing personal missions and other asides for the Rebellion. This doesn’t seem like a guy who would be scared of anything, besides following in his father’s footsteps. And I don’t think we have to worry about that at this stage in his character arc.

However, he could be actively protecting something…

So where in the galaxy is Luke Skywalker!?

Luke Skywalker is a MAJOR character in this film, and the fact that Luke isn’t being shown is purposeful. It’s to get us guessing. And there are a plethora of ideas, but some need to rein in their speculation quite a bit. We don’t know exactly where he is, or even have a solid idea. Likely he’s out honing his Force skills further. Perhaps he’s hanging out on Skellig Michael (a filming location he was reportedly seen on) protecting the Force tree he procured in the Shattered Empire comic series. Perhaps he’s collecting artifacts that have been lost to the Jedi. Perhaps he’s already started rebuilding the Jedi Order, as per Yoda’s wish. By revealing to Luke that he had a sister on his deathbed it was implied/hinted that it would be he who took over the Jedi teachings, and to pass on his knowledge of the Force. I can’t imagine a future where Luke doesn’t do just that.

Luke is out doing something. And it’s something hugely important to Star Wars. We just don’t know what it is yet. But rest assured, he’s on a mission of some kind.

Here’s a theory. If Kylo Ren is Han and Leia’s child, and he were Force sensitive, he likely would have trained with Luke. He may have become seduced by the powers of the Dark Side, and become the villainous character we see in the film. Luke would feel very betrayed, and more, he would feel as though he betrayed his sister and brother in law. And thus they haven’t seen him in years. Just a theory I came up with on the spot. Don’t take it as factual. I don’t believe it, personally. But it could make sense.

Either way, let the speculation continue. 48 days left!


If you’ve enjoyed this editorial, please share it with others who might also enjoy it! And let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

10 thoughts on “Where Is Luke Skywalker?

  1. Star Wars: the Force Awakens looks to be an investigation into who Luke is:

    Rey’s story is repeating Luke’s, and Rey’s filling Luke’s character role. Jacuu is Tatooine and Finn crashing onto it is akin to R2-D2 and C-3PO. So just as Luke was hidden from Anakin, Rey’s been hidden from Luke. That’s why Rey’s likely to be Luke’s daughter. And now Rey seeks Luke, who’s dying. Luke’s appearance will be an act three cameo, and will work as the surprise moment. Luke’s exile was self-imposed after Anakin’s Jedi funeral – Luke trained the Knights of Ren as the New Jedi Order, but lost control of them and fled (maybe they started as the Knights of Ben?). One of the Knights of Ren was Finn, which is why Finn can use a lightsaber so well. When Finn unites with Rey, Han and BB-8, they search for Luke in a Jedi temple, where Luke now resides with the red robot. Here, there’s the explanation that Kylo is Luke’s lineage, probably nephew. Kylo and the Knights of Ren are working with the First Order to find Luke, with Hux overseeing this. Luke will survive their attacks to have a larger role in Star Wars: Episode VIII. But Luke hasn’t turned to the dark side – there’s already Snoke, Kylo and Phasma as antagonists, and we don’t need a fourth, especially with three primary protagonists to match them. Luke’s proven there’s light in everyone and has endured all forms of temptation and overcome them – making Luke a dark force-user would betray the character, given Luke’s the most important thematic element of the saga. Luke returns to duty by the conclusion, but definitely gets into a lightsaber fight. And this will be the Critical Moment as the dark side and the light side clash as the Force Awakens. Finding Luke will be Rey’s goal, since the saga continues the Skywalker story. Luke now controls light and dark and uses them together to transcend simple morality. Darkness isn’t necessarily wrong if used for good, especially as Luke’s flirted with the Dark Side by force-choking Gamorrean guards in Jabba’s Palace. Luke’s exile is in hopes of mastering all forms of the force – maybe Luke’s grieving, too – did Rey’s mother die?

    But Luke definitely isn’t Kylo. Adam Driver doesn’t look like Mark Hamill, both Kylo and Luke would be belittled as characters by only serving each other and it’s more interesting for Kylo to be Leia and Han’s son.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I don’t think that Luke has turned to the dark side. I subscribe to the theary that he’s in hiding as he’s scared of the havoc that the Jedi and Sith have caused in the galaxy and feels that the galaxy is better off without them. It’d give a little symetry to Ben Kenobi’s monk like existence in A New Hope.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. You know, after reading all those crazy theories, there were different points where I actually thought I was mistaken with this scene, Luke touching R2’s head, and Kylo Ren being shown without his helmet on as Adam Driver. It’s nice to see I’m not the only one who picked out the holes there.

    I personally believe that Luke’s in recluse because he wanted to deepen his understanding of the Force – after the end of Episode VI he’s literally the only known person in the galaxy with any knowledge of it left alive, after all.

    Like

      1. If the now-defunct SWEU taught us anything, the galaxy and beyond is a huge place. It actually wouldn’t surprise me if the one thing everyone’s taking for granted that Disney turns upside down in the upcoming episodes is that Yoda and Kanan were the only two Jedi to survive Order 66.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Exactly. I highly expect some others to have made it. We may not see a big presence in the films, but cameos would be very cool. And then, of course, we have thirty years of novels to fill in.

        Like

      3. Exactly. Groups like the Inquisitors and the Knights of Ren are just further indicators that Disney’s got a lot of sand to play with where it comes to the Jedi.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. It would have seemed perfect for Kylo Ren to finish off that line in the trailer with “I’ll finish what you started….father”, but “grandfather” would fit too… Something interesting to think about.
    And for my money, Luke’s on the poster, he’s just piloting one of the X-Wings

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Google photo

You are commenting using your Google account. Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s