Summary
- Mark Hamill may not reprise his role as Luke Skywalker for future Star Wars projects.
- Luke Skywalker played a pivotal role in teaching and guiding Rey in the sequel trilogy.
- Star Wars franchise is investing in new characters like Rey and Ryan Gosling to progress.
The Star Wars franchise is one filled with unforgettable legacy characters, and there are arguably none greater than Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker. He was the face of the original trilogy as the lead hero, and audiences enjoyed him all over again when he returned for the most recent trio of Star Wars films, adding even more to the Skywalker legacy.
Due to his overwhelming popularity, he could always be brought back in some form or fashion in future Star Wars projects, and with the franchise about to expand, that's certainly on people's minds. However, fans don't need to spend years speculating before the next Star Wars movie comes out because Hamill has revealed his future with the science fiction franchise.
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Daisy Ridley will be returning to the Star Wars universe soon for a new movie, Star Wars: New Jedi Order. She will continue her journey as Rey, which certainly opens the door for Hamill to reprise his role as her mentor, Luke, in some capacity. While he may be dead in the current timeline, Star Wars has established Force ghosts that allow characters to return in some capacity. However, that's something that Hamill isn't interested in doing, as he's opted to close that chapter of his life, which he explained to ComicBook.com.
“I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the day, the humble days when George called Star Wars ‘the most expensive low-budget movie ever made. We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my deal is, I had my time. I’m appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters. And by the way, when I disappeared in [The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind. And there’s no way I’m gonna appear as a naked Force ghost.”
Hamill was essential to the Star Wars sequel trilogy, although he showed a slightly different side of Luke Skywalker. The iconic character became slightly grumpy and was less receptive, often snapping at people and initially wanting nothing to do with the Force. However, in typical Luke fashion, he ends up helping to teach Rey as he passes on his wisdom. He was able to appear as a Force ghost in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, where he helped Rey during her battle against Emperor Palpatine, and seeing him do something like that again would be popular.
New Jedi Order is supposed to take place 15 years after that, with Rey aiming to teach and create a new era for the Jedi. There's little known about the film beyond that, but even though she's a powerful character, Rey still had a lot to learn after first becoming a Jedi. This is where Hamill would ideally be able to slot in to provide a quick cameo appearance to teach an important lesson to his protégé that might help her move forward.
However, at this stage in his life, that doesn't seem to appeal to Hamill, but that won't stop the Star Wars franchise from referencing the character. His name is likely going to come up a lot, given Rey's background with him, and having stars like Hamill as part of the poster and trailers does appeal to a core number of fans. But at the same time, new characters will be needed if Star Wars wants to progress as a franchise. Star Wars is investing in Rey, while Ryan Gosling is also taking up a lead role in the franchise. It proves that Star Wars is in good, capable hands, even if people will always long for Luke Skywalker.
