Anghus Houvouras on whether Luke Skywalker could be a Sith Lord in Star Wars: The Force Awakens…
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is already a monster. The internet has been ablaze with theories and speculation about the new trailer, dissecting every frame for clues about the story, including Luke Owen’s theory that Kylo Ren may actually be Luke Skywalker. While considering his theory, a thought started percolating in the back of my mind. A reference from The Phantom Menace began to echo in my cerebellum.
When it comes to Sith… there are always two. A master and an apprentice.
If Kylo Ren is a Sith… is he the master or the apprentice? There is a moment from the first Force Awakens trailer, where we see Luke’s robotic hand reach out to R2D2. What piqued my interest in that particular shot is the black cloak he wears.
Perhaps Luke Skywalker is pulling Kylo Ren’s strings, but to what end? Could he have gone to the Dark Side, or has he embedded himself deep into the ranks of the First Order to help bring them down?
However, once I considered the ‘rule of two’ when it comes to Sith, it all made perfect sense. No one else we’ve seen in the marketing fits the role of Sith Lord other than Luke, who has been handled with much mystery. He’s the one character who we haven’t seen in detail. We’ve heard his voice and seen his hand… but there is little Luke in The Force Awakens marketing.
SEE ALSO: Mark Hamill wanted Luke Skywalker to go to the Dark Side – and he told J.J. Abrams about it
Kylo Ren has a Vader/Maul vibe. The fact that ‘Darth’ isn’t in his name seems like a calculated move to focus our attention elsewhere. If Kylo Ren is the apprentice… who is the master?
Luke Skywalker.
On a side note, it’s interesting how many theories revolve around the idea of Luke turning to the Dark Side. Perhaps because we’ve become so accustomed to movies having some kind of twist. Or because so much time has passed between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. There are huge stretches of time that we, the audience, will not have witnessed. At this early stage with so many unknowns, the hardcore fans spend a lot of brain cells trying to fill in the gaps.
But for me, right now, I’m calling it.
Luke Skywalker is a Sith Lord.
SEE ALSO: Follow all of our Star Wars coverage here
Anghus Houvouras is a North Carolina based writer and filmmaker and the co-host of Across the Pondcast. Follow him on Twitter.
Luke says
Luke wears a black cloak in Return of the Jedi though… plus I’m pretty sure it was confirmed that Kylo Ren isn’t a sith, he’s a member of the knights of ren… If anyone’s a sith in episode 7, I’m willing to bet that its supreme leader Snoke.
anghus says
Im wary of any ‘confirmations’ at this point. This is Abrams. There’s some kind of maniacal plot turn in there somewhere.
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
Two. There will be two. =)
Jeremy Santos says
The reason Luke wore black in ROTJ was to show the power the dark side has on people, and that he may in fact turn in that movie. Until the end, where the flap opens and reveals a white inside of the uniform. Symbolizing that he was good all along. HOWEVER, that ones ROTJ. The is TFA…different movie, different plot. We just won’t know until it comes out in 2 months.
chuck says
Ah because black=bad and white=good?
Jeremy Santos says
That’s what Lucas was trying to suggest. Luke’s outfits in the movie were supposed to reflect that. White in the first because he was good and innocent. Grey in the second to show the possible conflict. Then black to show that the conflict is stronger, but then the white reveal at the end.
Dj Tevii says
No. that would be stupid and too obvious. That would just be ripping off the original trilogy…. here is my theory:
Kylo Ren is the son of Princess Leia and Han Solo. After Leia refuses to show him too much of the force, Kylo starts to believe his grandfather had the right idea and goes to the Darkside. The main character is his twin sister and she is on a mission to save him. Meanwhile, Han and Leia seek out the only person that can fix everything: Master Jedi Luke Skywalker
anghus says
That’s an excellent theory. And the way Luke is reaching out to R2D2 like seeing a long lost friend. Who brought R2? Leia while searching for Luke.
David Hughes says
Did anyone notice Kylo Ren isn’t wearing his hood when he and Finn are about to engage in the light saber duel at the end of the latest trailer? That dude’s hair is dark and has a younger look than Mark Hamill has now. I don’t think Luke is a Sith…
Dj Tevii says
My theory does not suggest he is.
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
Agreed! The guy at the end of the trailer #3 IS Kylo Ren, and no he isn’t wearing a hood. Kylo Ren is NOT the same guy as the one with Vader’s mask. That’s the leader of the Knights of Ren, Kylo is probably a knight in that new order, and his apprentice.
David Hughes says
Did anyone notice Kylo Ren isn’t wearing his hood when he and Finn are about to engage in the light saber duel at the end of the latest trailer? That dude’s hair is dark and has a younger look than Mark Hamill has now. I don’t think Luke is a Sith…
br says
Just wait movie comes out. This super Star Wars fans are so annoying.. Studying a trailer get clues lmao. It’s a movie people played by actors who getting paid millions and probably laugh at all you when they backstage at these Q and A s and then put on fake smile and pretend be interested as you nervously ask them question about a scene they shot 35 years ago and have no clue about. Super Star Wars fans like bunch of spoiled children thinking movie belongs to them lol it belongs everyone just much you nerds we just don’t obsess over every stupid detail because we don’t need make more of something to trick ourselves into thinking it more then a movie.
OwenTheFish says
We do it cause its fun dude. Lighten up!!
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
Agreed!
Dj Tevii says
Im curious, what does that make you then? You’re pathetic enough that you have to get your jollies by bashing those that enjoy theorizing something they have an interest in.
You ridicule people for wasting their time by having fun but you’re stupid enough to waste your time to insult them? Ironic, hypocritical and speaks volumes of your character or lack thereof
Akihabara says
Just go through his post history. He seems to be a big fan of the New York Islanders, a hockey team.
Funny stuff. I literally copied and pasted his post as a reply to one of his posts talking about how die hard of a fan he is of the Islanders and replaced all the movie and actor references with hockey references.
Michel says
Luke to the dark side would be too cheap a plot. He already struggled with the dark side in previous movies. It’s pretty obvious to me, after ‘winning’ Luke decided the universe does not need jedi. He pulls a yoda and meditates on a planet far far away…
The rest of the universe continues, and jedi/force become legend (which they where already, as told by han solo in ep 4, so no real change there). Since there are no jedi, and no lightsabers, kylo has to hack one together.
The other one is probably luke’s old/new one. And of course when sith seem to emerge, they once again need a jedi, and seek out luke for training/help. Luke does not fight any battles probably (at least not in this film) but just obi-wans the new generation.
Steven says
thats why it makes sense he is the only one exposed to the dark side
the fact he beat it once doesnt make him impervious
OwenTheFish says
My theory is this: Kylo Ren is Luke’s son (which we wont find out till). Luke has been searching for Jedi through the 30 years since episode 6, which he was close do doing with Finn. Luke was infiltrating the ship where Finn is on. Kylo finds and kills him, this is where we will find out that he is son, (an homage to the Luke & Varder reveal, a kind of full stop on the first 6 movies.) Once Luke dies he pulls the Yoda/Obi Wan move and speaks to Finn, and this is why he pulls of his Storm-trooper helmet in panic. Which leads ot our new Star Wars adventures.
The whole Luke speech in the trailer is Luke speaking to Finn, and the image of Luke touch R2D2 is him saying goodbye as he knows what is to happen for him to reach out to Finn (same way Obi did for Luke in A New Hope).
As I said that’s just my theory, probably completely wrong 😀
Daniel says
I called Luke being a Sith Lord months before the new trailer came out. And I’m not even a Star Wars fan. So anybody that feels so special about putting 2 and 2 together with this new trailer, please. You’re a few steps behind.
anghus says
I doubt im the first, but i didnt see anyone else waiving this flag on the movie sites i frequent.
anghus says
Not really. Im sure lots of people have been saying it. The idea that Luke could be the villain is hardly original, but now we’re seeing potential hints with the marketing, thus the new speculation. This is the internet my friend. If a topic is done being discussed the minute someone suggests a notion we wouldn’t have much to write about.
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
Yes, but did you REALLY figure it out? I’m predicting that there won’t be one major reveal in the new film, but TWO.
=)
Not going to say what the second one is, but I assure you that there are going to be two major plot twists, not one.
Akihabara says
Truthfully, you haven’t got a clue.
Steven says
i think its either leia or luke
they treat darth vaders mask with such awe in the trailer , it has to be one of them
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
The force is strong with this one!
Yawar Amin says
In the trailer, someone says, ‘I will finish what you started’, while the camera pans on Vader’s helmet. No one other than Luke has the right to say that. Luke is Vader’s one and only Sith apprentice, not to mention son.
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
Funny how so many people miss that point when it’s right on the damn screen! Who else would have Vader’s helmet? It’s not like the Empire has e-bay where you can just order Darth Vader’s helmet! Last time I checked that helmet was with Luke on Endor. Didn’t anyone watch Return of The Jedi???
Adam Baker says
No no no no no no no no a thousand times gorram no.
Luke isn’t a Sith Lord, that would be breaking ALL sorts of canon, especially from the books and games, especially the game Jedi Academy which shows him running his own school for force sensitive people and teaches them how to be a jedi, so him being a Sith Lord this far on in the story is a crackpot theory.
HolyFranchiseBatman! says
None of that canon exists anymore.
Adam Baker says
Wait what? Since when?
HolyFranchiseBatman! says
Disney scrapped it all, maybe a year or so ago. It all now falls under non-canon “Legends”. The new canon is all the movies, TV series, comic books, and new books since the Disney purchase.
Louis Stephen Carrozzi says
HA! You think Luke is a Sith Lord?
NOPE!
It’s better than that. Has to be!
My best guess is that Snope is the Sith Lord in hiding, and Kylo Ren becomes his apprentice.
John Charles says
if now Luke Skywalker with Sith Lord, Luke ex-Jedi… LUKE EVIL… father Anakin of Son Luke after Sith is confirm…
John Charles says
if now Luke Skywalker with Sith Lord, Luke ex-Jedi… LUKE EVIL… father Anakin of Son Luke after Sith is confirm…
John Charles says
if now Luke Skywalker with Sith Lord, Luke ex-Jedi… LUKE EVIL… father Anakin of Son Luke after Sith is confirm…
Ba Smith says
The problem with this whole idea is that they’ve said specifically that the books are tossed out of the new movies’ continuity, and to turn around and take such a prominent feature of those books for your big twist would fall as flat as Talia al Ghul showing up in the Dark Knight Rises. No way the people entrusted to restore a wrecked legacy would make the same bonehead move as the guy who was in the process of destroying his.
Ba Smith says
The problem with this whole idea is that they’ve said specifically that the books are tossed out of the new movies’ continuity, and to turn around and take such a prominent feature of those books for your big twist would fall as flat as Talia al Ghul showing up in the Dark Knight Rises. No way the people entrusted to restore a wrecked legacy would make the same bonehead move as the guy who was in the process of destroying his.
Ba Smith says
The problem with this whole idea is that they’ve said specifically that the books are tossed out of the new movies’ continuity, and to turn around and take such a prominent feature of those books for your big twist would fall as flat as Talia al Ghul showing up in the Dark Knight Rises. No way the people entrusted to restore a wrecked legacy would make the same bonehead move as the guy who was in the process of destroying his.
Matt says
To be a Sith Lord, you have to kill a Sith Lord. That leaves Luke. He killed Vader, who killed Palpatine. And when he whacked Vader’s hand off, let me tell you, he was full-blown raged. Full-over Dark Sided.
Jay says
I like reading all your plot theories. some are not bad, But i read about a month ago that there is a Kylo Ren doll that speaks and on of his lines was “I will kill Luke Skywalker”. After that I believe Luke is a very powerful Jedi still learning to master the Force. Yoda lived 800 years and he still was learning. In the books Luke mastered something no other Jedi did, maybe JJ might stick to that part of the story who knows?. I also have a theory about Luke. I believe Han and the two new kids are trying to find Luke for help, they find a temple were I believe is a old Jedi temple on a planet covered in a forest (were you see the X-wing Tie-fighter fight). The scene were Ren is fighting will Ray (his sister) is were Luke shows up for the first time. Luke might push Ren or open his Light Saber that surprises Ren. Ren may fight or run, But I believe that the time you see Luke will be the last 15 to 30 minutes of the movie.
Jedik says
I doubt that Luke i going to be the Sith lord, i actually think that Leia is going to be the new ‘pure evil’. I reason such, because just for enjoyment of the movie, if Luke’s was the one, that it would be too predictible. Therefore in Return of the Jedi, when Luke hides from his dad, on the final encounter, the anger that makes him fight are actually the words: “If you don’t join the dark force, maybe she will…”. That’s Luke’s greatest fear and a weak point. I believe that these words are the prediciton and build genere for continuation. 7th episiode will never tell us who is the new Sith Lord, neither 8th. Check out the pictures, Leia seems do depressed of somthing, shes in pain, i wonder why would that be so?
Tyler Anderson says
I brought this up to a friend who knows his stuff about the books and all. I suggested wasn’t luke apart of the darkside at one point? Says why you say that with a smirk. I said I recall from a han solo video game on n64 I played back in the day. He says yes he does but I don’t know with seven it can take place elsewhere.
Nothing is True Everything is says
Luke probably doesn’t become a sith,but,it is more likely that he becomes a grey jedi,or just mace windu like–still a Jedi but more on a fine line