Originally published December 18, 2017. Updated December 2, 2022.
Warning. Major spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi follow…
After making the briefest of appearances in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Mark Hamill returned to the galaxy far, far away this past weekend as fans finally got to catch up with Luke Skywalker post-Return of the Jedi in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And, as we saw from the film, director Rian Johnson delivered a definitive conclusion to the Luke Skywalker story, with the Jedi Master becoming one with the force after manifesting a projection of himself to face Kylo Ren and allow the Resistance to escape the First Order following the Battle of Crait.
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Johnson revealed that he’d had extensive discussions with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and the Lucasfilm Story Group before committing to the death of Luke Skywalker.
“I had huge hesitance,” said Johnson. “I was terrified. It was a growing sense of dread when I realized this was going to make sense in that chapter. “It was not like I wrote the script and dropped it on their desk. It was very important to me that I was collaborating with the folks at Lucasfilm from the word go. I moved to San Francisco for a few months and would go in a few times a week to keep them up to date, spewing my ideas out, especially the big ones. I think the hero’s journey of Luke Skywalker concluded in Return of the Jedi. This [trilogy] is the hero’s journey of Rey, and Finn, and Poe. The [ongoing] story of Luke is one that has to play in tandem with that of Rey.”
SEE ALSO: Rian Johnson says there was no set plan for the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
During the interview, Mark Hamill also discussed his reaction to hearing that Luke would die in The Last Jedi, stating: “Well, I’m still in denial. I just think he transported somewhere else. The first thing I said was, ‘Can’t you wait and do this in Episode IX?’ I’m just still holding on to the line, ‘See you around, kid.’ I can be in Episode IX! I might consider catering the film just so I can hang out.”
Given what we know about deceased Jedi Knights – and of course Luke’s line to Kylo Ren that: “If you strike me down in anger, I will always be with you” – it would seem like a pretty safe bet we’ll be seeing Hamill back as Force Ghost Luke in Star Wars: Episode IX.
In the meantime, let us know what you made of Luke’s death in The Last Jedi? Are you happy with how it was handled, or did you feel disappointed? Sound off in the comments below…
SEE ALSO: Rian Johnson discusses the Rey’s parents reveal in Star Wars: The Last Jedi
In Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the Skywalker saga continues as the heroes of The Force Awakens join the galactic legends in an epic adventure that unlocks age-old mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi sees returning cast members Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb) and Warwick Davis joined by new additions Jimmy Vee (Pan) as R2-D2, Kelly Marie Tran (Ladies Like Us) as Rose, Benicio Del Toro (Guardians of the Galaxy) as DJ and Laura Dern (Jurassic Park) as Vice Admiral Holdo.
