Star Wars: The Force Awakens — Where is Luke Skywalker?
Disney/Lucasfilm and J.J. Abrams wowed Star Wars fans Monday night, with the debut of the third and final trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. As expected, the trailer gave us new scenes and lines from a film that has been steeped in secrecy since its first trailer in 2014. Now that the third trailer has aired, and we’ve had a chance to see most of the core cast of actors in the film, we are left wondering: Where in the galaxy is Luke Skywalker?
Our only clue to Luke’s whereabouts in the film, came in the second trailer, when a hooded figure sitting by a fire, places a robotic hand on R2-D2. Of course, that figure was never confirmed as Luke Skywalker, but the description definitely fits…robotic hand and in the company of the lovable astromech Artoo, and all. However, we’ve still yet to see his face.
A few months ago, a photo surfaced online of Mark Hamill in full beard and the brown and beige robes of the Jedi Masters, but that photo was quickly removed from the site that published it, as it was a leaked photo, and not an official Star Wars approved marketing still.
Enter Sunday, October 18, and the reveal of The Force Awakens’ official poster. It was from here that I was most surprised to see Luke missing. If what Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said holds true, and Star Wars is about the Skywalker bloodline, then why have the first Star Wars film in 10 years release three trailers and a poster, without showing one of its most important members?
Many rumors hold that Luke is a hermit, living in a cave on a remote jungle planet. The Ireland island of Skellig Michael served as home for filming scenes with Mark Hamill in some sort of seclusion as Luke Skywalker. We also know that Hamill has returned to Skellig for filming scenes for Episode VII with Rian Johnson, so Luke is very much involved in some capacity.
So, is the answer to our question simply that Luke is living the life of a hermit, secluded from the rest of the galaxy, hiding from those who would hunt him down and use his power for the Dark Side? If you noticed in the third trailer, Kylo Ren is speaking to Darth Vader’s burned helmet, telling him that he would finish it. Who does the remnants of the Empire, and the new First Order think killed Vader? Why, none other than Luke Skywalker.
If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that Luke hasn’t been shown in any of the trailers or poster, because he won’t have a prominent role in The Force Awakens. We may see him in the beginning, perhaps a flashback or two, but I have a feeling that Luke won’t show his bearded face until close to the final chapter of The Force Awakens, when Rey is sent by Maz Kanata to find “the last Jedi.”
Next: WATCH -- Star Wars: The Force Awakens -- Final Trailer