The Last Jedi: Does Luke still have the same robotic hand?

When Luke Skywalker emerged at the end of The Force Awakens, we got a look at his new-look cybernetic hand, or is it the one from Return of the Jedi? 

During the latest trailer for The Last Jedi, we get a closer look at Luke’s cool robotic hand, which on the surface appears to be a different variation than time’s past, but is it the same one? We can’t answer that question until we take a journey down the history of Luke’s missing hand.

Where were you the first time you heard these infamous words uttered by Darth Vader to Luke Skywalker: “No, I am your father”, in one of the greatest moments in Star Wars history or film for that matter, with that bombshell of feels still lingering nearly 40 years later. In the epic duel, Darth Vader cuts off Luke’s right hand, sending it ( and his former lightsaber) down into the depths of the Industrial sector of Cloud City on Bespin. The Skywalker lightsaber has resurfaced, appearing in The Force Awakens, but we know that Luke’s hand is long gone just like Han Solo (too soon?).

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

At the end of The Empire Strikes Back, Luke received a replacement hand — which has the look of a natural limb — as a friendly reminder of his incomplete training and the consequences of not heeding Master Yoda’s advice. We then meet Luke one year later in the canon events during Return of the Jedi, with his training complete and no signs of slowing down from his injury.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

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Upon closer inspection, you can see the blaster bolt that Luke received on Jabba’s “party boat” if you look towards the left part of his right hand and near where his sleeve ends there’s a distinct dent. Also from the latest trailer — have you seen it? — you can catch a glimpse of Luke’s hand among the flames of his burning Jedi Order, which explains why the flesh of the cybernetic is no longer there.

I know this is a minor detail, but with the new canon and Star War fan’s obsession with every single detail, this is cool to get that confirmation. It also shows that Luke is so broken and despaired that he doesn’t care to even fix his (again) damaged robot-hand.

Next: We dissect The Last Jedi trailer in our screencap breakdown

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters worldwide on December 15, where we will (hopefully) see that very robotic hand igniting a green-bladed lightsaber once again.

You can buy your tickets here for The Last Jedi , thanks to our handy guide.