Summary
DespiteLuke Skywalkerbeing the main character of the originalStar Warstrilogy, recent projects have tended to quite literally lose this iconic character. As one of thebestStar Warscharacters, Luke’s appearances throughout the franchise will always carry a heavy weight along with them. This has made it quite difficult to fold him into new stories, as his presence alone can easily dominate both the story that’s being told and the characters within it.
There are, of course, ways around this, but it seems as if Disney’sStar Warshas taken a rather unique (and unfortunately ineffective) approach. On two occasions now,Star Warshas proven that they want to use Luke Skywalker, but don’t really know how to. This is because Luke has made new appearances inStar Warsmovies and TV showsthroughout the last decade, but the franchise continues to repeat one strange story detail that fails to match up with his characterization in the originalStar Warstrilogy.
How Old Luke Skywalker Was In Every Star Wars Movie & TV Show He Appeared In
Luke Skywalker is one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars and has appeared in many different titles—but how old was he in each of them?
The Force Awakens Was Based On Luke Being “Lost”
The Map to Luke Created the Movie’s Main Conflict
The entire premise of the franchise’s theatrical return in 2015’sStar Wars: The Force Awakenswas that no one could find Luke Skywalker when the galaxy needed him most. The Resistance and the First Order, particularly Kylo Ren, were in a race against one another to get to Luke first, with the former seeking aid and the latter seeking revenge. Luke was found by the end of the movie and, after hours of suspense amidst all the action, failed to utter even a single line of dialogue.
This was certainly a disappointment for audiences who both wanted to see a full reunion of the originalStar Warstrilogy trio and who wanted to see the heroic Luke Skywalker that many viewers had come to know and love. Of course, taking a new direction with a character doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but in this case,it felt as if they simply didn’t know what to do with Luke. This carried on into the next movie, where Luke ultimately meets his fate without ever leaving Ahch-To.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Cast
Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire. It follows Han Solo and new allies, including Finn and Rey, as they confront the rising threat of Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers while seeking the elusive Luke Skywalker.
The Mandalorian Era Has Proven Luke Will Be “Lost” Again
There’s No Place for Him in the Fight Against the Imperial Remnant
Now that Luke has returned inThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett, known more generally as theNew Republic era,Star Warswill have to find a place for him - though it’s much more likely they will “lose” Luke again. Another galactic war is brewing between theNew Republicand the Imperial Remnant, the latter being led byGrand Admiral Thrawn, and its main heroes will beDin Djarin,Bo-Katan Kryze,Ahsoka Tano, and more. It would be hard for Luke and the other original trilogy heroes to have a place in this story.
In fact,Luke cannot have a place in this story, as the main Jedi hero is meant to be Ahsokaherself. This is why she gets her last Jedi lesson from Anakin Skywalker in theWorld Between WorldsinAhsoka, and why she now has a Padawan learner inSabine Wren. Ahsoka is meant to become the figure that Luke once was for the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War, which means that Luke being involved would throw this off. This means it’s more than likely that Luke will be “lost” onOssusor elsewhere during another galactic conflict.
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Luke Keeps Vanishing When The Galaxy Needs Him Most
Why Would the Galaxy’s Hero Keep Running From Conflict?
ShouldStar Warstruly make this move with Luke in future New Republic era stories, however, it will be continuing a trend that goes beyond Luke continuously being “lost” in the galaxy; it will make him into a character who’s utterly absent when the galaxy needs him most. This already happened inThe Force Awakens, and if the New Republic stories take this route, then it will reinforce this idea. The galaxy’s biggest hero will be hiding from yet another fight.
The galaxy’s biggest hero will be hiding from yet another fight.
Of course, viewers know this isn’t what Luke Skywalker would want to do, so an explanation for his absence would be made, but it still doesn’t disrupt this trend - nor does it make a lot of sense in-universe. The beloved Princess Leia Organa herself has also been involved in the New Republic era, with her supporting GeneralHera Syndullafrom afar during her court hearing inAhsoka. If Leia knew about this upcoming, brewing conflict, thenthere’s no doubt she would reach out to her brother to help her thwart it.
Star Wars Needs To Decide What To Do With Luke
This Iconic Hero Deserves Better Than to Disappear
The lesson that needs to be learned from these repeating patterns is thatStar Warshas to decide what exactly it wants to do with Luke.This character is too important to be cast aside inStar Warsstories like these, especially when war is brewing within the galaxy. If technology for deepfake and other special effects to bring him to life is the problem in the modern era, then it’s time to recast with another actor. If the problem simply lies with the weight of his character, thenStar Warsneeds to trust themselves more.
AsStar Wars’first major hero and the literal template of the hero’s journey for modern storytelling, Luke deserves better than to continuously vanish when the galaxy needs him most. While there was an explanation provided in the sequelStar Warstrilogy that at least added some nuance to his character, Luke doesn’t have the same thing going for him in the New Republic era.Star Warsneeds to decide what to do with him, because he’s too important to keep casting aside.
Luke Skywalker
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke’s faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine’s manipulations, but Luke’s legacy lives on in Rey.
