Star Wars: What Is Luke Skywalker's Role In Episode 9?

See you around, kid.

Star Wars Luke Slywalker Force Ghost
Lucasfilm

Luke Skywalker is dead. Long live Luke Skywalker.

The character may have passed away at the end of The Last Jedi but, when you're in Star Wars and have the Force, there's always a chance of coming back. Death doesn't truly mean death, and as Luke himself says, "no one's ever really gone."

So it is that, with the cast of Episode IX revealed, Mark Hamill is indeed returning to a galaxy far, far away. His arc was largely wrapped-up by the end of The Last Jedi, with the character helping to save the day one last time and bringing his journey full circle but, with this movie being billed as the final instalment in the Skywalker saga, it wouldn't be right without him being there.

His return, of course, means seeing Luke as a Force Ghost (J.J. Abrams might well undo some of The Last Jedi, and will undoubtedly attempt to be as fan-pleasing as possible, but even he can't get away with retconning Luke's death), but even knowing that there are a number of possibilities and questions as to how he'll actually be used in the movie.

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NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.