Where is Luke Skywalker?

There is an article in Entertainment Weekly’s Fall Movie Preview edition that reveals how Kathleen Kennedy was able to convince J.J. Abrams to take the helm of the Star Wars Franchise. While most people would have accepted the offer before she even finished asking the question, J.J. Abrams needed some coaxing. So what finally reeled him in? According to Entertainment Weekly, Kennedy said that “In the context of talking about story and laying out what we were thinking, I said one thing to him. Who *is* Luke Skywalker?”

This is a powerful question. It’s powerful because the answer may not lie in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The answer may not lie in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. The answer may not lie in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

The answer to that question may be forthcoming in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, and the two films that follow. It is a powerful question because it is essentially a license to take this franchise in virtually any direction you want it to go. It is a powerful question because the answer, could very well change everything that fans, have come to know about Star Wars and these mythic characters.

It is also a curious question because Luke’s life was pretty much an open book. He spent his whole life on Tatooine until destiny came looking for him. He fought the Empire, became a Jedi, redeemed his father and saw the Empire destroyed. There were not a lot of questions left surrounding who he was. A better question to ask is, who is Anakin Skywalker?

Everyone knows who Luke’s father is, but what about Anakin? Where did he truly come from? His origin was never completely explained. Did the Force really create him for the sole purpose of destroying the Sith? Was he even created by the Force? Maybe he did have a father and perhaps, he is the phantom menace, behind this new awakening?

Those are probably not the questions Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens will attempt to answer, but the Skywalker family will be the focus of the story, which begs another question. If the Skywalker family is to be front and center, and if Luke is a once again a central figure, where is he?

When it comes to promoting Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Mark Hamill, has been everywhere from Star Wars Celebration to San Diego Comic-Con. He’s been interacting with fans on Twitter and pulling pints of Guinness in Ireland. I’ve seen Mark Hamill everywhere, but I haven’t seen Luke Skywalker, anywhere.

Not one official picture. No new action figures or merchandise. That behind the scenes footage shown at San Diego Comic-Con? Han, Chewie, C-3PO, R2-D2, Princess Leia and Mark Hamill, but no Luke Skywalker.

Luke does narrate the second teaser trailer and is believed, to be the mysterious figure putting his mechanical hand on R2-D2, but no one knows for sure.

Virtually nothing is known about Luke or the role he’ll play in this latest trilogy. Based on what’s been shown, Han Solo and Chewbacca, look like the characters that will most prominently factor in this seventh chapter. They appear to be the main representatives of the old guard, thus far.

There is an unbelievable shroud of secrecy surrounding this film and it’s possible, that J.J. Abrams is keeping Luke, under close wraps because he has something amazing planned for him. The question is, will it be in this first film?

This could be the key to his absence thus far —  Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens is part one of three. This first film is just a prelude to something greater and more important, and perhaps, that’s where Luke fits in.

The Force might be awakened, but it looks like there is still, a shortage of Jedi and a growing number of people, who might need training. When Ben Kenobi was killed in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, George Lucas had to find another mentor for Luke. Jedi were in short supply in that era, but it was not unthinkable that there might be, one or two, still around. Thirty years later and with Luke presumed to be the last Jedi, finding a Yoda, is probably too tall an order for this story. That’s good news, if you are a fan of Luke Skywalker because it means, he’s not destined to go the way of Ben Kenobi.

Twilight may not yet be upon Luke, but a darkness is certainly falling upon the galaxy and the Jedi, are not done returning. Luke’s best play to ensure the galaxy has a bright future, might be, to just sit this one out.

Follow Ted on Twitter  and on thebrewhall.com

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